Kosovo Basketball Superleague Explained

Kosovo Basketball Superleague
Pixels:150
Organiser:Basketball Federation of Kosovo
First:1991–92
Country:Kosovo
Confed:FIBA Europe (Europe)
Teams:8
Relegation:Kosovo First League
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Kosovo Cup
Champions:Trepça (5th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Champs:Prishtina (14 titles)
Commissioner:Faton Kurshumlija
Tv:Art MotionList of broadcasters
Website:Kosovo First League
Current:2023–24 Kosovo Basketball Superleague

The Kosovo Basketball Superleague (Albanian: Superliga e Kosovës në Basketboll) and known as the ArtMotion Superliga due to sponsorship reasons is the top men's professional basketball league in Kosovo. Basketball Superleague was founded in 1991. It is run by the Basketball Federation of Kosovo.

Prishtina holds the record for most Superleague titles as it has won the championship 14 times.

Current teams

TeamCityVenue Capacity
BashkimiPrizren"Sezai Surroi" Spor Merkezialign=right 2500
BoraPrishtinaalign=right 1800
PrishtinaPrishtinaalign=right 1800
PejaPejëalign=right 3000
TrepçaMitrovicaalign=right 3000
Golden Eagle YlliSuharekaSalla e sporteve "13 Qërshori" align=right 1800
Proton Cable PrizreniPrizren"Sezai Surroi" Spor Merkezialign=right 2500
Gjakovaalign=right 2500

Rules

Competition format

It consists of eight to ten teams which compete each year in two separate phases. Each team has to play all the other teams in its division four times, twice at home and twice away. This means that in Kosovo basketball, the league's regular season ends after all teams play 28 matches.

At the end of the league, the four best teams in the standings start a play-off, pitting the first place team in the standings versus the 4th place team in the standings, and so on. There is one playoff rounds, and the winner of the finals round becomes the champion of the Kosovo Basketball Superleague. This is similar to the most basketball leagues in Europe.

Each season, the last qualified team of the regular season relegates to Kosovo Basketball First League and replaced by champion of the First League whilst second from last of Superleague meats the runner up of the First League in e Relegation Playoff.

Foreigners

Each team can play 3 foreign players in every match that is organized by BFK.

Youngsters

Every team must play two U20 players in every game for at least 20 min otherwise the teams are fined 500 €.

Arena standards

Since the establishment of the league, the indoor courts in Kosovo have seen continuous improvements in capacity and facilities, with some municipalities have built and newly built stadiums for basketball clubs in their areas as well as other sports. Today, the facilities of the clubs participating in Kosovo Basketball Superleague and hosting the home matches, must have a minimum capacity of 1,000 people.

History

Despite the political status of Kosovo, basketball competitions have been legally organized since 1999 under the Basketball Federation of Kosovo licensed by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the Government of Kosovo.[1] However, the KBF has functioned since 1991 and organized amateur basketball leagues.[1]

Today, basketball in Kosovo shares the same popularity with football.

Names of the competition

Commissioners

Other competitions

Winner by season

Here is the list of the champions of Kosovo year by year[2] [3]

Season Winner Runner–up Score
1991–92 Prishtina 1–0
1992–93 Trepça 1–0
1993–94 Peja 1–0
1994–95 Peja 2–0
1995–96 Peja 2–0
1996–97 Drita
1997–98 Competition interrupted due to the war in Kosovo
1998–99 Not held due to war in Kosovo
1999–00 Trepça 3–1
2000–01 Trepça
2001–02 Prishtina 3–2
2002–03 Prishtina 3–1
2003–04 Dukagjini Prishtina3–0
2004–05 Mabetex 3–2
2005–06 Prishtina 3–1
2006–07 Prishtina 4–1
2007–08 Prishtina 4–2
2008–09 Prishtina 3–2
2009–10 Prishtina 3–1
Prishtina 3–0
Trepça 3–2
Peja 3–0
Prishtina 3–0
Prishtina 2–1
Prishtina 3–1
Prishtina 3–1
Bashkimi 3–1
Prishtina 3–1
Competition interrupted due to the COVID-19
Ylli 3–0
Ylli 3–1
Peja 3–2
Trepça 3–2

Titles by Club

ClubWinnersRunners-upYears won
14 6 1992, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
6 9 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2013, 2023
5 6 1993, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2024
2 2 2021,2022
1 2 2018
Mabetex 1 2 2005
1 0 1997
1

Sponsorships and broadcasting rights

Official sponsors

Official broadcasters

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eurobasket Kosovo Basketball Introduction.
  2. Web site: Kampionët e Kosovës ndër vite. FBK. 16 May 2024.
  3. Web site: Trepça-Peja Historia e finaleve 1993, 1994, 2000 dhe sivjet. asistionline.com. 8 May 2023. sq. 22 May 2024.