FK Guber football club seeks support to survive in Srebrenica

Faruk Smajlović, a board member of FK Guber, is seeking financial support and sponsorship to prevent the collapse of the historic football club in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The club established its first football ball in Srebrenica in 1923 and founded the FK Guber club in 1924. Following the cessation of operations in 1992 due to war, local residents and the municipality and head Abdurahman Malkić helped restart the club in 2003.

Smajlović says the renewal was driven by the enthusiasm of people who refused to let a century of tradition disappear. The club currently faces a severe financial crisis. Smajlović says the club's bank account remained blocked for a year and that a lack of consistent sponsors makes it difficult to cover competition costs. While the Opština Srebrenica provides some funding, the money is insufficient to cover all expenses.

Additionally, the club struggles with a shrinking population, which forces them to hire players from other cities at a higher cost. Many talented young players also leave the town after primary school for education and sports opportunities in larger cities. Infrastructure remains a major hurdle. Smajlović states that the Vidikovac stadium has significantly worse conditions than other clubs in the league, and the club lacks the funds to renovate the pitch, stands, or surrounding areas.

He argues that the ruined state of the stadium at the city entrance creates a poor image for Srebrenica. Despite these issues, the club received new kits and equipment from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in August 2025. Smajlović is appealing to institutions, businesses, and the diaspora to provide donations to ensure the club can continue to provide a social gathering point for the community.