The football players of Banjaluka’s Borac began preparations today for the second half of the season. Mladen Žižović has listed 31 players on his roster.
Zvjezdan Misimović, the technical director of the club from Platonova Street, emphasized that Borac eagerly anticipates the start of competitions in the spring portion of the BiH Championship, the Cup, and the Conference League.
“We have a very tight schedule. Our ambitions are the highest in all competitions,” Misimović stated.
Oliver Jandrić, the sports director of the club from the City on the Vrbas, noted that the players and coaching staff would train in Banjaluka until January 23, when they travel to Antalya, Turkey.
“We have scheduled five preparatory matches in Turkey. We are in discussions with two or three players. I won’t mention names, but everything will be finalized before we depart for Antalya,” Jandrić clarified.
Mladen Žižović, Borac’s head coach, stated that the team had a challenging and demanding half-season but also a highly successful one.
“We’re starting today, and the weather is not in our favor. We’ve had a very successful first half of the season, perhaps the best in the club’s history. We cannot afford to lose focus. Our ambitions remain high in both the Cup and the league. A match against Olimpija awaits us. If we prepare well, we have a good chance. I expect us to improve in certain areas; there is room for that. We have also given opportunities to young players, and they will have the chance to prove themselves,” Žižović highlighted.
Team captain Srđan Grahovac mentioned that the 20-day winter break was maximally utilized for rest.
“We aim to prepare as best as possible for what lies ahead,” he said.
Mladen Žižović’s team will play five preparatory matches in Antalya.
The first match is scheduled for January 25 against Pari NN, followed by a game against Kairat four days later. Subsequent matches include encounters with Andijon on February 2, as well as Auda and Riga on February 5.
The Banjaluka giant has qualified for the round of 16 in the Conference League, where they will face Ljubljana’s Olimpija.
The first match will be played in the City on the Vrbas on February 13, with the return leg scheduled for seven days later in Slovenia.
Source: RTRS
