KK Bosna BH Telecom Sarajevo returned to EuroCup after 19 years and needed to pay tribute to Selver Džigal, former participant of the membership, by dedicating the EuroCup recreation towards PAOK to his reminiscence and his contribution to basketball.
Earlier than tip-off of the EuroCup second-round recreation between KK Bosna and PAOK, a particular tribute was held in reminiscence of Selver Džigal. His No. 5 jersey, the quantity he wore throughout his time with Bosna, was introduced to his household, in addition to to his former colleague and one in all his closest basketball associates from the EuroLeague workplace.
Though KK Bosna fell quick in the long run (72-75), they fought with delight and dedication for all 40 minutes in entrance of their dwelling crowd. It was the sort of passionate, hard-fought basketball that Selver himself would have appreciated and loved watching.
Selver Džigal was born on January 17, 1984, in Sarajevo. He started taking part in basketball with KK Bosna and, at simply 15 years previous, moved to Barcelona after being invited to affix FC Barcelona. As a member of Barcelona’s youth workforce, he received the Spanish U16 championship.
His skilled profession later took him into the world of European basketball administration. From 2008, he labored for Euroleague Basketball, ultimately changing into Competitors Division Supervisor and Supervisor. Barcelona grew to become his second dwelling, and he spoke Catalan, Spanish, English, Italian and French, alongside his native Bosnian.
His contribution to European basketball was acknowledged even after his passing on February 11, 2020, when Euroleague Basketball named one of many rooms at its Barcelona headquarters the Selver Džigal Recreation Heart in his reminiscence.
However Selver was remembered for rather more than his skilled achievements. Regardless of spending most of his grownup life in Barcelona, he remained deeply related to Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He recurrently helped younger athletes from Bosnia, connecting them with golf equipment and other people throughout Europe, whereas additionally supporting humanitarian causes and donating month-to-month to Save the Kids.
His dedication to his homeland was notably evident throughout the devastating floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014. He helped manage a humanitarian marketing campaign involving Euroleague, sports activities golf equipment and journalists, took day without work work and personally travelled to Bosnia with a convoy delivering support to a few of the hardest-hit areas.
Selver was additionally identified for his love of Bosnian tradition, particularly sevdalinka. He shared that zeal together with his worldwide associates and colleagues, introducing lots of them to Bosnian music and taking them to live shows by Dubioza Kolektiv throughout Europe.
His life was tragically quick, however the influence he left behind was lasting. He’s remembered by the individuals he helped, the athletes he supported, the colleagues and associates he related throughout borders, and by a European basketball group that continues to hold his identify and reminiscence.
This textual content was written with the assistance of late Selver Džigal‘s sister Azra Džigal.
