Delegation from Zenica-Doboj Canton Visits Training of the "Little Dragons": Support Ahead of Match with Luxembourg

(Patria) - A delegation from the Zenica-Doboj Canton, comprising Prime Minister Nezir Pivić, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Mirza Mušija, and Deputy Speaker of the Zenica-Doboj Canton Assembly Goran Bulajić, visited the morning training session of the women's basketball national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the "Husejin Smajlović" Arena in Zenica.

The BiH national team players are playing their final Eurobasket 2027 qualifier match tonight in this city against the Luxembourg team.
For the excellent hospitality and good working conditions, the national team players of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented Prime Minister Pivić with a jersey bearing their signatures. The delegation members wished the national team players good luck in tonight's match and a successful performance against the Luxembourg team.

Prime Minister Pivić emphasized that the Zenica-Doboj Canton is allocating almost one percent of its budget to sports this year, which represents one of the strategic goals of the cantonal government.

– In addition to supporting our football national team in terms of building the national stadium in Zenica, it is known that we also assisted when the basketball national team had certain problems when traveling to major competitions. We will continue to allocate funds for our basketball national team. I am happy that this young team is united and cohesive and that we have a national team that will bring good results in the future – said Prime Minister Pivić.

Minister Mirza Mušija reminded that the cantonal government announced in its program that sport would be a focus of the Zenica-Doboj Canton.

– We see how the positive sports atmosphere is gradually spreading. Zenica hosts major sports competitions, and we hope that our sports clubs will also host major European and world clubs in the future. We wish our girls a lot of luck and success, and that their future performances are filled with victories and the pride that the jersey of Bosnia and Herzegovina brings – said Minister Mušija.

Deputy Speaker of the Zenica-Doboj Canton Assembly Goran Bulajić emphasized that with this visit, they wanted to express support for the national team players who proudly wear the jersey of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

– Last year, we co-financed the work of youth basketball selections with 200,000 KM from the budget. This year, the Government and the relevant ministry will support the national selections of Bosnia and Herzegovina with 100,000 KM, and the realization of these funds is expected in the coming days – emphasized Bulajić.

The General Secretary of the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dževad Alihodžić, said that they are pleased to have had the opportunity to host the delegation from the Zenica-Doboj Canton, led by Prime Minister Pivić.

– The support we receive from the Zenica-Doboj Canton sends a significant message to the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially at a time when systemic financing of sports in our country is still not resolved. Such support means a lot to the players, the coaching staff, and the Federation. We feel very comfortable in Zenica and have excellent working conditions. After a long period, we are bringing national team selections back to this city. After two matches of the senior women's national team, in June, we expect a very important qualifying match for the World Cup for the men's national team against Turkey – stated Alihodžić.

The head coach of the senior women's national team, Emir Halimić, thanked them for the excellent conditions the national team has in Zenica, from accommodation and the hall to the treatment of the players and the coaching staff.

– The home of the football national team is in Zenica, and a city that has three Premier League teams in women's basketball in BiH deserves to be the base for the women's basketball national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The girls and all of us who work with them appreciate it and will always give our best. We are the only national team in Europe that has completely changed its squad and significantly rejuvenated the team. We need a little time, but I am sure we will get on the right track – said Halimić.