The Youth Handball Club Perihel from Brčko secured promotion to the First League of Republika Srpska through the playoffs, but it remains unclear whether they will actually compete in the higher division.
Founded in 2019, Perihel officially began functioning as a club in 2021. The team is composed of young players who took their first steps in handball within the club itself. Thanks to dedicated work and intensive training, the team achieved notable success this season—first by winning the title in the Second League (East Group), and then by defeating Vrbas and Prijedor in the playoffs.
“We’ve had an extremely successful season, ending as the best team in the East and winning the playoffs to qualify for the First League of Republika Srpska. I’m only sorry that our juniors couldn’t participate in the BiH Championship due to scheduling conflicts with the playoff matches. The loss in Prijedor was our only defeat of the season, so overall, we’re very satisfied with what we achieved,” said head coach Goran Šarenac.
However, despite securing promotion, without adequate support from the relevant authorities, the club may not be able to compete in the higher league, which comes with increased costs and obligations.
“To be honest, we’re not sure whether we can afford the First League of Republika Srpska. We have some meetings scheduled, but it’s clear that without support, we won’t embark on that journey. In addition to financial uncertainty, we’ve also lost several key players who have signed with teams in the BiH Premier League, and replacing them will be difficult. Because of all this, we need to think carefully. At the moment, it seems unlikely that we’ll be able to play in the higher tier, even though we earned it on the court,” added Šarenac.
The sports funding system in Brčko has led to the collapse of several clubs. Handball teams have dropped out of the BiH League, and even volleyball champions are now fighting to survive. That’s why this young club is cautious and determined not to end up in a similar situation.
Transfers
The club’s main goal is to promote young handball players, which was evident at the end of this season.
“We’re proud that two of our young players have moved up to the BiH League. Boris Ilić joined Gračanica, and pivot Igor Marjanović signed with Sloboda. It’s a testament to our good work. In addition, three more players are heading to Spartak from Subotica. These transfers show that we have potential and that our work is paying off,” Šarenac concluded.
Source: Glas Srpske
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