Positive story from FK Sarajevo: Emotional farewell to coach Duraković

(Patria) - Sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina often lacks enthusiasts, will, and desire for proper work with young people. This is one of the reasons, experts warn, for the lack of success in professional sport in our country. However, a somewhat different story comes from FK Sarajevo. We are publishing the letter from the parents of children born in 2007 and 2008, who are attendees of the Asim Ferhatović Hase Football School, in its entirety.

“In a sea of negative news related to the development of sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the outflow of successful coaches of young generations of future athletes, who are aware of the lack of money to live decently in this country, and do not want to profit further from various behind-the-scenes games, like ‘the child of the parent who pays more plays’, one name has managed to rise from the mud we have brought ourselves into through their expertise, moral integrity, enthusiasm, and love for what they do.

A positive story comes to us from the Asim Ferhatović Hase Football School and a coach named Damir Duraković. Although modest and reserved in what and how he does things, we could not remain silent, and so, at least in this way, all parents of the lucky children he coached want to express our gratitude.

Damir Duraković is one of the few names in BH football, a coach of younger generations, who has dedicated himself equally to every child, regardless of whether they are more or less talented for football. Strict and fair to all children, he motivates them daily to try even harder because only through their effort can they achieve their dreams and goals. 

In addition to being a quality football coach, Duraković is, above all, an excellent educator and psychologist. Aware that only a few will succeed in pursuing football professionally, he convinced them that they must strive equally in school, that they must respect and support each other, in short, he made them valuable young people who respect and help each other. Unfortunately, there are few people about whom we can say so many good things, and all of the above is just a fraction of what coach Duraković has done for our children. 

Finally, we want to thank him from the bottom of our hearts and wish him much luck in his future work with other children, sad that they are no longer our children and a little envious of the luck of those he will continue to coach,” the letter states.