Bosnian handball tradition

The SG Flensburg-Handewitt has had a new player in its ranks since February. Adin Faljić will help out until June and is now the second Bosnian to join Benjamin Burić. After starting out in his home country and spending four years with RK Zagreb, the 25-year-old pivot has left the Balkans for the first time in his career.

The accommodation in the far north is very functional. Adin Faljić has moved into an apartment in the Flensburg Academy. There is a gym just a few steps down and the Duburghalle, where the SG always trains, is not far away. "It's all very practical," says the new arrival. "I want to concentrate fully on handball here." The Bosnian has not yet had much time to explore his new adopted home. But he has already gained his first impressions. "Flensburg is small and cute," says Adin Faljić. "It's not so hectic here and I love the sea." He has found the people to be hospitable and courteous. This is particularly true of the Macedonia restaurant, which has quickly become a personal favorite. Dishes from the Balkans and the language awaken feelings of home at a time when a lot of new things are hitting the handball player. It's nice that Benjamin Burić, a fellow countryman, is in the team. "He's willing to help and also asks me if I need anything," says Adin Faljić gratefully. At the moment, he is talking in English and Bosnian. "I understand 75 percent of German," he reveals. "But it will take some time to speak it. I studied German at school, but that was six years ago."

Bosnian town with a handball tradition
Adin Faljić comes from Zavidovići, a small town in the heart of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It has a population of just under 40,000, but many of them work abroad. "At normal times, it's an empty town," he says. "But everyone comes home for the summer vacation." There are many forests in the surrounding area, so the timber industry is firmly anchored in Zavidovići. The local handball club RK Krivaja also has a long tradition, having played in the first division for decades. From 1968 to 1970, the team was even coached by a certain Vlado Stenzel. Just under a decade later, he became world champion with the DHB team. "We have handball - and then nothing for a long time," says Adin Faljić. In Zavidovići, handball is the topic of conversation on the streets. This was also confirmed by an incident a decade and a half ago. A twelve-year-old boy was on his way home from school. On the terrace of a pub, some men were talking and looking at him. How tall might he be? He is already quite tall and strong, probably born in 1998? The boy who was approached replied shyly: "I was born in 2000." The men were amazed. Then one of them introduced himself. "I'm youth coach RK Krivaja," he said. "Wouldn't you like to come to handball?" Adin Faljić didn't accept the invitation straight away, but when some of his school friends wanted to play handball, he simply came along. He was a little taller than the others - which is why he was already playing at center back and in the circle.

Decision for RK Zagreb
The men from RK Krivaja are currently eleventh in the Bosnian league - a far cry from European competition. By the time Adin Faljić played his first international match in 2020, he had other goals. RK Zagreb took notice of him, but first he wanted to finish school. Ivica Obvran then became the coach of both the Bosnian national team and RK Zagreb. He spoke to Adin Faljić about his interest and the prospects and opportunities in the Croatian capital. The offer was appealing, but he also had to give himself a jolt. "It was the first time I had been so far away from home and lived on my own," he recalls. "I also joined a team with some stars. The first two years were difficult, but then I acclimatized." And when he had two or three days off, he would travel the 300 kilometers to see his parents, sister and friends. Adin Faljić became Croatian champion four times with RK Zagreb. In the EHF Champions League, he traveled to Kiel, Magdeburg and Berlin. He played with the Bosnian national team at the 2024 European Championship in Mannheim.

The path to SG
He has now become very familiar with another German arena, namely "Hell North". "This atmosphere gives you the feeling that you can't lose," says the 25-year-old. "The audience is like an eighth man." He quickly understood that he couldn't have the number eight. That's why the circle runner now wears 19 on his jersey. Just a few months ago, he would never have thought that he would suddenly arrive in the "strongest league in the world". At the end of January, the SG contacted him in the person of Aleš Pajović. Adin Faljić then made his decision very quickly. In Flensburg, he registered Zagreb's departure from the EHF Champions League, while continuing to compete internationally in the EHF European League. "The team has so much potential, we can win a title," he believes. The circle player quickly realized that the DAIKIN HBL is much stronger than the league in Croatia. "It's as different as the ground and the sky," he says. "You have to have respect for every opponent and prepare similarly for every opponent - whether it's Berlin or Leipzig." Adin Faljić will face this challenge until June. "We'll see what happens then," he emphasizes. "At the moment, the SG is my club". In any case, he will be going home in the summer - to Zavidovići.

20260224-IAJ61735 — Numerous autograph requests.

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