ZDK invests in sports: Support for clubs of special importance, Football Club Čelik receives 700,000 KM

(Patria) - In the seat of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, contracts were signed today for clubs from the city of Zenica that are covered by the Law on Clubs of Special Importance for ZDK.

The Zenica-Doboj Canton has increased its sports budget this year from 2 to 5 million KM. The government has provided significant support for the recovery of our most decorated sports clubs. Three million KM will be allocated to clubs covered by the Law on Clubs of Special Importance for ZDK, while an amount of 2 million KM will be allocated to clubs not covered by this Law, through regular financing, as in previous years.

- We consider it our obligation to help in the recovery of sports giants from our canton. I am pleased that we have reached the realization of support for clubs of special importance for ZDK. With 5 million KM allocated for sports this year, we have approached the amount of 1 percent allocation for sports. We believe that this will bring results and that we will have clubs in the canton playing in elite competitions. Of course, we will continue to support clubs in the future. I believe this will also encourage entrepreneurs to get more directly involved in financing sports – stated Prime Minister Nezir Pivić.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Mirza Mušija said that in a short period they have shown that “our proclamation on the affirmation of sports is becoming a materialized, evident project”.

- These are serious allocations for sports. Through the Law, we have recognized certain clubs that we have declared clubs of importance for the Canton, and through the 3 million KM allocated for the Law, we will capacitate these clubs and restore their former glory.

We want to bring the audience back to our arenas, stadiums, and halls, and ultimately to raise that energy and turn it into international successes – said Minister Mirza Mušija.

The largest amount – 700,000 KM – will be directed to the Football Club „Čelik“, which has left a deep mark in the history of the canton and the country, with the hope that „Čelik“ will shine again in the paths of its former glory and return among the best.
- This is not just an ordinary signature and an ordinary contract for us, but a signature for a brighter future of NK „Čelik“.

I thank Prime Minister Pivić and Minister Mušija for recognizing the work of our Management Board, that we are leading the club towards a brighter future. I hope that we will justify this trust and that this will be a new beginning for a future more successful, better, stable club that will proudly represent our city and canton, and I hope, in the future, our country in European competitions – said Denis Mušović, President of the Management Board of NK “Čelik” Zenica.

Mirza Sikirić, President of the Youth Basketball Club “Čelik” Zenica, thanked the Prime Minister, the Minister, and others who recognized the importance of their club, and added that they are aware of the responsibility and have initiated certain organizational restructuring activities with the aim that “Čelik in the future will be significant not only for our canton but also for the country and the entire region”.

He emphasized that this is an initial step towards stabilizing the club, but that they “need support from other levels of government to achieve what we have set out to do”.

- We will continue to strive to play in the Premier League of BiH and to represent the city and canton with dignity, to strive to achieve the best possible results. We owe gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Minister, the entire Government of ZDK and everyone who has recognized our work. Of course, without good results and quality work, this would not have been possible, so I also have gratitude towards our girls and the coach – said Senaida Tabić, President of the Management Board of the Women's Basketball Club “Čelik - BH Telecom” Zenica.