Winter warmer for Zrinjski
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Article summary
Monthly review: Entering the winter break, NK Zrinjski lead the way in Bosnia-Herzegovina's Premier League.
Article body
By Fuad Krvavac
NK Zrinjski have gone into the winter break in Bosnia-Herzegovina two points clear of NK Željeznicar at the top of the table having only lost one game this autumn.
Top scorer
With Zrinjski's Zoran Rajovic leading the Premier League scoring charts, coach Franjo Dzidic has reason to be proud of his side's work. "We fully deserve top spot," he said. "We want to win our first ever title, but the race with Željeznicar and [NK] Široki [Brijeg] will not be easy."
Title challengers
The only defeat for Zrinjski, who hail from the city of Mostar, was at Željeznicar on 3 October (1-2), while reigning champions Široki Brijeg are just about in contention in third place, lying nine points behind Zrinjski at the halfway stage.
Poor autumn
The same cannot be said of FK Leotar, FK Sarajevo and NK Celik, whose pre-season title ambitions have all but vanished. Leotar and Sarajevo are treading water in mid-table while Celik are in the relegation zone, battling with fellow strugglers FK Rudar Ugljevik, FK Buducnost Banovici, FK Sloboda Tuzla and NK Zepce.
Celik coaches
Celik's plight has not been helped by having changed coach twice already this season. Current incumbent Husref Musemic is the Zenica club's third coach of the campaign and is set to leave in the spring having signed a contract with Sarajevo. It will be his third spell in charge there in three years.
Surprise overachievers
NK Orašje and NK Modrica have been the surprise overachievers of the autumn, with Orasje boss Zeljko Baotic's decision to give his young players a chance being fully vindicated. NK Posušje and NK Travnik have also earned a relaxing winter break having surprisingly crept into the top half of the league.
Disputed result
The big talking point in November was the match between FK Borac Banjaluka and Sarajevo which saw a Borac fan attack a Sarajevo player. The game was awarded as a 3-0 win for Borac after Sarajevo players refused to complete the fixture, but the club are appealing the decision with the Premier League's executive committee.
Cup draw
The top-flight campaign will resume on 27 February, while the draw for the semi-finals of the Bosnia-Herzegovnian Cup will be held in March. Zrinjski, Sarajevo, Široki Brijeg and outsiders FK Slavija Sarajevo will be the four teams in the hat.
