Women's handball does not exist: How long will Bosnians and Herzegovinians cheer for other national teams

The European Championship for handball players is underway in Sweden, lasting until December 18, and as usual, the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not participating.

Handball fans in BiH are once again forced to cheer for neighboring selections. In Sweden, the national teams of Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro played or are still playing.

The team does not exist

Fans in BiH are not immune to the results of Slovenia, our former federal partner in the former SFRY, whose good results they prefer, say, over those of the Netherlands or Hungary.

Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify for the Euro in Sweden because it did not even play qualifications, as the senior women's handball team does not exist!

In the 21st century, to say that a country does not have its national team in one of the more prominent sports sounds a bit absurd and unbelievable, but unfortunately, it is true!

Lack of money, a weak domestic league, lack of competitiveness on the European stage, and in the few appearances BiH has had, convincing defeats of our clubs in Europe, the neglect of the Executive Board of the Handball Federation of BiH, and a million other reasons can be listed as to why Bosnians and Herzegovinians are forced to cheer for neighboring selections, not their own.

No problem will be solved on its own, that is clear as day. However, every problem that begins to be addressed will eventually be solved.

There have been timid attempts in the past to solve the problem of the non-existence of the BiH women's handball team, but mostly it all ended with an attempt.

Youth selections have been assembled occasionally. BiH cadets participated in the qualification tournament for the World Championship in 2013, BiH juniors have been assembled...

Lately, this issue has been increasingly emphasized. Allegedly, attempts are being made to form a staff with competent coaches who have international experience from Denmark and other countries.

Political support

Efforts are also being made to gain the support of the political elite, several major sponsors, and higher education institutions...

Time will tell if this story has a foundation. One thing is certain – Bosnians and Herzegovinians are tired of cheering for other national teams in women's handball; it is high time they got their own selection.

It would be nice if our team also played in a major competition one day.

Everyone wants that, but no one is moving things forward!

Play-off from 2003

In the post-war period, our women's national team achieved its greatest success under the leadership of Zlata Zubac. At that time, our team reached the play-off for the 2003 World Championship, when it was defeated by the very strong Hungary. At that time, the best handball player in the world of all time, Svetlana Ceca Kitić from Tuzla, played for BiH and was the director of the national team.

The senior women's national team of BiH last participated in 2008 at the Challenge Trophy Cup in Cyprus.