Exactly 52 years ago today (April 5, 1974), Croatian basketball club Široki was founded.
Originally this club was called KK Mladostand was founded at the instigation of the late professor of physical education Jelčić Ćanka’s pause and groups of high school students.
The club played its first games under the name Mladost on an asphalt playground between the Church of the Assumption BDM and the High School of Fr. Dominik Mandić.
The club played its first game seven days later against Three-headed in Foundry and soon joined the regular competition, the Second Republican Basketball League of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group South.
With a lot of success, the club played in that level of competition until 1989, when it became the winner of the southern group. Other republic leagues of Bosnia and Herzegovina and qualified for entry into the First Republic League of BiH, which was held in Maglaj.
KK Mladost from 1974.
Mladost basketball players were better than Radnicki from Goražde and Troglav from Livno and became members First Republic League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in which they played a very notable role for two seasons.
Due to war conditions, the activity in the club is In 1992, it was temporarily stopped. But just two years later, basketball revived again in Široki Brijeg. The club is s with the new name “Shiroki” entered the competition within the Basketball Association of Herceg-Bosna.
Little by little, he returned to the former path of success in 1997/98. became champion of Herceg-Bosniaand after that the winner of the first playoff for the champion and winner of the BiH Cup.
KK Mladost played a notable role in the First Republic League in BiH during the former Yugoslavia
The club also participated in prestigious European club competitionsthe Raimondo Saporte Cup, the Radivoje Korać Cup, the FIBA Champions Cup and the FIBA Europe League.
With great organization, excellent results and a real sports atmosphere in the hall at Pecara, HKK Široki has outgrown the borders of Široki Brijeg, Zapadnohercegovačka County and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the most successful sports club in the country and an exemplary member of the European basketball family.
The first historical title of the champion of Bosnia and Herzegovina was won in Čitluk
For many years the club was a permanent participant first Goodyear and then the ABA leagueand regional basketball giants came to Pecar Partizan, Red Star, Cibona, Zadar, Olimpija, Buducnost, Cedevita and they often stumbled on this ground. On two occasions, the Israeli and European basketball giant came to Pecar Maccabi from Tel Aviv.
In the post-war period, HKK Široki became the true sporting pride of Herzegovina by winning 11 BiH championship titles you nine BiH Cup winners’ titles.
The fans of the team from Pecara like to remember with great joy the two championship titles against Sarajevo Bosnia. First the one from the season 2003/2004 when in front of 10,000 people in Skenderija he led the Širokobriježanes Martin Vanjakbut the one from the season is especially sweet 2006/2007 when HKK Široki celebrated in a very tense match in the small hall of Skenderija against the same opponent. Then they were led by an American Darren McLinton.
Of course, she is also remembered four titles in a row when in the final the defeated opponent was Igokea from Aleksandrovac in the period 2008/2009. until 2011/2012 The 2011/2012 season was particularly beautiful. when Široki was a real hit in the ABA league, and was constantly hovering around the fifth or sixth place, it was serious at one time also competed for the final Final Four of the league.
Celebration after winning the championship title in the 2011/2012 season.
HKK Široki was relegated from the ABA league a few years ago, and has successfully performed in the last three seasons ABA 2 leagues. The last few years he developed young players, in the absence of money for some more serious reinforcements, so the result turned out to be the same.
However, Široki endured all that in 2019 won his ten jubilee BiH championship title when few expected it.
There is nothing left but to congratulate HKK Širok on his birthday and wish them much success in the rest of this season.
(www.jabuka.tv)
