Enid Tahirović: The national team is an example that one can live together in BiH, maybe that's why we are a problem

By: Haris Ljevo

After the employees of RS BiH decided not to come to work anymore due to 17 unpaid salaries, a lot of dust was raised in the public because of their decision. The decision not to come to work was made by Enid Tahirović, Bojan Jolić, Željna Delahmetović, Alma Kadrić Čengić, and Mirsada Đaltur.

Following the press release that the mentioned employees sent to the media, the president of RS BiH, Amir Zahirović, reacted and stated that the signatories of the statement would face consequences.

One of the best handball players and athletes of BiH of all time, Enid Tahirović, said in an interview with the Patria agency that he made this decision together with his colleagues with a heavy heart, but that it had to be cut off at some point.

- Our intention was only to point out the difficult situation in the Association. We did not accuse anyone from the Association, we only wanted to try to resolve the situation in the best way. The intention was to sit down and try to solve the problem, and instead we received threats that we would face sanctions. These people, working for 17 months without pay, showed how much they care about handball in BiH – Tahirović points out.

The legendary goalkeeper of the BiH national team adds that problems have been piling up for months.

- We had already warned earlier that this would happen, but we did not want to take any action until the national team matches were over; we did not want anyone to accuse us of spoiling the atmosphere. In all of this, I am the least important; I have worked my whole life as a team player, and I behave the same way now – Tahirović emphasizes.

Enid points out that handball is not the only sport facing problems, because the situation is more or less the same in all other sports except football, which has long become a business, not just a sport.

- There is no need to reinvent the wheel; people have long figured out the system of how things work, we just need to copy it. Of course, we need to be realistic; we cannot be Germany or France, but we can look up to neighboring countries like Croatia, where things are quite sorted out.

Recently, I spoke with some friends from Croatian handball, who complained to me that the state slightly reduced the funds allocated for handball, and that they now have a budget of „only“ five million euros. I couldn't believe it; with that money, we would be world champions – Tahirović points out.

The legend of BiH handball emphasizes that it is really difficult to expect sponsors to come and invest funds in RS BiH, because no one wants to invest money where the situation is unsettled.

- A figure of about three million KM in debt is mentioned, of which almost half is interest. There is a way to pay it back, because, as far as I know, there is a possibility to make an agreement with the Tax Administration regarding the repayment of the debt, and even to have a good part of the interest written off. So everything is possible, it just takes a little goodwill and strategy – says Tahirović.

Tahirović also adds that sometimes he has the impression that for the rulers in this country, sport is a thorn in the side, especially the handball national team, which is the best example that a normal common life is possible in this country.

- I wonder if it bothers someone that Benjamin, Dejan, and Josip play together, if it is a problem that Nikola Prce and I were roommates in the national team for ten years – Tahirović wonders. 

An emergency session of the Executive Board of RS BiH is scheduled for Saturday, after which, as Tahirović says, many things will be clearer.