"The game is over! Mostar Zrinjski wins 1-0 against Velez Mostar."
"This match wasn't easy for Mostar Zrinjski. After losing their high center forward, Koso Peic, they encountered many difficulties in the snowy weather. However, they still managed to score a valuable goal thanks to their energetic running, ending their three-game winless streak. This also puts them back at the top of the league table."
"The league has reached its 20th round, and now comes the long winter break. The teams in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina can use this time to rest and recuperate."
"And our program will restart in three months. Merry Christmas in advance, everyone!"
With the final commentary, Baso Dadic concluded his commentary work for half a season.
Over the past half-season, the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been full of ups and downs.
First, Sarajevo took the lead, followed by Mostar Zrinjski's winning streak.
Currently, Mostar Zrinjski is in first place with a record of 15-3-2, earning 48 points.
Closely following is Sarajevo, with a record of 14-4-2, earning 46 points, just two points behind the leader.
These two teams are currently the top contenders for the championship.
With half the league season over, the major clubs have entered the winter break.
After the summary that day, Van Basten gave the Mostar Zrinjski team a vacation.
"Have you packed your luggage?"
Suk entered the dormitory and saw Modric starting to pack his clothes into his suitcase.
Compared to Suk's simple backpacker attire, Modric had more luggage.
He had not only a large suitcase but also two backpacks.
"Almost done!" Modric patted his luggage and said.
During the holidays, both of them planned to return to Croatia.
Modric had been away from home for more than a year, and being alone in a foreign country always made him miss home.
As for Suk, he had been in Bosnia and Herzegovina since he was 13 years old and hadn't returned for a full four years.
Although Suk didn't have a home in Croatia, the orphanage that raised him was still a concern.
Moreover, the old director who had raised him with great care was like a parent to him.
Unlike other orphans who joined halfway, Suk had grown up in the orphanage since he was a child, so he had a deep emotional connection to that place.
Now, Suk couldn't be said to be successful, but he was considered a small success, and he felt it was time to go back and take a look.
The train was at 8 p.m.
The two of them dragged their luggage to the train station, first taking the train to Sarajevo, and then taking the train to Zagreb at six o'clock the next morning.
The whole journey took about 20 hours.
If it were a direct train, it wouldn't be so far, but the transfer and waiting time in between took a lot of time.
Therefore, when they arrived in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, it was already around 3 p.m.
"Finally back!"
After returning to Zagreb, Modric felt like a child returning home, and the smile on his face couldn't be stopped.
Suk also looked around. Compared to four years ago, there had been significant changes here.
The entire train station had been completely renovated.
Suk remembered that when he left, there were no dedicated platforms between the trains, and many people would crawl directly under the trains to save time.
In the square outside the station, the large and small potholes and the dilapidated buildings left over from the war had also been swept away.
"The changes are so big!"
Suk looked at the surrounding scenery and couldn't help but sigh.
If it weren't for the ugly statue in the middle of the square announcing 'Croatian Independence,' he would have thought he had come to the wrong place.
"How are you getting home?"
Suk turned his head and asked.
Modric: "My parents are coming to pick me up."
Suk nodded. He pointed to the right side of the square and said, "I'm going to take the number 9 bus over there!"
After speaking, Suk left the orphanage's phone number for Modric, telling him to contact him if he needed anything, and then left with his package.
The number 9 bus goes directly to the outer suburbs, traversing the entire city of Zagreb.
Suk was very familiar with this place.
He paid and got on the bus, found a seat, hugged his backpack, and looked at the scenery outside.
The winter sun was big and warm.
The city was also extremely clean and tidy. If it weren't for the occasional abandoned buildings and potholes reminding him of everything, Suk felt that the city seemed to have forgotten its past.
Suk squinted slightly, feeling the sunset shining on his body, and he felt a little lazy.
Perhaps because the years of war were too tragic, Suk liked this peaceful atmosphere very much.
He didn't know how long it had been, but the surrounding environment became more and more familiar.
Familiar two-story low buildings, familiar streets, familiar smells…
Beep!
The bus honked and drove away. Suk stood on the platform and looked towards the cross not far away.
Below the red cross was an orphanage, which was also where he grew up.
Stepping onto the familiar road and turning a few corners in the alley, Suk came to an iron gate.
The iron gate was loosely tied together with an iron chain, and a gap large enough for one person to enter could be pulled out with a little force.
Suk squeezed through the gap. Under his feet was a narrow, winding stone road, with green lawns on both sides, trimmed extremely smoothly and properly.
Following the path to an entrance, he opened the door and walked in.
This was the internal space of the orphanage.
The straight passage led directly to the stairs. The entire orphanage was divided into three floors.
The first floor was for prayer and dining.
The second floor was mostly bedrooms.
The third floor was the exclusive space of the old director.
Suk walked to a door and saw through the crack that a group of little kids were sitting neatly around a long table.
In front of them were some bread, milk, vegetables, and other foods.
But these children didn't start eating, but sat upright, with their hands clasped tightly against their jaws to pray.
At the front of the long table was an elderly man with white hair.
The old man was wearing a priest's attire, with a kind face.
He said softly, "Thank the Lord for the food He has bestowed."
"Thank the Lord for the food He has bestowed."
The children below would repeat each sentence the old man said.
And after he finished the last sentence, he made the sign of the cross on his chest.
"Amen!"
"Amen!"
Suk stood outside the door, with a smile on his face, gently made the sign of the cross, and then he suddenly pushed the door open.
"I'm back!!! — —"
The old director and the children were startled.
They looked at the uninvited guest at the door, their faces full of horror.
But soon the old director recognized him.
"Suk?"
The old director's tone was surprised, but soon he was angry again: "You didn't pray properly again! Today is Sunday!"
"I've already given thanks, can I eat now?"
Suk swaggered in, directly picked up a piece of bread, dipped it in honey sauce amidst the greedy expressions of the little chubby orphan, and ate it with relish.
"Life is good, you even have honey sauce, and soup too!"
Suk swallowed the bread and looked at the old director with a smile;
"I'm back!"
The anger on the old director's face slowly disappeared. He bowed his head and prayed before saying softly; "It's good that you're back!"
On the third floor, in the old director's bedroom.
The old director sat on the chair, while Suk sat cross-legged on the side.
"I'm rampaging in the Bosnian league. Now I'm a famous genius in Bosnia. Do you know Bosnic? The Croatian international, I can beat him easily!" Suk patted his chest and said; "Old man, don't worry, I'll take care of your retirement problems in the future."
The old director smiled and nodded as he looked at Suk from time to time.
He didn't speak, but listened carefully.
Suk was only talking about the good things, and didn't mention anything about not having enough to eat before.
But what Suk didn't know was that Kovac had already revealed Suk's secrets when he sent money to the orphanage.
The old director put his skinny palm on Suk's head and said gently; "Children, you are all blessed by the Lord, and you will all be happy."
Suk nodded immediately.
He got up from the ground and pointed outside; "Are those children all new?"
The old director's expression immediately became serious: "Don't bully people."
"How old am I? I won't bother with them." Suk said with a wry smile, and then asked; "What about the people in our batch?"
The old director nodded; "Locke went to England, Vinnie went to Seville, you went to Bosnia, and Dicamoqi stayed to serve as a trainee priest."
"Dicamoqi is a trainee priest?" Suk said in surprise; "I remember his dream was to be a singer."
Dicamoqi had a God-given voice, and every Christmas was this guy's exclusive concert time.
But I have to say, this guy sings really well.
But Suk didn't expect that four years later, this guy would actually be a trainee priest.
"I am very pleased." The old director smiled; "I have already called Dicamoqi. He was very happy when he heard that you were back and is on his way back."
Speak of the devil!
With a 'bang,' a young man of about 175 centimeters with a fair complexion, wearing a trainee priest's uniform, broke into the old director's room.
"Suk!"
Dicamoqi let out a surprised cry when he saw Suk.
"Dicamoqi!" The old director said seriously; "Be steady!"
Dicamoqi then took a deep breath, bowed slightly to the old director, and then said to Suk; "Fellow believer, let's not disturb the old director's rest, let's go out and chat."
That's what he said, but this guy's happy eyelids were almost cramping.
Suk was also very happy, and turned to say hello:
"Old man, we're leaving!"
"Go to bed early tonight," the old director said.
Dicamoqi on the side; "I will clean up a room for him."
After speaking, the two couldn't wait to walk out of the old director's room.
Looking at the backs of the two, a smile also appeared on the old director's face.