On Saturday, May 28, 2022, a humanitarian basketball tournament called “Basket za Baniju” (lit. “Hoop for Banija”) was held in Dvor na Uni. The Municipality of Dvor, the Academic Association of Serbian Youth “Josif Runjanin,” and the Serbian Democratic Forum (SDF) have joined forces in organizing a big gathering and tournament.
BY: Emil Čančar
Guests were arriving and teams were being formed all the way until noon, when the tournament officially started. Bad weather did not ruin the atmosphere, and those present were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, especially of the youth.
The organizers of this tournament and future ones want to create healthy and meaningful occasions for socializing and promoting health and physical activity. All activities related to Banija will serve to provide support for the rehabilitation and restoration of neglected playing fields and sports infrastructure, and for the distribution of sports equipment to children from Banija in order to make their school and sports days more pleasant.
During this first “Basket for Banija” action, two new basket hoops were provided for the playing field in Dvor, together with sports equipment packages for 50 children, mostly from the Banija area. The plan is to carry out this action in the coming years, but in different locations throughout Banija.
In addition to the renewal of infrastructure in certain regions, the renewal of social, cultural, and sports life is also necessary, as well as events that will connect people and bring them together. The idea of “Basket for Banija” represents exactly that.
The action was sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Vukovar, the Cedevita Basketball Club, the Crvena Zvezda Basketball Club, the municipalities of Negoslavci, Markušica, Borovo, and Jagodnjak, the Association “Koga briga” from Rijeka, the Association of Women of Negoslavci, the Council of the Serbian National Minority (VSNM) Negoslavci, the Primary School “Borovo,” and the Hunting Association “Vepar” from Veliki Poganac.
The individuals who contributed to the organization of the event are Dejan Mihajlović, Ljuba Vrga, Nikola and Nada Bosanac, Đorđe Radinović, Veljko Katić, and Nebojša Džombić.
About twenty hard-working organizers and volunteers made sure that everything went as smoothly as it should. Special praise goes to Milka Šapić and Zoran Baćanović, who prepared lunch for everyone present, Goran Vinčić, who was the programme host and who commented on the match, and Tomo Berović, a young referee from Šibenik, who judged all matches fairly and correctly.
Special assistance in the organization of this event was provided by the Primary School “Dvor” and the local football club, as well as the municipality of Dvor, led by Nikola Arbutina.