Sports Capms

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CAMPS

FEBA Sports Department has developed a Summer Sports Camp Project in order to bring up future sports managers, and improve the sport performances of young Balkan Americans. With the extensive sports education, and sports related contests, FEBA aims to achieve excellence in providing a sports related education to the young sports leaders, and improve performances of young Balkan Americans.

In order to facilitate required sports education for future sports managers, and sportsmen for first time FEBA has organized the FEBA SPORTS CAMP in Istanbul, Turkey, 2011. The purpose of the sports camp was not only to develop the future sports managers and sports related leaders, but also by organizing trips to historical and cultural site in Turkey in order to introduce the Turkish culture as well as to revive the historical ties that lies that is embedded deep within the Balkan- American youth.

The Sports Camp in Turkey, 2011, is being hosted by the FEBA’s affiliate BALKANSIAD association, that has provided required accommodations, trainers, organized trips and visits both in Istanbul, and in other parts of the Turkey. In addition, by organizing trips and dinners with local Turkic-Balkan communities and FEBA Sports Camp participants it helped in building up the bridge between the young Balkan-Americans and local Turkic-Balkan communities in Turkey. Once again the very rich Ottoman heritage left to both Balkan-American participants, and for the Balkan-Turkic hosts provided a founding stones for everlasting friendships.

The sports camp participants had a chance to have a dinner with the NBA star Hedo Turkoglu, where they had a chance to ask Hedo questions about his career, how to become a successful sportsman, and also some questions that can take the front page of the tabloids. It was surprise for the participants that Hedo could still speak fluently Bosnian Language, and that much of his Balkan heritage was still preserved. Hedo provided both the motivation, and the path in how to become successful, not only successful in sports, but also successful in life.

The camp was located in one of the most beautiful parts of Istanbul, the Sariyer. The Sariyer, municipality is placed next to the straits of Bosphorus, adjacent to the Black Sea. It’s one of the most preserved natural and ecological sites, with the 10 acres of forest around. This, natural site provides a unique opportunities to the sportsmen to have training both in very natural resort; also it provides close proximity to the Istanbul metropolis.

Despite the fact that this was first time for FEBA to organize sports camp, there were 19 participants that attended the camp. The participants came from different cities across the U.S., and from different communities. Therefore, this camp provided the great diversity of Balkan Americans that contributed to the development of new friendships. In addition the sports camp was a good chance for the participants to exchange their experiences in the U.S., and also to discuss challenges they face. It’s normal to expect certain difficulties to be experienced at the camp both for the participants and for the hosts, because this was the first sports camp organized by FEBA. FEBA representatives gave their best to resolve the issues participants has experienced, and tried to provide best possible service that would improve the quality of the program as well as to enhance the experience of the participants. The feedback we have collected from the sports camp participants, provides us a strong benchmark in increasing the quality of the program, maximizing the experience of the participants.

FEBA appreciates the real heroes of the sports camp, the sports camp participants in participating in this particular FEBA activity, and we encourage you to participate in other FEBA activities, and provide us support in our effort to help out the Balkan American communities to preserve their rich and unique cultural heritage, and the future of their youth.

FEBA SPORTS TOURNAMENTS

Competition is the factor that brings the excitement, fun, challenge, and meaning to the sports activities. It’s the competition that makes sports to become the most important irrelevant thing in our lives. It mobilizes masses; it establishes the loyalty of supporters to their bellowed team; and creates a sense of belongingness.  It’s the challenge that brings the sports to the next level. Therefore, FEBA Sports Department organizes different type of tournaments on local, regional, national, and international level. The sport contests organized by FEBA Sport Department have many purposes. One of the purposes is to facilitate sports and healthy life within the Balkan American communities. This event can be used for promotion of soccer and basketball within Balkan American population. At the same time, this brings Balkan American communities together, where they are able to enjoy the sports contest, as well as supplemental cultural events.

In 2011 FEBA Sports Department has organized First FEBA Soccer Challenge. The FEBA Soccer Challenge is a mini soccer tournament organized by Federation of Balkan American Associations (FEBA) in order to promote soccer and healthy life among the Balkan American youth. Tournament was held on March 13, 2011 in Paterson Charter School of Science and Technology’s sports facility.  Eight teams competed for the first place and “FEBA SOCCER CHALLENGE CUP”. Tournament was of knockout phase, and first place winner would win the trophy and summer trip to Turkey. The additional excitements to the tournament were about fifty supporters striving to be the additional player for their favorite team.

Tournament was focusing on youth, and age limit was 18  to 35. At the tournament, eight teams were participating in the thrilling competition. The teams were:  Bosniak American Sports Club BASC, Bosnian Finest, Eski Dostlar, Vllaznimi, Zlatni Ljiljani, FC Bosna United, Pomak Windgap and Macedonia Bronx.

While the audience enjoyed the maximum pleasure of superb soccer play, on the court there was a fever pitch. Semi-final match, "FC Bosna United -"Zlatni Ljiljani" ended with a superb victory of Zlatni Ljiljani with 8:10 score. While in the other semifinal match, "Bosnian Finest" easily handled with the team "Pomak Windgap" with wining 12:3. 

The final was a special story. We can say the two best teams, "Zlatni Ljiljani" and "Bosnian Finest" provided us very challenging and exciting game where at the end of game result was 10:6  for Bosnian Finest who became winners of FEBA Soccer Challenge.

Winner 1 FEBA Cup team "Bosnian Finest," which was honored with the trophy and free trip to Turkey. 1 FEBA Soccer Challenge Cup winning team was presented by President of FEBA Dr. Aras Konjhodzic.