Scotland Mascot vs Italy

[glasgow sheep]

nicked fae Pie&Bovril

 

Kemal Karic(15) or simply Kemo, who lives in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), will be Scotland team mascot for the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland and Italy, which will be played at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on Saturday 17 November 2007.

 

Kemo became an amputee as a three-months-old baby during the war, in a mortar shelling when his mother was killed. He was saved by Italian journalist Toni who took him out of the besieged city in the trunk of his car, and provided treatment for him in Italy. Kemal came back to Sarajevo six years later, after the war.

 

In November 2001, after a wee story about Kemo was put on Tartan Army Message Board, Internet forum of Scotland football fans, many people wanted to help him by raising money for new prosthetic limb and renovation of his house. In the end, there was 4,792 GBP raised for Kemo and this donation was presented by HE Ambassador Ian Cliff at the British Embassy in Sarajevo in August 2002.

 

Kemal became a symbol and inspiration for Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal that was formed shortly after Kemal Karic Appeal was closed. Many people wanted to see Kemal as Scotland mascot at Hampden but for a number of reasons that was not possible until now.

 

For more info, click on Kemo @ Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal.

 

Kemo was to come over for the previous Italy match (in 2005) but needed to go for an autotransplant operation so couldn't make it to Scotland. he was visited in Sarajevo by a couple of footsoldiers who brought him gifts from Scotland and started a short film about his connection with the Tartan Army.

 

Since sometimes a photo tells a thousand words, here is a photo of Kemo in hospital two years ago when he missed to be there for the 1-1 draw vs Italy. Let's hope the result will be better for Scotland together with him. Looking forward to see Kemo at Hampden on 17 November. Come on SCOTLAND!

 

[Guest TenementFunster]

Am I gonna sound racist by asking if a Scottish kid wouldn't have liked this?

[swaddon]

Racist.

 

But seriously, though it is traditional to have a Scottish kid doing this, I think this lad is probably a more deserving cause. We'll probably have Scottish kids as mascots in the Euro 2008 final.

[glasgow sheep]

Racist.

 

But seriously, though it is traditional to have a Scottish kid doing this, I think this lad is probably a more deserving cause. We'll probably have Scottish kids as mascots in the Euro 2008 final.

do they not have 2 dozen "mascots" these days.

Seems like a very deserving cause and a shining example of Scottish generosity and hospitality, plus a positive story about the Tartan Army that so often get a hard time on here.

[Guest TenementFunster]

do they not have 2 dozen "mascots" these days.

Seems like a very deserving cause and a shining example of Scottish generosity and hospitality, plus a positive story about the Tartan Army that so often get a hard time on here.

 

Folk who support Scotland, indeed, you could say the "tartan army" don't. Long winded arses who go on at length about their travels do though.

 

A deserving cause indeed.

[At The Border Guy]

Sounds like a decent enough idea! Scots and Italians both have a part in helping the guy out, and it'll be a day he'll never forget.

 

All good, just as long as he's cheering US on.