Investments by the Government of Republika Srpska in sports have produced results. Proof of that came in the form of last night’s football spectacle in Banja Luka and the opening of the Champions League qualifiers, in which Borac Banja Luka are also taking part. In the city on the Vrbas, demand for tickets had been unusually high for days. Everything culminated last night at the stadium, where Borac and Bulgaria’s Levski played in a spectacular atmosphere. The draw at the final whistle promises that the euphoria will continue over the next seven days, until the return leg in Bulgaria.
The football euphoria that has been shaking the entire planet these days has also reached Banja Luka, but the reason is not the matches at the World Cup. Instead, it is the start of the Champions League qualifiers, in which Borac Banja Luka are participating. In the city on the Vrbas, demand for tickets had been unusually high for days, and everything culminated last night at the stadium, where Borac and Bulgaria’s Levski played in a spectacular atmosphere. The final result, a draw, promises that the euphoria will continue over the next seven days until the return leg in Bulgaria.
After last night’s spectacle, the morning at the City Stadium was a working one. While workers cleaned up the remains of the choreography and the stadium, which has recently received a new look, club officials had already begun preparations for the return leg in Sofia. Luka Juričić’s goal, Borac’s performance and the atmosphere at the stadium remained the main topic on the streets of Banja Luka today.
A record 9,500 tickets were sold for last night’s match, and certainly more would have been sold had the stadium’s capacity allowed it. Those who were not lucky enough to watch the match from the stands followed the live broadcast on our programme, during which the city was almost completely deserted.
Even members of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska wrapped up their session at 8 p.m., and many of them were later seen at the stadium. The century-old club from Platonova Street thus became a European representative not only of Banja Luka, but of all Republika Srpska, and that is something the club is well aware of.
“We can say that we are one of the ambassadors of Republika Srpska, and the players showed that on the pitch last night, that they are fighting for the entire region. I’m glad the fans came in such numbers, filled the stadium and recognized the effort of both the players and the club,” said Borac president Zvjezdan Misimović.
“I have to emphasize that we receive our greatest support from our Government, both financially and morally, and we saw that last night, everyone was at the match. We have attracted them as well with our performances and our atmosphere, and we thank them very much for that,” said Borac Assembly president Stojan Malbašić.
At a time when, at least in this region, private capital shows little interest in investing in sports clubs, government support is more than welcome, Malbašić said. It should not be forgotten that Borac also generates significant revenue thanks to its results in Europe, part of which has been invested in stadium infrastructure, including the roofing of the east stand, so that spectators can enjoy even better conditions for watching matches. The bond between the people of Banja Luka and Borac is a special one, even though, like any other relationship, it has gone through both highs and lows over the club’s 100 years of existence.
No one knows that better than Stojan Malbašić, who has spent more than half of the club’s lifespan with it, 54 years to be exact, both as a player and as an official. Even so, he said he was impressed by last night’s atmosphere.
“Believe me, watching such a full stadium last night, I remembered my own time when I was playing and when this stadium looked roughly like this. I would like to thank all the spectators, all the fans and our Vultures for coming in such numbers and creating this kind of atmosphere,” Malbašić added.
Everyone hopes it will stay that way, regardless of the result of the return leg in Sofia, because Borac will continue its European journey in any case, whether in the Champions League or the Conference League. It is especially important, everyone at the club repeats, that this atmosphere be carried over to matches in the Bosnia and Herzegovina league as well, because winning another title remains the main goal, so that matches like this can be played again next summer.
Source: RTRS
