Judging by the results of Borac’s U-17 team, the Banja Luka club could soon dominate football in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Competing in the BiH Premier League’s cadet division, the red-and-blues have achieved a remarkable run of 21 consecutive wins in as many league matches, with a stunning goal difference of 85:16.
Although the initial goal for this squad—comprising equal numbers of players born in 2008 and 2009—was to develop and improve their football skills, they have now set a record-breaking winning streak, surpassing Sarajevo’s previous record of 16 consecutive victories.
“I took over the cadet team at the start of the second half of last season, and we finished fourth back then. Our main goal this season was to refine our style of play and develop our players as much as possible. We never imagined achieving such a run, especially since Sarajevo was already considered the title favorite. However, we started strong, and when we defeated Sarajevo on their home turf in the seventh round, we realized just how much we could achieve,” said Borac U-17 head coach.
The team’s remarkable success is largely due to the talented generation of players and the expertise of the coaching staff, which, besides head coach Mirković, includes assistant coach Emilko Janković, fitness coach Aleksandar Munjiza, and goalkeeper coach Filip Ratković.
“We have known each other well since our playing days, and our long-term collaboration has translated successfully to this team. This streak is truly impressive, but our primary focus remains player development. Results matter, but they come second. We want our players to learn from their mistakes, play fluid football, and move the ball effectively. What they learn now will serve as a foundation for their future careers,” Mirković emphasized.
Borac currently leads the league with 63 points from 21 matches, 17 points ahead of second-placed Sarajevo. This weekend, they will visit Široki Brijeg, marking the end of the second phase of the championship, after which the Championship and Relegation Playoffs will begin.
“Široki Brijeg has been one of the toughest opponents for us so far. After that, we have ten more matches in the Championship Playoff. At this point, only a miracle could prevent us from winning the title. However, as I keep stressing, the main goal is not the trophy, but the further development of our players, especially since many of them, born in 2009, will still be eligible to play in the cadet division next season,” added Mirković.
While the coach avoided singling out individuals, it is clear that Matej Deket, with 28 goals, and Vukašin Gostimirović, with 16, stand out as the league’s top two scorers.
Player contracts
Interestingly, a significant number of Borac’s cadet players already have contracts with the club, with two of them holding professional deals: Matej Deket and Miljan Kecman, both born in 2009.
Additionally, several players have signed scholarship contracts with Borac, including Stefan Višekruna, Dejan Brešo, Pavle Ćuso, Dragan Predojević, and Vukašin Gostimirović.
Source: Glas Srpske
