Džeko: Many in Bosnia and Herzegovina Barely Survive, but Donations Are Not Always the Solution

Football maniac! That is how Edin Džeko describes himself, as he says he cannot live without football, whether he is playing it, watching it on TV, reading about it in newspapers... reports the Patria agency.

He has no problem reading a bit of criticism either, but in a lengthy interview for the reputable British Guardian, he admits that insults from football illiterates on social media hurt him. He also talks about his childhood spent in war, the difficult life of his compatriots in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and much more. Take a few minutes, it is worth listening to him.

But let us start from the beginning?

- I don't run? I don't give my maximum? Oh, someone must be joking? I guarantee that no one in the stands or in front of the TV wants to win more than me. No matter who we play against, I just want to score a goal, to win. In every match. Absolutely every one - says Džeko in an interview for the Guardian, as reported by Mozzartsport.

Although, Džeko is used to criticism. They describe him as uninterested, even cold, always greeting him with hostility. Especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though he is by far the best player of the Dragons. As soon as he misses a chance: he is lazy, the worst on the pitch...

- I understand being criticised when you play badly. That is part of the job and it does not bother me. The problem is insults, they hurt the most, and in the age of social media, everyone has a chance to publicly say what they think. Regardless of how illogical or stupid it is. Everyone has the right to an opinion, everyone has the right to insult you because you did not score a goal. People think they care more than I do, but that is simply not true. I would be lying if I said I do not read or hear what people are saying. And I am also a human being.

There are also people whose opinion he respects, even when they criticise him.

- I like to read what football-educated people have to say, people who analyse the game, especially in Italy. They know football there. They go in-depth, I enjoy such programmes and texts. But did I read such things in England? To be honest, I did not. Maybe I simply knew the English language, in Italy I had to learn as soon as possible, so I got into the habit of reading. Sometimes I agree with what is written, sometimes I do not, but I respect the opinion of those people.

Edin has often not been respected. Željezničar thought he had hit the jackpot when they sold him to Czech side Teplice for 25,000 euros. They called him a “kloc” (a clumsy player). Two years later, Džeko moved to Wolfsburg, scored 66 goals in 111 matches, won the Bundesliga, and was the top scorer. But if you ask him if he dreamed of this as a boy, you will not get the usual answer. Because like most in the Balkans, Džeko grew up in war.

- That is something I call the survival period. I was a child, I was not even aware of most of it, but war forces you to grow up faster. Even then I loved football, I could not breathe without football, but I did not really think I would become some kind of star. Of course I dreamed of big clubs, but I played more for the game itself. It is still like that. I love watching football, reading about it, talking about it, and more than anything, playing football. That is my life.

And does he talk about the war?

- I think I only talk about the war when I speak with foreign journalists. With my family, my wife, my parents, my sister – never. I remember it well, but I see no point. It is something I left behind long ago. A terrible experience, it changed all of us, no matter how old you were. But when it ended, we all tried to continue with our lives. Back then we dreamed of living a normal life, and now that the war is over, that is what we do.

Well, not everyone. Most people in the Balkans are still struggling. It is not quite like it used to be, but in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, the average salary barely exceeds 400 euros. Every sixth household lives in poverty. Official data.

- The first thing I notice when I return home is that the country is not progressing, it is not moving forward. Do not get me wrong, I love my country, I consider it the most beautiful in the world, after all it is my home. But people are struggling, and it seems to me that many do not care. I hate talking about politics, I avoid it whenever I can, but here politicians live in some bubble of their own, far from the people. Many are barely surviving.

Džeko helps, like many athletes, especially in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. He is a UNICEF ambassador, helps many other organisations and people. But...

- Donations are not always the solution. Today you build a roof for one family, tomorrow ten more need it. We help one child or ten of them, but tomorrow another 1,000 need help. There is no system, no plan to improve things. People are becoming more and more pessimistic, and for good reason. Young people are leaving, looking for a better life, and no one can judge them. I did the same. But such things hurt me.

That is why he is now in Rome, not Sarajevo. He enjoys the Eternal City, even though after eight goals in 31 matches in his first season, fans called him: Blind Edin. Last season he scored 29 goals, more than Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi, Dries Mertens. No one mentions that nickname anymore.

- Nowhere is like Rome. Nowhere! People here are crazy about football. Expectations were high in Germany and England too, but it is not even close. In Manchester, I could go for a walk, sit in a restaurant. People would occasionally politely ask me for a photo. In Rome, there is no chance I can walk normally through the city. This is a special city, a special bond between the club and the fans. It is incredible how passionate they are, how much they love their club. That is how it should be - says Džeko in an interview for the Guardian.