Government of ZDC hosted reception for NK Čelik: Return to the Premier League confirms quality work and investment

(Patria) - A reception was held at the seat of the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC) for the management, coaching staff and players of the Football Club Čelik Zenica, on the occasion of winning the title of champion of the First League of the FBiH and returning to the Premier League of BiH.

The reception was hosted by the Prime Minister of ZDC Nezir Pivić, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Mirza Mušija, Assistant Minister for Sports Maša Škrbić, and Deputy Speaker of the ZDC Assembly Goran Bulajić.

Prime Minister Pivić congratulated the club on its historic success, emphasizing that Čelik's return to the Premier League is one of the greatest sporting achievements in the canton in recent years.

- It is an honor and a pleasure to have hosted our champions today. Our vision for sports development is already yielding concrete results, and NK Čelik is the best example of that. For the 2025/2026 season, we allocated 1.4 million KM for the club, and the club justified that support in the best possible way - said Pivić.

He added that the Government of ZDC has allocated nearly 15 million KM for sports over the past three years, and stressed that support for sports teams will continue in the coming period.

Minister Mušija said that Čelik is a symbol of the city of Zenica and a brand of special significance for the entire canton.

- Čelik is the reason we passed the Law on Sports Clubs of Special Importance. We have shown that systemic support yields results, and the return to the Premier League is the best confirmation of that - said Mušija.

President of the Management Board of NK Čelik Denis Mušović thanked the Government of ZDC and the City of Zenica for their continuous support, emphasizing that the club is stabilized and has a clear vision for development.

Head of the coaching staff Bojan Regoje and captain Kenan Horić pointed out that the return to the Premier League is the result of unity, support and dedicated work by everyone in the club.

Finally, it was stated that NK Čelik's return to the Premier League represents the culmination of a multi-year process of stabilizing the club and the beginning of a new period in which the club will strive to confirm its status among the best in Bosnia and Herzegovina.