Izet Gjinovci, the general secretary of the Kosovo Handball Federation, died on Monday.
Gjinovci died at the age of 63, while he is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Kosovar handball. He has been working as the general secretary of the FHK since 2002. He has led the most important processes of the international acceptance of the FHK, first with Mejid Devaja and then with Eugen Saraçin, the presidents of the federation.
Gjinovci was a former player of Pristina and then the manager of this club for many years. He has sacrificed a lot for the Prishtina club and Kosovar handball in general.
"His contribution to the development of Kosovar handball is colossal. After a successful career as a Prishtina handball player, the late Gjinovci took over the management of the Prishtina club. He has sacrificed a lot to lead the club successfully, while in one period he had melted all his wealth for the smooth running of the club. He has contributed to the independence of Kosovar sport, while in the nineties, when sport had the mission of countering the invaders, he stood out for his unstoppable commitment. It was part of the important handball organizations and an inseparable part of it", he writes in the announcement of the FHK.
Thanks to Gjinovci's great contribution, FHK became a temporary member of the European Handball Federation in 2004 and Kosovar clubs won the right to appear in international competitions. In other sports this was achieved only a decade later.
Even with full rights, the FHK was accepted as the first of the team sports federations, and this process also recognizes the great contribution of Gjinovci.
"He has been appreciated and valued in every environment where he has appeared. He also had excellent relations with the leaders of the IHF, EHF and other national federations. He is distinguished for his charisma, which has enabled him to reach the highest levels of international handball. From April 23, 2021, Gjinovci was a member of the EHF Court of Appeal. He was elected to this important body with the votes of the members of the EHF Congress. He was one of the most voted and this testifies to the respect he has enjoyed at the international levels of handball. The late Gjinovci contributed to the rapid development of our national teams, the two historic World Cup qualifications and reaching higher and higher levels with the A National Teams. He had excellent cooperation with other federations of the country and with state institutions. He has had doors open in every country thanks to the great work he has done. With the death of Gjinovci, the Kosovar handball and the FHK have been left without a very important pillar", writes the Kosovo Handball Federation.
