Resita's Performer

HANDBALLER Bojan Butulija is the show-man of the Challenge Cup semi-finalist. The 27 years old Serbian, has revived at UCM Resita, where he plays and sings with the same passion. UCM Resita is the surprise of the handball tour season. Bojan Butulija is the surprise of Resita. A player reinvented by coach Omer Aihan, who decisively contributed to the qualification of the handball players from Banat in the semi-finals of Challenge Cup.

Bojan came to Romania two years ago, at HCM Constanta. He was injured much of last season and could not show too many of his skills. "At the end of last year, the staff from HCM Constanta came with the suggestion to extend my contract, under the condition of getting half the amount received at that time. They were afraid that I will face once again medical problems and they didn't want to take any chances. I refused and went to Resita, my decision being also strengthened by the arrival of the coach Aihan Omer at that team", said Bojan. Raised and trained at the strong school in former Yugoslavia, he also played for three years in Austria, at Viena, as well as three more years in Serbia, at Metaloplastika and Partizan Belgrade.

At UCM Resita, all went smooth for the front line player. He is the team goal-getter, succeeding to score 94 times, he plays for the team and the team plays for him. "I believe that our success is also due to the existent atmosphere in the locker room. It is extraordinary. There are no shrinks or reproaches. We are strong by what we do ourselves", said Bojan. He would want for himself to play in a stronger championship, however for the time being he is sure of one thing: he is still under contract with UCM Resita for one more season.

The well-conducted he is during the games, the more exuberant he becomes when it is party time. Big fun of "manele / a new trend in Romania's folk music", Butulija is not afraid to grab the microphone and sing in Romanian language which he learned to perfection. "The game is game, and fun is fun, the important thing is not to mix them. There is nothing wrong in dancing and singing", says the Serbian who will be 28 years old in July. Owner of a 24-carat smile, Butulija gets his way among women. However, he has a stable girlfriend in Constanta, who visits him quite often.

The Polish are next

In the last but one act, UCM Resita will meet Zaglebie Lubin. The handball players from Banat would have wanted to meet the Russians from Celiabinsk in the semi-finals. However, fate decided otherwise. Omer Aihan (see photo) players will face the leader of Polish championship, Zaglebie Lubin, in a double round match scheduled to take place on the 25th of March, at Drobeta Turnu Severin, respectively on the 31st of March /1st of April at Lubin. "We didn't have much luck at the drawing of lots. Besides the fact that we meet a strong adversary, we are also playing the first game at home. We will play our chance till the end, as we did with the Russians from Volgograd", stated the coach Omer Aihan. The Polish handball developed very much, as a proof in this respect the Polish national men team played the finals of World Championship this year, were it was defeated by the German team. However, no players from Zaglebie are comprised in the main representative team. In the final quarters, Lubin succeeded at both games to defeat the Bosnians from Zivinice (36-29 and 34-33). "If we want to win the trophy, then we should defeat the Polish", stated also the front line player Bojan Butulija.

Article from Prosport