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Minnetonka's Suljic carries on father's war-clipped soccer legacy

By Star Tribune, 09/02/14, 7:14PM CDT

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A crafty playmaker with a knack for scoring, Suad Suljic was the only sophomore on the 2013 Minnesota Class 2A all-state team.

He’s been called Suede. Or Swazo. Even Soupy.

Minnetonka junior Suad Suljic knows his name, Bosnian in origin, is different from his fellow students, but it doesn’t bother him when it’s mispronounced. He’s got more important things on his mind, like his intent to become one of Minnesota’s best soccer players.

“I live for soccer,” said Suljic. “I think about 90, 95 percent of my life is soccer, whether I’m watching it or playing it.”

His passion is paying off. A crafty playmaker with a knack for scoring, he was the only sophomore on the 2013 Minnesota Class 2A all-state team. He’s picked up this season where he left off last year. Suljic has four goals and five assists in the Skippers’ first three games of the season.

Staff writer Jim Paulsen spoke with Suljic about his devotion to the sport of soccer and his ties to it that run deep.

 

Q: What is your style of play?

A: I approach the game by always looking to improve. To be the best, I try to work hard for my teammates, and I know that they work hard for me.

 

Q: Did you watch the World Cup?

A: I loved every minute of it. I didn’t miss a single game.

 

Q: Favorite player?

A: Probably Arjen Robben [of the Netherlands]. If I make a nice move or score on a nice curler, I sometimes try to pretend I’m him.

 

Q: Where does the passion for soccer come from?

A: We’re from Bosnia. I lived there until I was 19 months old. Soccer everywhere. It’s a big soccer country.

 

Q: How did you end up here?

A: We moved to St. Louis first. We had some family who moved to Minnesota when I was 9. We decided to sell our house and move here. I love everything about Minnesota.

 

Q: Who is your biggest soccer influence?

A: My father. He used to be a great soccer player in his younger days, but he had to stop when he fought in the [Bosnian] war. He’s been training me for 13, 14 years.

 

Q: Does he talk about his past?

A: He doesn’t mention it too much. The timing of the war wasn’t good. It didn’t let him show his talents.

 

Q: Does he help you to appreciate what you have here?

A: Very much. He tells me how much more than what he grew up with. He talks about my cleats a lot. He used to play with ripped cleats or sometimes none at all. He likes to say, ‘Man, if I had the cleats you have, the things I could have done.’ I know how fortunate I am.

 

Q: Have you been to Bosnia?

A: We’ve been back three times. The last time was last summer.

 

Q: What sticks out in your mind?

A: It’s a beautiful place, but there are a lot of things that still need to be fixed that took a beating in the war. It’s getting better. There are always a lot of people walking around and they’re very friendly.

 

Q: What are your favorite foods from back home?

A: There are two. Pita. Everybody eats pita. If you don’t eat pita, you’re doing something wrong. The other is cevapi. It’s a small sausage. Those things are delicious.

 

Q: Are you an American citizen?

A: Yes.

 

Q: If you could pick between playing for the U.S. national team or the Bosnian team, which would it be?

A: Hard question. I’d probably play for my home country. I don’t think there would be anything cooler than representing your country.

JIM PAULSEN