Chapter 51: Stirring Up Trouble

Sarajevo Football Club. As the team based in the capital city, they enjoyed a healthier financial situation and a larger base of fan support. Because of this, their training facilities and playing grounds were significantly better than average. Morning. Since he didn't have a driver's license yet, Suker Mazic was driven to the club by his father to prepare for today's match. Standing tall and broad-shouldered, Suker Mazic had to stoop as he exited the car. Even among a crowd, he stood head and shoulders above the rest. "Suker, over here!" Seeing a teammate call out, Suker Mazic bid farewell to his father and walked over. "Good morning." Suker Mazic greeted his teammate, Toriste. Toriste stood at only 175 cm tall, and next to Suker Mazic, he looked half a head shorter. Toriste couldn't help but sigh, "Truly head and shoulders above us." "I heard CSKA Moscow from the Russian Premier League has made another offer for you?" Toriste said, sipping iced coffee as they walked toward the locker room. Suker Mazic nodded. "Yes, they want to sign me during the winter transfer window." Both the Russian Premier League and the Bosnian Premier League fall under UEFA. Despite both being European leagues, there is a distinct hierarchy in terms of league rankings and strength. For example, the Russian Premier League was ranked in the top 10 among all European leagues, while the Bosnian Premier League was ranked 34th. In other words, Bosnia's league sat in the lower-middle tier of European football. Thus, joining a Russian Premier League team was definitely a step up. But Suker Mazic clearly had other ideas. "I want to try again with Sarajevo. If we can break into the Champions League group stage, then I might directly land in one of the top five leagues." Suker Mazic was ambitious. He didn't want to waste time bouncing around mid-tier leagues; he wanted to go straight to the top. He had immense confidence in his own talent, believing it was enough to take him to the highest level. At this point, Suker Mazic turned to Toriste. "What's it like playing in the top five leagues?" "Like?" Toriste took a sip of his coffee, smacked his lips, thought for a moment, and grinned: "Faster, stronger, tougher!" Toriste sighed, "Neither I nor Meskapech made it there. It's not easy—playing is only one part of the challenge. There are so many things to deal with. But you've got a real shot. We'll support you no matter what you decide." Suker Mazic nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Toriste." By the time they entered the locker room, most of the team had gathered. "Today we play Zrinjski Mostar—our old rivals. Kosovic won't let us win easily. And don't forget their new Croatian prodigy, Modric. He's been performing really well. We need to stay sharp," said team captain Ivan Kric, who captained both club and national team. But even without his words, everyone knew how serious this match was. Zrinjski Mostar was a powerhouse in the Bosnian league and a serious threat—there was no room for error. "By the way, they've got a Suke too!" joked winger Tijemanci. "A 160 cm tall striker named Suke." Everyone chuckled—not mockingly, just amused at the contrast. And from what they'd seen in past matches, this little guy was no pushover. Despite having the same name as their own striker, the two Sukes couldn't have been more different in style. The Sarajevo players began to tease. "Suker, the other Suke's challenging you!" "He's no threat, right? He's too small." "They're not even in the same weight class!" "Hey, don't underestimate Suke!" Suker Mazic frowned. He didn't enjoy being the butt of jokes. "I'll shut him down with my performance," he replied calmly. OHHHHHHHHHH! —The room erupted with cheers. Afternoon, around 2 PM.Both teams arrived at the Vojvoda Vojnovic Stadium on the outskirts of Sarajevo. It was Sarajevo's home stadium, with a capacity of 35,000. However, it wasn't a professional football stadium. The running track around the field separated fans from the pitch, affecting the viewing experience. About 10,000 fans turned up for this match. Being the capital, Sarajevo enjoyed a larger population and a livelier football scene. Plus, this was a direct clash between first and second place in the league—a true top-of-the-table encounter. Fans were eager for a showdown. Zrinjski Mostar had brought along some away fans too, around 300 in total. 300 vs. 10,000.The gap was obvious. Mostar's supporters were barely audible. The stadium was filled with the deafening cheers and chants of Sarajevo fans. "This is Round 14 of the 2002/2003 Bosnian Premier League—FK Sarajevo vs. Zrinjski Mostar." "Sarajevo is playing at home with their usual 4-5-1 formation, led by national team defender Ivan Kric. Their midfield duo, Meskapech and Toriste, form a solid core. Wingers Tijemanci and Jakfervic bring pressure on the flanks, and up top is their towering 18-year-old talent—Suker Mazic!" The commentator's words were met with thunderous cheers from the fans. Suker Mazic!Suker Mazic!Suker Mazic! You could tell how beloved he was by the volume of their chants. "Visiting Zrinjski Mostar is a historic powerhouse and Sarajevo's biggest rival." "Their center-back pairing of Masovic and Hachic is a match for Sarajevo's iron wall." "In midfield, the Croatian prodigy Modric has been impressive this season with 5 goals and 3 assists. Today, he'll face a tough test from Toriste and Meskapech. Can he handle the pressure?" "Up front, Zrinjski has their own firepower: tall striker Kosovic, left winger Biliar, and right winger—Suke!" "If you've watched Zrinjski's matches, you'll remember the 99-shirted tiny dynamo. Also named Suke, this 17-year-old Croatian is even younger than Modric or Suke Bazic, and stands only 160 cm tall. But his play is unforgettable!" The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium speakers. In the player tunnel, Suke gritted his teeth."Did you have to mention my height, jerk?" His teammates struggled to hold in their laughter. Suke was famously sensitive about his height. Meanwhile, the Sarajevo players also turned to look at the "miniature" Suke with curiosity. Even Suker Mazic gave him a once-over. How could someone so small manage to shine on the pitch? With the referee leading the way, both teams stepped onto the field. WOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH! —The crowd erupted instantly. The energy inside the stadium soared as over 10,000 voices roared. Both teams had to take a moment to adjust to the sudden intensity. Starting Lineups: Sarajevo (4-5-1):GK: IvancicDEF: Bakrov, Ivan Kric, Bicevic, JoliacMID: Jakfervic, Jurinovic, Toriste, Meskapech, TijemanciFWD: Suke Bazic Zrinjski Mostar (4-4-2):GK: KischDEF: Haskivic, Mashovic, Hachic, KrpicMID: Boban, Kamnar, Modric, SukeFWD: Bilyar, Kossopech Suke (the smaller one) was positioned as a wide midfielder, not a forward. But he rarely stayed on the wing—instead, he operated in the half-spaces between midfield and attack, drawing defenders away and opening up space for overlaps or central runs. At the time, there wasn't a formal "half-space" designation, but Suke naturally drifted there. His movements made the attack smoother, so coach Vansteyak let him play his way. After the coin toss, Sarajevo took the opening kick. The atmosphere intensified. Suke bounced lightly on his feet to get his body energized. Player Cards: Diamond Card (Special): Inzaghi's Positioning Yellow Card (Special): Boscenovic's Interception Red Card (Skill): Toriste's Passing Red Card (Special): Andre's Speedster Red Card (Skill): Robert's Dribbling Red Card (Skill): Recovery State Suke nodded in satisfaction.He was ready to raise hell.