Bukva: Musa and Antunović targeted by world clubs

When the cadet basketball team of BiH won 8th place at the European Championship in Lithuania at the end of August, which is the best result ever, and Džanan Musa was named the top scorer of the European Championship (scoring 37 points in just one game), their mentor Sejo Bukva, owner of KK “Koš“, was among the proudest of their success, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

In an interview with Patria, he revealed that he brought Musa from Bihać to Sarajevo when he was 13 years old, while Sandro Antunović became a member of KK “Koš“ in 2010. The club was founded in 2006.

- Antunović showed good results in his first year at KK Koš. Many were skeptical about Musa, but he showed his quality at the control training session – recalls Bukva.

Given that Musa is from Bihać, he lives in Sarajevo and, as he says, quickly got used to life in the capital of BiH. He finished 8th and 9th grade there with excellent grades, and this year he enrolled in the Secondary Medical School. Antunović is in his second year of the Second Gymnasium with a GPA of 5.0. Bukva particularly emphasized the dedication of this duo.

- I must point out that although Sandro comes from Ilijaš every day, he has never been late for training, and he studies on the way from school to home and vice versa. Musa is very mature for his age, but that is probably due to leaving home at that age, and he has an incredible mental makeup – said Bukva, who is essentially a second parent to these athletes.

However, for both basketball players, sports have become an integral part of their lives, while for Musa it also means freedom. Family support is what gives them strength.

- My mother wants me to leave the court healthy, while my father and brother tell me to listen to the coaching staff and that the results will come – says Musa, who is 2.03 meters tall.

Antunović initially played for Croatia, but as he says, it was not difficult to decide to return to BiH.

- I got more playing time here, better treatment, considering that I was a foreigner there after all. As for the pace and how I manage everything, fatigue is constant, sometimes I don't even know how I manage it all – said Antunović and invited as many young people as possible to get involved in sports.

The attention of the media and great popularity suit these two two-meter players, but as they emphasize, they always have to prove themselves again. Given that Bukva has discovered numerous talents who have grown into renowned basketball players, he is impressed that this duo is called the future of BiH basketball, and that creates an additional incentive for success.

- We have offers for Musa from Sevilla, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos. He is an extraordinary talent and even at this age, he should be playing in the first league. However, we are looking at where his quality development will be enabled. Antunović was targeted by Barcelona, which followed his work for a year, and their representatives visited Sarajevo twice. He went to Barcelona where he passed a medical examination, and the only reason he didn't stay was his height. He is 2.08 meters tall, and they wanted a minimum of 2.10 meters or more. However, he is only 16 years old and it is very possible that he will grow further – stated Bukva.

Given the daily training sessions, five times a week with two sessions each, and two days with one session, one of the people who knows them best is coach Enes Numanović, who has ten years of experience working with the cadet age group.

- Both are dedicated to what they do, they have ambition, regularity, and that should be well utilized to become strong athletes. Both have predispositions for the Euroleague and play top European basketball. Everything depends on work, but there is also an element of luck. Minor corrections are needed for Antunović to reach the senior level – said Numanović.

Musa and Antunović in the national team jersey (third and fifth from left to right)