Bosnia | ‘Joyful fandom’ & the flares of Sarajevo (w/ podcast)

I say this to you: can I still play football three times a week? Can I still play football three times a week? You look at me with your monk’s face, full of an infinite pity, yes, but without understanding, loosened from the realities of this life like a boat that has slipped its rig and floats in the bay. Because you know the truth as I know it. The aesthetic, political, journalistic, academic opportunities afforded a writer in these United States of America—all of them are sadly incompatible with playing a game of football, three times a week.

Updates

• Meho Kodro, after only four months on the job, was fired as Bosnia’s national-team coach in late May 08. Waving banners that said “Association Out,” fans on Jun 1 attended a charity match hosted by Kodro in lieu of a friendly later the same day against Azerbaijan. State TV reported that only a dozen tickets had been sold to the Bosnia-Azerbaijan match in Zenica.
• New Bosnia coach Meho Kodro, a former national-team captain, named several foreign-based players who had boycotted earlier games to the squad for a 31 Jan 08 friendly versus Japan.
• In an attempt to bring eight boycotting players back into the international fold, Bosnian football authorities on Dec 17 fired coaches of the national team and all age-group sides. “All players are invited to accept calls by coaches, who will alone be in charge of call-ups, and we expect support by fans, media and public in creating a positive climate,” read the NFSBiH statement.

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Global Game Podcast, 4 Dec 07 (Bosnia) [ 28:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download