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 a Sarajevo hospital 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 with him. Looking forward to see Kemo at Hampden on 17 November. Come on SCOTLAND!
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 link @ http://www.tasunshineappeal.co.uk/projects.htm.
Come on SCOTLAND!