Mother Ševka is baking halva: My Meša is returning home after 27 years!

Tomorrow I am baking halva, because my Meša is returning home after 27 years of absence around the world – says at the beginning of the visit of the Patria News Agency journalists, the mother of the new coach of the football national team of BiH, Ševka Baždarević.

Father, a pensioner, Hamed Baždarević could not hold back tears and honestly says: "I really didn't expect him to be chosen, but now I can't stop crying from happiness." Mother Ševka leafs through newspapers and praises the journalist from "Oslobođenje" who described her Meša from the heart.

The good news was brought to Meša's parents by neighbor Hajrudin Blažević, who has been friends with Meša for 50 years. He is the proud owner of Meša's jersey from the Yugoslavia-Bulgaria match (3:2) played in Split in 1983.

- I recently returned this jersey to Meša, because he will live longer than me, so let him leave this valuable jersey with the number 5 on it (Meša always wore 10, note) to his children – says Blažević, explaining that Baždarević, the new leader of the Dragons in BiH, arrives tomorrow.

A true Bosnian family where no one should lack anything, in anticipation of their son Mehmed, they recall the old days.

- He was so small, he could barely walk. In the neighborhood, he would take off his shorts, put them on a stick, and shout Željo, Željo. He was also a good student, an excellent student, and he had almost finished his studies in Economics, but fate took him in another direction – says mother Ševka.

Father Hamed nods his head, "Come on, Ševko, he's more like me."

- I have always been disciplined and responsible – says the proud father.

- Believe us, I have no words. He calls two or three times every day. He even got us a laptop because he wants to watch us while we talk. He always thinks we are hiding the truth, so this way he makes sure we are well and healthy – says Hamed.

Baždarević, as a child, moved to Sarajevo with his family from Višegrad and admits that he identifies as a Sarajevan, although he was born in the city on the Drina. He started training at Grbavica in 1969, under coach Vjekoslav Lujo Kranjc. He became a first-team player for Željezničar in 1977, where he played for 10 years. He then played for many years in the French club Sochaux, from where he moved to Nimes in 1996. He finished his career with the Swiss team Étoile Carouge. A tireless runner with high technique, a natural leader on the field, a game builder, an assistant, and always a potential scorer from the second row.

- He lived football all his life. I came to Sarajevo in 1945. We were also tenants, but we managed. Now, thank God, we have everything we could wish for – says Hamed, wiping away tears again, while Ševka "teased" him that he would look ugly in the pictures.

- Oh, come on. It's joy, not sorrow. These are tears of joy, I'm not ashamed of them – says Hamed.

Meša also played for all the junior national teams of the former country. He made 111 national team appearances, including appearances for the national team of BiH. He is the absolute record holder for the number of matches for all selections of the former Yugoslavia. He was also the captain of the Yugoslav national team and won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. As captain, Meša also led the national team of BiH in its first official appearance in Kalamata against Greece in 1996 in the qualifiers for the World Cup in France. However, Meša wishes he could have left a greater mark in the BiH national jersey.

- My Meša is a true Bosnian. It warms my heart when I realize that I will see him all the time now. May he be alive and healthy, and may he pass on what he knows to our Dragons. Thanks to those who chose him, they certainly did not make a mistake – adds Hamed.

Although both have passed eighty years, they say that today they are living the realization of their and Meša's dreams. Meša is returning home, and they will enjoy seeing their favorite in their old age.

- If we talked for two days, we wouldn't finish everything. We'll see what happens in the end. He tried his best to convey his work to the people in the Association while he was here. Now let them negotiate – added Hamed.

A PHOTO FOR MEMORY

The Baždarevićs leafed through a multitude of photos from their younger days, but grandmother Ševka is particularly proud of her granddaughter, Meša's daughter, who is a journalist in France.

- Let her come back too, so we can find her a job – says Ševka with a laugh.

FRAMED SOCRATES

Father Hamed, on the other hand, is proud of a photo of Meša with the Brazilian Socrates.

- I am proud of this one. I had it framed, you see when my Meša was in Brazil – added Hamed.

A special picture for Meša's father