Zrinjski open up five-point gap

By Fuad Krvavac

With NK Željeznicar losing two of their three games since the resumption of the Bosnia-Herzegovnian Premier League on 10 March, NK Zrinjski have stretched their lead at the top to five points.

Bad weather
The restart had twice been postponed due to inclement weather and when the action finally got under way the matches were played in almost impossible conditions. Pitches have been covered in ice and mud, rendering attractive football almost unplayable. Zeljeznicar are one team struggling to refind their rhythm, going down to away defeats by FK Sloboda Tuzla (2-0) and NK Celik (1-0) either side of a 2-1 home victory against FK Modrica.

Grip strengthened
Even Zrinjski tasted defeat in the 18th round of matches on 19 March, losing 2-0 away to second-from-bottom FK Buducnost Banovici. However, a 5-0 triumph against NK Travnik and a 3-2 win at FK Sarajevo in the preceding two rounds had seem them strengthen their grip on the top flight. They remain odds-on favourites to lift the title with third-placed NK Široki Brijeg eleven points behind in third, albeit with a game in hand.

Sporting decision
That is because their match at Buducnost was postponed because of an icy pitch, causing a stir in the country with a commission working on behalf of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation taking 20 days to decide to replay the fixture. Committee members were divided on the subject, with some calling for a 3-0 away win as the home team had failed to provide proper playing conditions. However, a sporting decision was taken in the end.

Semi-finals
That game now needs to be rearranged, like the Bosnia-Herzegovnian Cup semi-finals which have been pencilled in for 6 April. A capital derby sees FK Slavija Sarajevo take on Sarajevo while Široki Brijeg will look to halt Zrinjski's march towards the double. With the second half of the season in its infancy, there has already been a coaching casualty. Dzevad Bekic, who only took over as coach of Buducnost during the break, has resigned and been replaced by his assistant Salih Ramia.