Memorial Football Tournaments Honor War Heroes in Bosnia and Croatia

In the Sarajevo suburb of Pofalići, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 31st traditional small‑football tournament was staged on 30 July to commemorate the fallen war hero Enver Šehović. Organized by the association “1. Slavne Viteške Brigade Sarajevo”, eight local teams competed in a knockout format, and a veterans‑versus‑seniors match highlighted the event.

Over the border in Cvetlin, Croatia, the 29th memorial tournament “Tri hrvatska viteza” was held to remember three Croatian defenders – Ivana Čižić, Slavka Smiljana and Krešu Šmintića – who died defending the nation. The ceremony featured a mass‑celebration, speeches by local officials including Damir Poljak and General Josip Lučić, and the inauguration of a new commemorative monument. Both events used sport to preserve the memory of those who gave their lives during the conflicts of the 1990s.