Bosnian Sports Enthusiast Returns Home After Decades Abroad

Asim "Akica" Ikić, born on November 15, 1960, in Vidorija, Bosanski Novi, is a well-known community figure. He and his wife Suada raised their children, Amra and Adnan, both of whom earned master's degrees. They are also proud grandparents to two granddaughters from Köln. For 25 years, Asim made his home in Atlanta, USA.

His son, Adnan, also inherited a love for sports. Adnan achieved notable success in America, becoming a fan leader for the NBA team Atlanta Hawks. This is a unique accomplishment for a Bosnian in the world's top basketball league. Asim and Adnan regularly attend Hawks home games. They also follow the BiH national football team's matches when played in the USA.

Asim's own sports journey began in Bosanski Novi in the 1970s. He dedicated himself to local clubs. While he supported the football club Sloboda and other teams, kayaking was his true passion. At Kayak Club Ada, he rose from a young paddler to a key figure. He served as secretary and a board member, significantly contributing from 1983 to 1992. With the late Jupo Dizdarević, he helped create Ada's "second golden generation" of kayakers, who excelled in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. Enthusiasts like Himzo Safić, Mitar Lazić, and Ranko Đurđekanović supported these efforts.

Asim also organized community events. With Eno Dedić and Emir Mulalić, he launched popular futsal tournaments that brought different city neighborhoods together. A memorable post-war event was a tribute match for football legend Satko Ahmetović, which reunited about 30 former Sloboda players.

After the 1995 war, Asim moved to Germany. He briefly returned to Podlug near Sanski Most before settling in Atlanta in 2001. Despite a comfortable life in America, he felt a strong pull of nostalgia for his hometown. He stated that his heart always belonged to Bosanski Novi. Asim also made a spiritual journey, completing an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Now, he is making a permanent return to Vidorija in Bosanski Novi. He plans to spend his retirement by the Una and Sana rivers, in the place he considers his true home.