September 22/95

he new head coach of

the men’s soccer
program at Capilano
College, Sajbo Talic, is
lucky to be alive. Sajbo, his
wife Zaida and their three
children were part of the
first wave of refugees to
arrive in Canada from war-
torn Bosnia-Hercegovina in
January 1993.

Sajbo had been a
professional soccer player
from 1968 to 1972 for
Banja Luka, a Yugoslavian
first division team. A
fractured leg ended his
career, but because he had
studied economics at
university, the midfielder
had no trouble finding work
as a manager of a major
food distributing firm.

“T also played for the
Bosnian select team and had
a good life under the late
former Yugoslavian president Tito,”
says Sajbo. “I was a famous person
because of playing soccer. It opened a
lot of doors for me.”

However, not all those doors led to
happiness. One day in May 1992, four
Serbian army officers entered the
Talic’s apartment unannounced and
took Sajbo to the police station “for an
interview,” they said. It would be seven
months before he was reunited with his

Former Yugoslavian soccer star, Sajbo Talic, is the new head coach of
the Capilano College men’s soccer program.

His Love for Soccer May
Have Saved His Life

wife and children. Because of his highly-
regarded stature as a soccer player and
relatively wealthy financial position,
Sajbo was a prime target in the “ethnic
cleansing” movement that was and still is
devastating much of Bosnia-
Hercegovina.

“I suffered 10 ‘good’ beatings over the
seven months, but I was one of the
luckier ones,” the new coach says.
“Many of the people were beaten to

People Helping People

Ne from other
countries where the climate,
economy, political and social
conditions are very different from
those in Canada may experience
difficulties in adapting to life in
Canada. To make their transition a
bit easier, the North Shore
Multicultural Society has set up a
Host Program for the North Shore
area.

Initiated by the federal
government in 1985 and funded by
the Department of Citizenship and
Immigration, the Host Program

helps newcomers overcome the
stress of moving to a new country by
matching them with volunteers from
the community. In essence, the Host
Program is about people meeting
and helping other people and
strengthening the community in
which they live.

If you are interested in
volunteering or, if you know
someone who might benefit from the
Host Program, please call the Host
Program coordinator at the North
Shore Multicultural Society,
988-2931. i

death. I believe I was
spared because one of the
Serbian guards knew me
from soccer. He spared
me some beatings and
snuck in food.”

As suddenly as he was
apprehended, Sajbo was
released on the condition
that he and his family
leave Bosnia-
Hercegovina
immediately.

The family’s homes
were ransacked and all
cars and bank accounts
were seized. They were
told to leave with the
clothes on their backs, as
well as what they could
pack into two suitcases.

Their concern now is
for Zaida’s parents.
“They’re in Croatia and
cannot move until the
war ends,” she says.

Although they miss their family, friends
and homeland and would like to return
there one day, Sajbo adds, “We are
grateful for Canada and all the help
we’ve received. Very grateful.”

Sajbo replaces Jim Easton, a past
Vancouver 86ers star midfielder who had
been at the helm of the Blues program
for the past three years. Jim is articling as
an accountant and has decided to devote
more time to his career. i

Emergency First Aid

For all First Aid emergencies, please do
not attempt to contact a First Aid
attendant by calling their local or by
running to their work station.

The emergency number provides
DIRECT and INSTANT contact with the
designated attendant wherever they may

be!

EMERGENCY NUMBER
DIAL 2772 OR 984-1772

A First Aid schedule is issued monthly
for every department.

If you need phone stickers or a First
Aid schedule for your department, call
Brenda at local 2964.

@nformer