Roma Association honours best Roma athletes in last year
Murska Sobota, 12 February - The Slovenian Roma Association gave out awards to the best Roma athletes in the last year on Thursday, honouring wrestler Mitja Cener, football player Alja Horvat and the Pušča football club. The association brought back the awards to motivate youth for sport, association president Jožek Horvat Muc told the STA.
Murska Sobota
Jožek Horvat - Muc, the head of the Slovenian Roma Association.
Photo: Marjan Maučec/STA
File photo
Roma athletes and teams often do not have adequate support, Horvat Muc said. In the past the sports culture in Roma communities was stronger, they had several football, shooting and other clubs, he said, adding that over time, the interest dwindled.
He believes the awards for exceptional achievements in sport can bring back the sporting spirit and encourage young people to be more active. That is why the association will strive to give out the awards every year.
The title of the best Roma sports team of 2024 went to Pušča, a football club from the eponymous Roma village on the outskirts of Murska Sobota in northestern Slovenia. It plays in the low-tier Murska Sobota regional league.
The award for best male Roma athlete want to wrestler Mitja Cener, the national champion in the 71kg weight class, who also placed third at the Balkan Championships.
Football player Alja Horvat from the Mura club from Murska Sobota was meanwhile deemed the best female athlete. She and her team won the national championship in the U-17 division.