Documentary: From War to World-Wide Coaching
In autumn 2019, when I was selected as the goalkeeper coach for the Finnish men’s senior national team, the Swedish-language Finnish broadcaster Yle created a mini-documentary about my life and coaching journey as part of their “Sportliv” series.
WHAT THE DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES:
The documentary dives into a question I am often asked: How did a girl who grew up during the Bosnian War, surrounded by fear, uncertainty, and trauma, end up building an international handball goalkeeper coaching career from Finland?
The main topic is about how I grew up during the war in Bosnia and how I overcame the trauma of being scared of death before I was even aware of what it means to be alive.
I was 9 years old when the war broke out in 1992. For over three years, my childhood was shaped by explosions, a lack of electricity and running water, and the constant fear that I or someone in my family might not survive. At one point, I was sent alone to Serbia as a 12-year-old, living in exile for six months while the situation in my hometown was at its worst.
These are not easy memories. But they shaped who I am today, both as a person and as a coach.
Turning Trauma Into Strength
The documentary shows how I have transformed those difficult childhood experiences into something meaningful. I genuinely believe that the war is one of the best things that happened to me, not because of what it was, but because of what it taught me.
I learned to find the good in everything. I learned not to get stressed by small things. I learned that when you survive real danger, everyday challenges become much more manageable.
These lessons now influence how I coach. When I meet young goalkeepers for the first time, I ask them what the most important quality for a goalkeeper is. They usually answer things like “saving the ball” or “being fast” or “being strong.” My answer is always: a smile. Happiness, joy in what you are doing.
I want every goalkeeper I work with to feel safe, supported, and free to make mistakes. Without mistakes, we learn nothing new.
A Journey Across Continents
The documentary also traces my path from being one of Bosnia’s top junior goalkeepers, to winning the league with “Lokomotiva Zagreb” in Croatia, to walking away from my professional playing career at its peak and moving to Finland after a three-week midsummer visit in 2011.
When I arrived in Finland, I was told that I could not make a living from handball here. The documentary shows how I proved that wrong, step by step, starting with free online content and small goalkeeper camps, eventually building a coaching network that now spans over 30 countries.
My Message to You
I see my life as an example and proof that we all can overcome anything if we put enough dedication, devotion, love, patience, and perseverance into it. From what was a very traumatic childhood experience, I managed to build a successful coaching career in which I have coached and lectured in countries all over the world, including working at major international competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games.
If my story resonates with you, I hope it gives you courage to pursue whatever goal feels impossible right now. The obstacles in your path might just become the foundation for your greatest achievements.
Watch the Documentary
The documentary is available in Swedish on Yle Arenan as part of the “Sportliv” series.
You can also read the full written feature article about my story here: