Behind this long-standing sporting story is Almir Prguda, an organizer who has devoted nearly two decades to developing and improving one idea – creating a high-quality international sporting event for the youngest generations.

FROM THE FIRST 15 CLUBS TO AN IMPRESSIVE 403 PARTICIPANTS
Every great story has a beginning, and for ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP, that beginning was a tournament with just 15 participating clubs.

It was the first step on a long journey that required a great deal of work, organizational experience, enthusiasm and faith in the idea that Sarajevo could become a recognized meeting place for children’s football teams from different countries.

Over the years, the tournament gradually grew. Each new edition brought new participants, new connections and ever-greater organizational challenges.

The organizers sought to raise the bar for quality, expand international participation and create even better conditions for young footballers.

The figure shared with us by Almir Prguda best shows how successful they have been: this year’s edition reached an astonishing 403 clubs and football schools from eight countries!

From an initial 15 clubs to more than 400 participants – this is truly an impressive journey of growth and proof that perseverance, consistency and high-quality organization have earned recognition among football clubs across the region.

AN ORGANIZATION DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S TOURNAMENTS
One of the unique aspects of this story is the fact that ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP is neither a football club nor a football school.

The organization headed by Almir Prguda deals exclusively with organizing international children’s football tournaments in Sarajevo. This approach requires particular dedication and a serious organizational commitment.

Behind a few days of competition lie months of preparation, communication with clubs from different countries, scheduling, securing sports facilities, accommodation, transportation and numerous other details essential to the successful delivery of such a large event.

The fact that this is more than just a conventional football tournament is best demonstrated by the organizational concept featured in previous AFT articles as well.

The edition held in January 2026 featured ten age categories, from the 2010 to the 2019 birth years.

The organizers provided participants with accommodation in well-known Sarajevo hotels, including Terme, Hills, Hollywood, Holiday Inn and Radon Plaza, as well as organized transportation between hotels and sports halls for clubs competing with two or more age groups.

Special attention was also paid to awards. In addition to trophies and medals for the most successful teams, awards were presented to the best player, the best goalkeeper and the best “fair play” team.

All of this shows that the organizers’ goal goes far beyond simply playing matches. They aim to provide a complete sporting experience for children, coaches, parents and everyone who comes to Sarajevo.

THE SARAJEVO CELEBRATION – MORE THAN FOOTBALL
One of the signature features of ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP is the famous Sarajevo celebration, a special part of the overall event.

It is the socializing away from the sports fields that gives this tournament additional value – the previous edition of the celebration brought together more than 2,000 parents and fans.

This is further proof that events like these matter not only to young athletes. They bring families together, create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and help promote the host city.

With its rich history, culture and renowned hospitality, Sarajevo is an ideal place for an event like this.

Alongside their sporting experiences, young footballers also get the chance to discover a city that has historically always been a meeting place for different people and cultures.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS PARTICIPANTS
The size of a tournament is measured not only by the number of registered teams, but also by the organizers’ ability to meet all the challenges such an event brings.

A good example of this was seen during the January 2026 edition.

For safety reasons and due to problems heating the sports dome in Halilovići, the organizer decided to move some of the matches to the Srce and Dobrinja (Mercator) sports halls.

This change required some adjustments to the schedule and match venues in several age categories.

This example shows how important it is to take a responsible approach, communicate effectively and be ready to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

When it comes to children’s tournaments, participant safety and high-quality playing conditions must always come first.
It is precisely these details that often make the difference between an ordinary sporting competition and a professionally organized international event.

A NEW CHAPTER IN THE STORY – JANUARY 2027
Eighteen years of work is no small achievement, especially for an event that must earn the trust of a large number of clubs and families every year.

However, Almir Prguda and his organizational team are not slowing down. The next edition of ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP has already been announced and will take place from January 8 to 11, 2027.

Following this year’s edition, which brought together 403 clubs and football schools from eight countries, expectations are once again high. The organizers face a new challenge – maintaining the standard they have achieved, further improving the organization and continuing to build the tournament’s international reputation.

Every new edition brings opportunities for new connections, sporting challenges and friendships, and that is precisely what makes children’s football special.

AFT AND ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP – A SHARED VISION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN’S FOOTBALL
The tournament’s participation in the AFT competition system also plays a special role in its development.

ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP is part of the official AFT calendar in the highest competition tier – AFT ELITE TOUR, further confirmation of its significance and international character.

Through the AFT platform, the tournament has a space to showcase its activities, results and organizational features, while participating clubs have an additional opportunity to follow competitions, meet new opponents and be part of a broader international football community.

The large number of clubs that return to this tournament year after year speaks to its reputation and the trust built over many years of work.

During his conversation with AFT, Almir Prguda also shared his positive impressions of our work and the way AFT showcases football events across different countries.

“We are familiar with AFT and are very positively surprised by your work, because you showcase various events in different countries.

This makes a major contribution to all of us involved in these projects. Networks and platforms like this are very important for increasing visibility and getting to know different clubs and tournament organizers.

We wish you every success,” said Almir Prguda.

These words are a lovely recognition of the importance of connecting people who work to develop children’s football.

One of AFT’s core ideas is precisely to create an international network that will help organizers, clubs and football schools gain greater visibility, make new connections more easily and work together to promote the sport.

EIGHTEEN YEARS OF HARD WORK, WITH MANY NEW CHALLENGES STILL AHEAD!
Looking at the journey ŠAMPION JUNIOR KUP has made, from the first 15 clubs to an impressive 403 participants from eight countries, it is clear that this project has grown through hard work, perseverance and dedication.

Almir Prguda and his team have succeeded in building an event that has become a recognized part of the winter children’s football calendar and brings a large number of young athletes, their coaches and families to Sarajevo every year.

AFT will be pleased to continue following and showcasing this sporting story, because we believe that projects like these contribute to the development of children’s sport, connect football communities and help create new generations who will learn about friendship, respect and togetherness through football.