ZDK Government Supports BiH Basketball Association with 200,000 KM

(Patria) - ZDK Prime Minister Nezir Pivić, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Mirza Mušija, and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Goran Bulajić met today in Zenica with representatives of the Basketball Association of BiH - President Aida Berbić and Secretary General Dževad Alihodžić.

The meeting discussed the financial support of the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton for the participation of BiH basketball selections in upcoming competitions.

Upon learning that the participation of youth selections of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Championship was in doubt due to lack of funds, the ZDK Government reacted promptly, which also prompted others, such as the Government of Tuzla Canton and the Government of the Federation of BiH, to promise assistance.

- It is my honor and pleasure that we are able to help the Basketball Association of BiH and our national teams to compete. We continue to provide great support to sports and are approaching 1% of budget allocations for sports.

We will allocate 200,000 KM to assist the KSBiH - stated Prime Minister Pivić.

He added that it is regrettable that the Basketball Association of BiH and our national team have to manage in this way "because this issue is not systematically resolved".

- We are showing the desire and determination to invest in our national team, recalling how happy we all were when our country's cadet team became European champions in 2015 and when we triumphantly welcomed those guys.

We want to send a message to young people that our talents should also have all the necessary conditions for work, especially for international competitions - said Pivić.

He announced that the Government will make a decision on allocating funds to help KSBiH at its session on Friday, and that these funds will be operational next week to resolve this issue.

- Our basketball team has brought so much joy to this country, done the most beautiful things for this nation, integrated society, put us in focus not only regionally but also across Europe, and produced great players who represent Bosnia and Herzegovina as the best ambassadors.

They do not deserve such treatment. They do not deserve to think about whether they will appear in major competitions due to finances. We wanted to react adequately, help them, and send a message that everything with the prefix 'Bosnia and Herzegovina' will be recognized and supported by this Government.

We do not want to participate only in the celebration when they achieve results, but also in their creation - said Minister Mušija.

President of KSBiH Aida Berbić stated that soon after last week's announcement about financing problems, he received a message from Secretary General Dževad Alihodžić that the Government and Assembly of ZDK were ready to help.

- After that, we were contacted by Tuzla Canton, and then by others. That was a sign for us that there are indeed people who recognize the importance of investing in young people and this sport in which we have had good results in recent years - said Berbić.

He explained that approximately 400,000 KM is needed for the participation of four youth selections in the European championships in Latvia, Romania, Turkey, and North Macedonia, while a minimum of 500,000 KM is necessary for the senior national team, which is expected to participate in the European Championship from August 27 to September 14.

Dževad Alihodžić expressed regret that the mantra that "something cannot be done" is constantly repeated in public.

- As an athlete, I learned to fight on the field and that something can always be done. It is time to find a permanent solution for financing the association and national teams, so that we can plan activities and achieve better results.

With partial solutions and constant problems, we cannot count on serious results. In such conditions, success is an incident, not a result of systematic work - emphasized Alihodžić.

A former BiH national team player, who was also a world and European champion with the Yugoslavian team, today holds the thankless position of Secretary General of KSBiH.

As a native of Zenica, he expressed pride that the initiative for help came from Zenica-Doboj Canton.

- The Government of ZDK, led by Prime Minister Pivić, has provided exceptional support to the national team. As a Zenica resident, I am extremely proud of that. I am sure that this will not stop here and that the initiative will be accepted in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a model for helping national associations - emphasized Alihodžić.

Goran Bulajić, Deputy Speaker of the ZDK Assembly and father of cadet national team player Jan Bulajić, stated that it has once again been shown that the system is failing, but also that the ZDK Government reacted promptly to the plea from KSBiH.

- Prime Minister Nezir Pivić, Minister Mirza Mušija, and Minister of Finance Dženana Čišija quickly found a way to secure funds. Patriotism of people from ZDK has been shown, and for that, I am proud - said Bulajić.