The extraordinary growth of Albanian football in North Macedonia

In September 1994, Macedonia played its first qualifying match, one for qualification in "Euro 1996".

In the stadium filled with spectators in Skopje, on September 7 of that year, the representative of Macedonia faced Denmark. There was only one Albanian footballer in Macedonia. It was Nexhmedin Memedi, who represented the Albanians in the representative body.

Memedi did not play against the Danes, a match that ended 1:1. He made his debut against Denmark in the return match played on April 26, 1995. Macedonia finished the first qualifying round for the European Championship in fourth place with seven points earned.

"Then the conditions were the most difficult, they were not like they are now. I was the only one and it was very different. When Yugoslavia broke up, we didn't know for six months where we would play football. There were many players playing in different clubs of former Yugoslavia and penetration was very difficult. But now the situation is different, since half of the representative is with Albanians and they are the bearers of the representative. I am proud to see the state of Macedonia represented by a large number of Albanian footballers", said Memedi for KOĖN.

From 1993 to 2000, Memedi, now 55, scored two goals in 32 games for Macedonia.

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After Memedi, some Albanian footballers were also part of Macedonia. But for a long time there were no more than one or two.

The situation has changed a lot in the meantime.

Today, the number of Albanian footballers is large. The influence of Albanians in the representative office has increased a lot. A total of six Albanian footballers played for North Macedonia in "Euro 2020". Enis Bardhi, Ezgjan Alioski, Arijan Ademi, Visar Musliu, Egzon Bejtullai and Ferhan Hasani played.

On October 8 of last year, in this stadium, Kosovo lost its most important match for the European Championship. Lost to North Macedonia led by many Albanian footballers. The European qualification was historic for North Macedonia, while the six invited footballers made their debut.

In a way, that match was a turning point for both teams.

On November 12 of last year, North Macedonia won 1:0 against Georgia in the playoff final and secured participation in "Euro 2020". However, the match against Kosovo, as much as it was considered decisive, was also unwanted.

"It was a very difficult match for us Albanians who live here in North Macedonia. I told the players during the conversation that we are professionals and will give our best for the country we represent. If Kosovo wins, we will extend our hand to them and if we win, they will extend their hand to us and that's what happened. Both representatives could not go, fate was for us to go", said the president of the Football Federation of North Macedonia, Muhamed Sejdini for TIME.

In the summer, Macedonia played in the European. Lost 3:1 to Austria, 2:1 to Ukraine and 3:0 to the Netherlands. As a first participation in a major event, the performance received solid reviews.

After "Euro 2020", North Macedonia has another path open to a great success. With the 3:1 victory over Iceland on November 14, North Macedonia secured the playoffs for the "Qatar 2022" World Cup. Alioski scored one of the decisive goals.

"It was seen that it was no coincidence that Macedonia qualified for the European Championship and that today it is in the playoffs for World Cup qualification. We know that the road is very difficult, as in front of us we have a giant Italy and one from Turkey and Portugal. But, Macedonia has an extremely large growth", emphasized Sejdini.

Sejdini does not take credit for the organization. He says that teamwork is done in the Federation. But, in fact, Macedonia's success was achieved under his leadership.

"As football is a team sport, the federation also works in that system, in the team system, from him down to the president. I cannot say that this achievement is the merit of the chairman only, but of everyone. Macedonia is being respected by its opponents. It was a good experience, as for the first time we qualified for the European Championship where we played two matches in Bucharest. The participation was great," says the head of the neighboring country's football club.

Dominance of Albanian clubs

The powerful presence of Albanians is not only in the Representative Office. In recent years, Albanian clubs are also dominating North Macedonian football. It is perhaps expected, for a country where Albanians are a large percentage and successful in many spheres.

In the summer, three Albanian clubs, Shkëndija, Skopje and Struga, participated in the European competitions. Shkëndija was the national champion, while Skopje was runner-up. Struga finished the championship in third place.

Even two years ago, Shkëndija, Skopje and Renova were participants in European competitions. Shkëndija and Renova are from Tetova.

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Former Feronikeli footballer Besmir Bojku also played for Shkëndija and Skopje in the past. Boyku is currently a player for Struga.

"The growth of Albanians is huge. Especially in Struga that was formed in 2015 and six years later managed to play in the Conference League and now we are in the semi-finals of the Macedonian Cup. Whereas Shkëndija, since the entry of 'Ekologu', has a very large growth, while Skopje regularly participates in European competitions in the last 3-4 years. I think that all three Albanian teams have an excellent management that knows how to lead the teams even in moments of crisis, that's why it has reached this success. The Macedonian national team's Albanians played a big role in the European qualifiers", said Boyku, who won two titles and a cup with Shkëndija.

In fact, Boyku played in the U-21 age group with some of the footballers who are part of Macedonia V.

Even this edition, the Albanian clubs are contenders. Skopje is the autumn champion with 39 points, while Shkëndija is in third place with 31 points. Renova is in fifth place with 27 points, while Struga is in seventh place with 23 points.

"I will say that I enjoy the success of every club that represents Macedonia. But with the very fact that Shkëndija brought in a big investor and made a growth of football together with Vardar, who happened what happened to him, but it really is a big club and I believe that it will reach where it is it has its place. Therefore, I encourage all clubs that invest, to work professionally and have great achievements. We had Shkëndija and to this day Shkëndija works as a big club, but now we have Skopje, Struga, Renova, that's why they are serious investors, hardworking and sports lovers and it makes sure that those clubs survive where they are", said the president Sejdini.

Many Albanians also among the new generations

Satisfied with the results of the last years are the Skopje club, which has its headquarters in the Municipality of Çairi.

"FC Skopje is the oldest Albanian club in Macedonia. Skopje was the only club that represented Albanians during Yugoslavia, in the 90s. We are three times winners of the title and three times of the Cup. The spark has reached us, but we hope to pass this edition. We had a setback, it's been almost 20 years since there was no trophy in Skopje. It has changed every circumstance in the club and we have made investments", said the sports director of Skopje, Omer Bunjaku.

He does not hide the support they have from the president of the FFM, Sejdini.

"Until he was president, we always had a Macedonian president and we were like a 'stepson'. Not a single nail has been driven, but since Sejdini is at the head of the FFM, not only in our club, but also in all the Albanian clubs, investments are being made and it is not by chance that we do not have the obstacles that we had in the past", he said. Bunjaku stated, adding that the barriers have been removed after the changes made to the FFM.

"In the last two years, three Albanian clubs are participating in European competitions, last year we, Shkëndija, Struga, two years ago we, Shkëndija, Renova. We hope to be like this in the future as well. So, we don't have the barriers we used to have."

Within the year 2021, a total of 21 Albanian footballers have been invited to the Macedonian U-2023 representative for the 12 European qualifiers, while four Albanians were recently in the "A" women's representative.

"We have two Albanians in the team who are in the U-21 and are in the basic formation and we hope that they will represent the representative A of Macedonia, following the path of Enis Bardhi who came from Çairi and we hope that many others will also come out", he said. The single.

One of the players who has been invited to Hopes of Macedonia is Blerton Sheji. Sheji hopes that in the near future he will be able to play in the A team of Macedonia V.

"I hope that I will work as much as possible at the U-21 so that I can play for the A representative of North Macedonia as soon as possible. It's a dream for me and why shouldn't all the Albanians who live here reach the same level", said Sheji.

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Sheji is considered one of the players who is expected to be able to play in the "A" team from Macedonian football. The plans in the Football Federation are to bring in some other Albanian footballers who have a career in various European clubs.

The influence of Albanians on Macedonian football is great, while the trend is for further growth.
 

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