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Zrinjski and Siroki Brijeg back at work |
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 With the 2006/07 season in Bosnia-Herzegovina not due to start until 5 August, all but two of the local sides are enjoying their summer holidays.
Široki Brijeg busy
Of those two exceptions, the first are champions NK Široki Brijeg, who are eager to be in good shape for their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie in the middle of next month. "We started training earlier because we want to get good results," explained captain Dalibor Silić, who was the best player in the league last season. "At the moment, we are training in Mostarsko Blato, and then we are going to Slovenia."
Mostar v Mosta
Meanwhile, deposed champions NK Zrinjski are also back in training as they take on Maltese side Mosta FC in their UEFA Intertoto Cup opener this weekend. The Mostar-based side are being put through their paces in Kupres with coach Blaž Slišković saying: "We want to get through our first two games in this competition and prepare well in order to win the league title again."
Promoted sides
Zrinjski will be sure to have another local derby game this season after another Mostar side, FK Velež, secured promotion back to the top division after a three-year absence. Banja Luka side FK Borac joined them in winning promotion, doing so at the first attempt after being relegated last season. Those newcomers may yet have a few more weeks to prepare for the new campaign, but the same cannot be said for FK Sarajevo and NK Orašje, both of whom are set to return to training within the next fortnight as they look ahead to starting their UEFA Cup campaigns in the first qualifying round. Both sides are still looking for new players to boost their European ambitions.
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