BOSNIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 24th WEEK

(Click here and here for the original Turkish text in Haber Boşnak, published May 1, 2012.)

(1 Mayıs 2012 tarihinde Haber Boşnak'ta yayınlanan özgün metin için buraya ve buraya tıklayınız)

Zeljeznicar and Şiroki Brijeg are not only rivals in the Bosnian Premijer League, but they also struggle for the title of Bosnian Cup.

Last Wednesday, the first leg of the Bosnian Cup final was played and Zeljo had a 1-0 home victory with the goal scored by Skara. The second match will be played in Şiroki Brijeg and we will see if 1-0 home victory will be enough for Zeljo.

24th week was characterized by victories of three goals, which did not make any change at the peak of the league. Both Zeljo and Şiroki Brijeg had victories and conserved their rankings as the first and second teams.

The surprise home defeat of Borac against Zvijezda made it more difficult for them to struggle for European cups. Another surprising result was the away 3-0 defeat of Olimpik in Gabela. With this result, Olimpik who as slowly but surely approaching the pot for playing European cups is injured badly. Zrinjski, another team approaching for right to be in European struggle was defeated in Mostar Derby against Velez.

Without doubt, the Mostar Derby did not have any effect for the struggle at the top of the league, neither it affected the bottom ranks, but in the name of the Bosnian football legacy, Mostar Derby was the most important match of the week.

The Velez – Zrinjski derby is not only a simple city derby. Zrinjski was banned during Tito regime because of their sportive support to Nazi puppet Ustashi regime during the World War II.

They were re-established again during the collapse of Yugoslavia. The first action they did was to rent Velez’s Stadium Biİjini Brijeg for 49 years from the administration of Croat Defense Union, who occupied West Mostar (and shelled famous Mostar bridge) during the Bosnian War 1992-1995. 

For Velez, with a claim of being the team of the whole city, in spite of Zrinjski representing only the Bosnian Croats of Mostar, the 3-1 victory against Zrinjski, as a result of a good football played under sharp Herzegovinian sun was of importance. (Poster photo: http://www.redarmy-mostar.ba)

The most dramatic match of the week was Sloboda’s home 4-0 defeat against Zeljo. Slavija was awarded by the recent week’s performance and now they are above the red line, where Sloboda is now there. Sloboda is one of those seven teams, who had been continuously taking part in Bosnian League since it was established in 2003, and recognized as a team with an honorable history with loyal and recognized fans.

The results of the matches played in the Bosnian Premier League in the 24th week are as follow:

Çelik Zenica: 2 – Leotar Trebinje: 3

FK Kozara: 1 – Şiroki Brijeg: 2

FK Sarajevo: 3 – Rudar Prijedor: 1

FK Slavija: 3 – NK Travnik: 1

Velez Mostar: 3– Zrinjski: 1 

GOŞK Gabela: 3 – Olimpik Sarajevo: 0

Sloboda Tuzla: 0– Zeljeznicar: 4

Borac Banja Luka: 1 – Zvijezda Gradaçac: 2

Standings of the teams by the end of 24th week:

(Source: www.nfsbih.ba)

Next Week’s Schedule (Week 25: May, 2):

Borac – Çelik

Zvijezda – Sloboda

Zeljo – GOŞK

Olimpik – Velez

Zrinjski – Slavija

Travnik – Sarajevo

Rudar – Kozara

Şiroki - Leotar

FK NOVI PAZAR

Novi Pazar has almost returned from death’s door. The only think they have to do from now on is to take three points in the next three matches. However, three difficult matches wait for Pazar. The rival Borac, on the other hand will have relatively easier matches, with a potential of gaining points from any of them.

Novi Pazar, joining the Serbian Super League for the first time is that close to fulfill this season’s target of not relegating.

As we mentioned earlier, 27th week was a crucial turning point for Novi Pazar. But, it seems Novi Pazar will be regretting too much for the two points lost to Metalac last week.

The home match against Hajduk Kula had an opening with a surprise goal at only sixth minute.

When the fans were suspicious on the issue if there would be another accident, the maestro of midfield of Novi Pazar with a recognizable Super Liga experience, Irfan Vuşljanin son of Novi Pazar scored at 25th minute. Just after that, 32 years old striker Admir Raşçiç from Foça – East Bosnia, having played in Çelik and Zeljeznicar scored the victory goal at 33th minute. Since Borac had a home 4-0 lost against Partizan, Novi Pazar had a deep breath. As we mentioned last week, after victory against Rad, BSK Borça is now surely away from relegation pot.

Standing of the teams in Serbian Jelen Super League by 27th week:

(Source: www. utakmica.rs)

Novi Pazar’s next matches:

Sloboda (away)

OFK Beograd (home)

Jagodina (away)

Borac’s next matches:

Rad (away)

Vojvodina (home)

Spartak (away)

  

Novi Pazar has the greatest expectations from Borac-Vojvodina match. The same week, Pazar may gain point(s) against OFK at home.