Gabele, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ante Volarević has taken on a new challenge as the Sporting Director of GOŠK Gabela, a first-division club in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His appointment, finalized in October 2025, marks a significant shift for the club, placing faith in a football mind steeped in the traditions of the Neretva region – the area between Metković and Ploče. While Volarević brings a wealth of experience from his playing days with clubs like Osijek, Ljubuški, and Posušje, his focus now is on a growing crisis within Bosnian football: the dwindling numbers of young players progressing through the ranks.
Volarević, alongside new Head Coach Jure Obšivač, represents a commitment to local talent. But his initial assessment of the youth landscape is stark. Despite overseeing a network that sees over 1,000 children actively involved in football from Gabele to Ploče, Volarević estimates there are fewer than 30 registered junior players – those aged 16-18 – across the entire region. This disconnect between participation at younger ages and sustained involvement in the teenage years is a problem plaguing clubs throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Volarević is determined to address it.
“There’s no secret formula,” Volarević explained, “but there are problems. I’ve worked in Ploče, Neretva, Neretvanac, but the number of juniors is decreasing. There are several reasons. We’re in an area where children go on to higher education and abandon football. That’s one reason, but another is that kids get discouraged incredibly quickly. They lose interest at 15 or 16 if they don’t think they can have a top career.”
The changing aspirations of young athletes are a key factor. Volarević notes that today’s youth have more options than previous generations, and the dedication required to pursue a professional football career is often seen as too demanding. “Today, young people have more choices, many more things we didn’t have. For us, sport was everything. Today, young people get discouraged quickly,” he said. The allure of other pursuits, combined with the perceived difficulty of reaching the highest levels, leads many promising players to abandon the sport prematurely.
This trend isn’t unique to the Neretva region. Volarević has observed a similar pattern across Bosnia and Herzegovina, with clubs increasingly reliant on signing players “under 18.” “I thought it was just a problem here, but from my contacts, I see that everyone is looking for players ‘under 18’,” he stated. This reliance on younger players highlights the shortage of homegrown talent coming through the established youth systems.
The influence of the lucrative world of professional football, particularly the Champions League and other top European leagues, also plays a role. Volarević believes that the focus on instant success and the perceived glamour of the professional game can discourage young players from persevering when faced with challenges. “They’ll quit as soon as they see they won’t reach, at a minimum, a club like Salzburg,” he explained. “I carefully follow football from U9 to senior and veteran levels. When the U9s play, there are two parents on the sidelines for every child. It’s similar with U11, but by U13, the numbers start to decrease. By U15, there are fewer parents, and by U17, almost none. Parents support their children up to a certain point, and when they see there’s no realistic chance of a large career, they let their children decide. And today’s children don’t have strong character; they lack fighting spirit, so they give up easily.”
The responsibility for addressing this issue doesn’t solely lie with the players and their families. Volarević points to a lack of patience and understanding from clubs towards coaches and the developmental process. “Clubs, in my view, don’t have enough patience or understanding towards coaches or the process. They quickly demand instant results. As soon as the results don’t meet expectations, coaches are fired. In that situation, coaches are afraid to give young players a chance, believing that experienced players will deliver those instant results. And that’s the consequence of having fewer and fewer young players on the football field.”
The situation highlights a broader issue within Bosnian football – a lack of investment in long-term youth development. While grassroots participation may be high, the transition to the junior and senior levels is hampered by a combination of factors, including limited resources, inadequate coaching, and a lack of opportunities for young players to showcase their talent. The challenge for Volarević and GOŠK Gabela will be to create a sustainable pathway for young players to develop and reach their full potential.
Volarević’s appointment signals a potential shift in priorities for GOŠK Gabela. The club’s decision to entrust a significant role to someone with a proven track record in youth development suggests a commitment to building a team for the future. Whether this approach will translate into success on the pitch remains to be seen, but Volarević’s insights offer a valuable perspective on the challenges facing Bosnian football and the need for a renewed focus on nurturing young talent.
GOŠK Gabela will continue their season in the Bosnian Premier League, with their next match scheduled for March 17th against Željezničar Sarajevo. Volarević will be closely monitoring the progress of young players throughout the region, hoping to identify and develop the next generation of Bosnian football stars. Fans can follow GOŠK Gabela’s progress and updates on their official website: [https://www.gosk.ba/](https://www.gosk.ba/).
What are your thoughts on the challenges facing youth development in Bosnian football? Share your opinions in the comments below.
