Hero's welcome for U16 European champions in Sarajevo

SARAJEVO (2015 U16 European Championship) - Sarajevo came to a standstill on Monday as a reported 50,000 residents flocked to the centre of the city to welcome home the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team which won the title at the U16 European Championship.

The unprecedented celebrations which were broadcast live on national television in Bosnia and Herzegovina and covered extensively in neighbouring countries commenced at Sarajevo airport, where the U16 European champions had to negotiate their way through a huge crowd to reach the area of a press conference.

"It's hard to say anything after this reception, thanks to everyone," said head coach Josip Pandza, who is only 28 and on Sunday became the youngest-ever tactician to steer a team to a European Championship crown.

"It's easy to coach these guys, who are very skilled and it showed both against Spain [in the Semi-Final] and against Lithuania [in the Final]."

The national team players and staff then boarded an open-top bus which required several hours to make its way to Sarajevo centre through Titova street as the vast majority of fans had already turned it into the stage of the biggest party the city has ever seen.

"I cannot believe what we have done," an emotional Dzanan Musa, the MVP of the U16 European Championship, told the crowd.

"It was only when I saw you gathered here that I became aware of our success.

"That is why we will never stop, this is only the beginning of great times for this generation," the young star promised.

Bosnia and Herzegovina conquered gold at the U16 European Championship after defeating hosts Lithuania 85-83 in Sunday's Final, behind an outlandish display of 33 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals by Musa.

This title represents the first-ever medal success of Bosnia and Herzegovina in (Division A) international basketball at any age level.

There was a flood of congratulatory messages by the most famous public figures in the country immediately after the end of the Final, with Mirza Teletovic and football national team captain Edin Dzeko joining in the celebrations.

 Go to http://u16men.fibaeurope.com/en/default.asp for full coverage of the 2015 U16 European Championship.

FIBA