There were fewer than 200 people watching from the Columbia Valley Community Centre as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada had their opening FIFA World Cup match on Friday (June 12), but the vigorous cheers made it seem like as many as a thousand.
Bosnians from all over the Lower Mainland had travelled out to Lindell Beach to join the watch party being hosted by the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Cultural Center.
When Jovo Lukic scored the opening goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first half, the community centre erupted into celebration as people of all generations cheered on their home country in only its second World Cup appearance ever.
One of the many people cheering on the Bosnia-Herzegovina team was 16-year-old Ammar Brakic from Sardis Secondary in Chilliwack.
But like most of the people at the watch party, he felt a conflict in his heart as the two teams battled one another.
“I was born and raised in Canada, so I obviously have to support my Canadians, but my background and all my family come from Bosnia,” said Brakic.
“Bosnia is running through my blood.”
Samir Mezirovh, whose family migrated from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Canada when he was three, said it was both a positive and a negative that these two teams got paired together.
“If it was a different country, it would be no contest who to cheer for,” said Mezirovh.
But with the match ending in a draw, he said he almost couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome, and looks forward to seeing both teams continue to have success as long as they’re in the tournament.
“I don’t think anybody has delusions that either team is going to win the World Cup, but for us, it’s just the fact that they made it,” said Mezirovh.