Sports clubs from Maglaj receive 176,999 KM, Tešanj and Doboj Jug invest in infrastructure

(Patria) - In the office of the Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDK), a contract signing ceremony was held today with sports clubs from the City of Maglaj, covered by the Law on Clubs of Special Importance for ZDK.

The handball club "Maglaj" and the football club "Natron" Maglaj were each allocated 70,003.00 KM, while the football club "Novi Šeher" received 36,993.00 KM.



ZDK increased its sports budget this year from two to five million KM. The government has provided three million KM for the recovery of the most successful sports collectives, while two million KM will be distributed to clubs not covered by the Law on Clubs of Special Importance, through regular financing, as in previous years.

According to Prime Minister Nezir Pivić, with five million KM allocated for sports, the Canton is approaching the allocation of one percent of the budget, which is considered an optimal level of investment in sports.

- We wanted to help clubs with tradition, which are recognized as clubs of special importance for ZDK. We are aware that this is not enough to achieve top results, but it certainly represents an additional injection for the clubs.

At the same time, this is a message, as well as an invitation to private entrepreneurs to invest more in sports and to see that the Canton stands behind these clubs - stated Pivić.



Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Mirza Mušija stated that they are aware of the importance of investing in sports, and that the Law recognizes one or two clubs from each local community in the Canton, while some investments are also directed towards sports infrastructure, in line with local priorities.

- Our tendency is to raise sports to the level it deserves and to bring back activities and audiences to our sports halls in every city and municipality. Our canton has a sports tradition and we have clubs that need little to achieve excellent results - emphasized Mušija.

Through the Law on Clubs of Special Importance, sports collectives from all cities and municipalities were supported, with the exception of the municipalities of Tešanj and Doboj Jug, which, by decision of their municipal authorities, will direct funds towards the construction of sports infrastructure.



The Mayor of the Municipality of Tešanj, Suad Huskić, said that the construction of two auxiliary football fields and an athletics track is planned, where the approved 228,000 KM will be spent, and in return, local sports clubs will receive increased support from the municipal budget.

The Municipality of Doboj Jug, led by Mayor Mirnes Tukić, will invest the approved 78,000 KM in the construction of sports infrastructure.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Maglaj, Maid Suljaković, and representatives of sports clubs thanked the Government of ZDK for the approved financial support, emphasizing that this is an important step towards a systemic solution for financing sports.



- The Law on Clubs of Special Importance is high-quality and good, and represents significant financial support for the clubs. I am pleased that the Government is not making ad hoc decisions, but has a strategic approach to strengthening sports - said Suljaković.

By signing contracts with clubs from Maglaj and the municipalities of Doboj Jug and Tešanj, the signing of contracts with all sports collectives covered by the Law on Sports Clubs of Special Importance in ZDK has been completed.