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By:
Dilaver Police
- 13 January 2023 11:01
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Sitting on the parquet in the shape of a circle, the Kosovo U17 volleyball players were talking and laughing together with coach Donald Suxho.
The beginning was relaxing. But it wasn't long before everything turned serious.
Suxho, one of the biggest names in Albanian volleyball, started to tell the girls of Kosovo about building stocks. They listened carefully.
Selector Suxho says that for young athletes, it's not just ball work that matters.
The work as a selector of Kosovo U17 is a good start for Suxon.
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Suxho, the former USA representative who played in eight countries
"I enjoy the challenge and I really want to give the experience I have gained as a sportsman, as a person from Korça, from Albania, back to my country, in the great Albania", says Suxho with pride.
The 46-year-old Suxho as the selector of Kosovo U17 was made official two months ago, while he started his work at the beginning of this year.
He made his career with the representative of the United States of America and played in the World Championships and in the Olympic Games. His career has taken him to many countries around the world.
Now there is a new task. In Kosovo. He says he accepted the challenge, as the future of the sport is in the youth.
"Young group, with emotion, passion and talent. He has talent and he has a future. I am very happy to see the talent, because it is the first time I coach girls. I'm working very hard. We are becoming a band every day, because it is not easy to become a good band in two weeks. Chicks, as you say, are listening, working, and there are challenges as always. We have good days, we have bad days. But we are learning not only from the technique and the ball, but also from the mentality. How to play the game, how to become a group, how to control emotions. And it is the best thing for the future.
I have moved all over the world, I have also played as a professional all over the world and I really want to give all the experience, mentality, exercises, slowly to Kosovo and Albania. I want to make a structure so that we are not just for two weeks, but for two years, five years, ten years", said Suxho on Thursday for KOHEN.
In mid-January, Kosovo U17 will hold the qualifying matches for the European Championship. Turkey is the host of the qualifications, while Kosovo plays in group B. Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania are also in the group. Kosovo plays its first match against Romania on January 18.
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Donald Suxho takes charge of Kosovo U17
"This is a big challenge because there are girls who have never played in international games and it will be interesting for me to see how they will cope with that first emotion. The way we are playing here, the way we are doing training and friendly matches, we will have a good result. The mentality I tell these girls is next point, next point, next point. Think only for now, don't think about the match, don't think about tomorrow. With this mentality and with that energy and work, I hope we will do well", said Suxho.
Megi Bislimi, part of the Drita team, is only 14 years old. She is happy with the preparations and is confident of a solid performance.
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"We started preparations a few weeks ago in Pristina. I believe that we connected very well with the team. Regarding the competitions, I believe that we will give our best, present ourselves as best as possible. Why not, let's have a victory in Turkey", said Bislimi.
Blerdina Voci of the Gjinoci club, 16 years old, says that the coach's experience will help them to get points in Turkey, why not victory.
"We gave our best every training day, despite being tired, because we practiced twice a day without rest. We think that we will achieve what we want, i.e. victory", said Voci.
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Gazmend Husaj intends to write history with Kosovo
Until now, volleyball has had trouble winning on the international stage. In Turkey with Kosovo U17, an important step forward is aimed.
