1993 Albania v Kosovo football match

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.

Albania v Kosovo
EventFriendly match
Date14 February 1993 (1993-02-14)
VenueSelman Stërmasi Stadium, Tirana, Albania
RefereeBujar Pregja (Albania)
Attendance14,000

Background edit

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 edit

Organization edit

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 edit

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 edit

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

Summary edit

Albania  3–1  Kosovo
Abazi   38'
Seferi   39' (o.g.)
Fortuzi   42'
Report Munishi   72'
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Bujar Pregja (Albania)
Starting line-up:
Xhevahir Kapllani (GK)   46'
Adnan Oçelli
Ardian Abazi
Edmond Dalipi
Edmond Dosti
Eduard Abazi (c)     46'
Ilir Shulku
Indrit Fortuzi   46'
Kastriot Peqini   46'
Salvador Kaçaj   46'
Shkëlqim Muça
Substitutions:
Blendi Nallbani (GK)   46'
Alvaro Zalla   46'
Artan Bano   46'
Skerdi Bejzade   46'
Shpëtim Kapidani   46'
Manager:
  Bejkush Birçe
Starting line-up:
Ahmet Beselica (GK)   58'
Ardian Kozniku
Bardhec Seferi
Fadil Berisha
Gani Llapashtica
Genc Hoxha (c)   64'
Isa Sadriu   65'
Kushtrim Munishi
Muharrem Sahiti   46'
Sadullah Ajeti   46'
Selajdin Jerliu   46'
Substitutions:
Xhelal Nushi (GK)   58'
Adnan Aliu
Afrim Tovërlani   64'
Avdullah Rafuna   65'
Bashkim Idrizi   46'
Bashkim Radogoshi
Bejtush Bejta   46'
Ibrahim Domi
Mehmet Bllacaku
Ramiz Krasniqi
Sabit Osmani   46'
Selim Ejupi
Manager:
  Ajet Shosholli

References edit

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

External links edit