It was wonderful to be part of this atmosphere, where around 200 Bosnian youth from 11 countries gathered and socialized at the largest sports event of the Bosnian diaspora, because in the end the only winner is our Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 17th World Futsal Championship of the Bosnian Diaspora was held last weekend in Izmir (Turkey), organized by the World Federation of Diaspora of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSDBiH) .
The host of the largest sporting event in the BiH diaspora was the Federation of Cultural Associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Turkey, and the sponsors were the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović, the Izmir Municipality of Karšīyaka, “Hayat TV” which covered the entire championship, the Football/Soccer Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Football Federation of Turkey.
The World Championship was also attended by representatives of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH (Deputy Minister Dževad Mahmutović and Assistant Minister Kemo Sarač) and the Ambassador of BiH to Turkey, HE Adis Alagić.
Bosnian and Herzegovinian national teams from 11 countries took part in this year’s championship: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, France and Turkey.
After the group stage of the competition, in an extremely exciting atmosphere and high-quality play, the national teams of Germany and Austria advanced to the final. Germany won 1:0 with a last-minute goal, thus becoming champions for the first time.
In the third-place match, Sweden defeated Norway. After the tournament ended, medals and trophies were awarded to the most successful national teams and individuals:
- Germany
- Austria
- Sweden
- Norway
Adnan Hodžić (Austria) was declared the best player of the championship.
The best goalkeeper is Srećko Mišković (Germany).
The best scorer is Andreas Berović (Germany).
Most promising player Adnan Kvrgić (Norway).
The team that won fair-play-Norway.
The England national team was in a group with hosts Turkey, Switzerland and Finland. In the group stage of the competition we lost to hosts Turkey (0:2) and drew with Finland (1:1) and Switzerland (0:0). In the play-off for the quarter-finals we suffered a defeat against the French national team.
Demir Kurtović, Šemsudin Kalabić, Zarif Mujanović, Ahmet Kalaba, Adis Kazić, Jasmin Odobašić, Jamo Hukanović, Sedin Mustafić performed for the Great Britain team.
On behalf of the BH UK Network (the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Associations in Great Britain), we would like to thank the World Federation of Diaspora of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSDBIH) and the hosts of this year’s championship, the Federation of Cultural Associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Turkey, for the excellent organization, in the hope that we will see and socialize in even greater numbers at the next World Championship.
