1993 Albania v Kosovo football match explained

Albania v Kosovo
Event:Friendly match
Team1:Albania
Team1association:
Team1score:3
Team2:Kosovo
Team2score:1
Stadium:Selman Stërmasi Stadium
City:Tirana, Albania
Referee:Bujar Pregja (Albania)
Attendance:14,000
Next:2014 (official)

The international friendly between the Albania and Kosovo national football teams on 14 February 1993 was the first match played by Kosovo after the partition of Football Federation of Kosovo from Football Association of Yugoslavia. It took place at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana, Albania with 14,000 fans in attendance.

Background

This match for Albania was the first match in 1993 after they were mathematically eliminated from 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, but it was also a pre-preparation before the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Northern Ireland,[1] where were tested players who were expected to play or make their debut in the match against Northern Ireland as Artan Bano, Ilir Shulku, Xhevahir Kapllani and several other players, while for Kosovo, this match was the first match in 1993 after 18 years since the last match that Kosovo had played against Macedonia in 1975 Brotherhood and Unity Tournament Final, which Kosovo won as group leader.

Match

Organization

This match was scheduled to take place on 26 or 27 December 1992, but due to the non-participation of the general director of the Albanian Football Association, Eduard Dervishi, who was on an official trip, the date of the match was not decided. Meanwhile, on 19 January 1993, a delegation of the Football Federation of Kosovo composed of the head coach Ajet Shosholli, Enver Nuredini and Sejdi Merkoja met with the leaders of the Albanian Football Federation in a meeting that lasted until 20 January, when in same day a cooperation protocol was signed, where it was agreed that on 14 February there will be a friendly match between Albania and Kosovo which would take place at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in the Albania's capital, Tirana.[2]

Problems with organizing of Kosovo national team's trip

The organized departure of the expedition by Kosovo was unachievable, because the bus would be stopped at the border by Serbian Police and would turn back and the match would fail. It was decided that each member of the expedition, individually, would travel to Skopje from where the collective departure to Albania would take place. Thus, the bus that was going to transport Kosovo crossed the Macedonian border and arrived in Skopje empty, but even though all this was done in secret, two SDB agents were at the Kosovo national team's meeting place which was in the Grand Hotel in Skopje, but fortunately pass without incident.[2]

Squads composition

All caps and goals as of 14 February 1993 after the match.[2] [3]

Albania

PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
Goalkeepers
Blendi NallbaniFebruary 14, 199360 Tirana
Xhevahir KapllaniFebruary 14, 199310 Teuta Durrës
Defenders
Eduard AbaziFebruary 14, 1993101 Grazer AK
Adnan OçelliFebruary 14, 199390 Partizani Tirana
Kastriot PeqiniFebruary 14, 199370 Elbasani
Ardian AbaziFebruary 14, 199310 Teuta Durrës
Ilir ShulkuFebruary 14, 199310 Partizani Tirana
Midfielders
Salvador KaçajFebruary 14, 199340 Athinaikos
Artan BanoFebruary 14, 199310 Partizani Tirana
Shpëtim KapidaniFebruary 14, 199310 Teuta Durrës
Alvaro ZallaFebruary 14, 199310 Teuta Durrës
Forwards
Shkëlqim MuçaFebruary 14, 1993172Retired
Indrit FortuziFebruary 14, 199331 Dinamo Tirana
Edmond DostiFebruary 14, 199320 Partizani Tirana
Edmond DalipiFebruary 14, 199310 Dinamo Tirana
Skerdi BejzadeFebruary 14, 199310 Dinamo Tirana

Kosovo

PlayerCapsGoalsClub
Ahmet Beselica (GK)10 Prishtina
Xhelal Nushi (GK)10 Vëllaznimi
Afrim Tovërlani10 Prishtina
Ardian Kozniku10 Hajduk Split
Avdullah Rafuna10 Prishtina
Bardhec Seferi10 Trepça
Bashkim Idrizi10 Drenica
Bejtush Bejta10 Llapi
Fadil Berisha10 Prishtina
Gani Llapashtica10 Prishtina
Genc Hoxha (c)10 Vëllaznimi
Isa Sadriu10 Prishtina
Kushtrim Munishi11 Prishtina
Muharrem Sahiti10 Drita
Sabit Osmani10 Trepça
Sadullah Ajeti10 Drita
Selajdin Jerliu10 Drita
Adnan Aliu00 Drita
Bashkim Radogoshi00 Vëllaznimi
Ibrahim Domi00 Vëllaznimi
Mehmet Bllacaku00 Flamurtari
Ramiz Krasniqi00 Flamurtari
Selim Ejupi00 Flamurtari

Summary

Starting line-up:
Xhevahir Kapllani (GK)
Ardian Abazi
Edmond Dalipi
Edmond Dosti
Eduard Abazi (c)
Ilir Shulku
Shkëlqim Muça
Substitutions:
Blendi Nallbani (GK)
Alvaro Zalla
Manager:
Bejkush Birçe
Starting line-up:
Ahmet Beselica (GK)
Ardian Kozniku
Bardhec Seferi
Fadil Berisha
Gani Llapashtica
Genc Hoxha (c)
Kushtrim Munishi
Sadullah Ajeti
Selajdin Jerliu
Substitutions:
Xhelal Nushi (GK)
Adnan Aliu
Avdullah Rafuna
Bashkim Idrizi
Bashkim Radogoshi
Bejtush Bejta
Ibrahim Domi
Mehmet Bllacaku
Ramiz Krasniqi
Sabit Osmani
Selim Ejupi
Manager:
Ajet Shosholli

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Albania vs Northern Ireland, 17 February 1993, World Cup qualification. eu-football.info.
  2. News: Futbolli 1991–2011, 20 vjet mëvetësim. Football 1991–2011, 20 years independence. Respectively on pages 63, 64 and 65, contain information about the match and organization. Albanian. Football Federation of Kosovo. 2011.
  3. News: International Matches 1993 – Europe, January–March. 14/02/1993, Tiranë, Dinamo, 14000, Friendly International, ALBANIA–KOSOVA. RSSSF.