Part Two
Memorie.al / Rare. Two spouses who have received the highest honour in sport: “Merited Master of Sport”. You cannot find another case in Albania of two spouses both being Merited Masters of Sport. Marjeta and Kushtrim Zaçe, both wished upon and blessed by God, to become stars of Albanian sport…! Otherwise, the great Marjeta Pronjari would not have reached those heights! Three daughters rose only by the mother’s hard work and compassion, because they lost their father very early…! Three daughters who, with their goodness, very quickly made their mother “forget” that she was without a husband and a son…! Whenever she went to school, she felt bad because the teacher Eftalia “embarrassed” her in front of the other parents…! – “You, Fluturije, don’t even ask and don’t even wait! Marjeta doesn’t move from her place, there she is”… – and she would point with her finger at the honour roll, where first was her daughter’s photograph. And so year after year.
Continued from the previous issue
The alibi is exploited and the military court confronts him with the fact that he has broken the law, because he should have started his compulsory military service. Even though he had already started university a month earlier, they pull him out and send him as a soldier to Zall Herr. It was called the Tank Regiment, but he was in a work brigade because of his biography. Imagine a prominent basketball player, a member of the national team, digging a tunnel…! Almost like a prisoner. They call him to the Command and tell him to fill out an application expressing his desire to play for the “Partizani” team.
He refused for the first month, remembering the baseness they had done to him by pulling him out of university. Tired from work, saddened by the lack of support, after three months he agrees to make the request to go to “Partizani”. There he found Agim Fagu, Nikolin Pali, Dodan Përmeti…! Later at his side also Kastriot Mushi, Edgar Prifti, Robert Kuqo…! Basketball stars that you enjoyed watching, let alone playing with them. Thus, he became part of the magic of this sport, which gave him the brilliance and the name that perhaps no university would have given him…!
It gave him a name so as not to be forgotten by his many admirers throughout Albania. But it also gave gratitude and pride to his fellow citizens for the golden name he has marked in Albanian sport. That is why, even when he did not expect it, they gave him a big surprise, declaring him an “Honorary Citizen”. “On September 15 of this year, I felt emotions that I have never felt on any other day of my life…” – says Kushtrim Zaçe, recalling that splendid and extraordinary reception his fellow citizens gave him.
Filled with longing and nostalgia for his birthplace, that large crowd of people seemed to him like a Sunday from that time, when they used to go to watch a basketball game. His hair had turned white and he looked manly at first glance, but deep in his soul he felt like back then, 14 years old. Only love and pride for one’s birthplace keep you standing and pure all your life…! He couldn’t bring himself to ever leave his city, even though on that day of September 15 he lives with it spiritually at all times…!
A whole life adored and respected, Kushtrim Zaçe, for that basketball he played so beautifully and that gave him all that fame. And why should he deprive even his son, Henri, of this pleasure? From a young age, he made him part of the “Partizani” team, taking him along not only to official matches but also to training sessions. Because it relaxed him and supported him with his childish cheering, even though his voice was imperceptible in that powerful chorus of fans.
Even the team players made room for little Henri in those symbolic photos of handing over a trophy or starting a match. They made room for him because he too had his share in those explosions of his father that ended in the basket. Not a few times three‑pointers…! Raised in this sporting and enthusiastic environment, even in that child, dreams and desires were born. They all merged with the magical game of basketball. Meanwhile, fate had caressed him by giving him that height, so much desired even by his father… 1.91 cm. Big Zaçe, 1.98; little Zaçe.
That was enough for the father to continue even more joyfully that golden path that he had just left. He brought him close to the ball and the basket from a young age. But above all by preparing him physically, with an advanced programme. He made him play in every role, winger or guard. He showed him the techniques of shooting accuracy. He trained two hours with the team, but also allocated another two hours for individual preparation. He noticed in his son the high technique and intelligence, which harmonised perfectly with the height.
Everything aimed at reaching the heights of contemporary level. Not only physical‑tactical data, but also the results, proved that the path was right and everything could be aimed for. He played and shone for “Studenti” and “Partizani”. His game effective and productive also with the national team…! Which caused the offers to start…? The coach of an English team felt luckier, convincing him until he made him part of his team.
In that zonal championship that took place, Henri was the best as organiser and scorer…! And when everything promised, a knee injury definitively removed him from sport. Precisely at a moment when several European elite basketball teams had set their eyes on 22‑year‑old Henri. It was not foretold that little Zaçe would become bigger and more famous than his father…! But let us not forget that he managed to write his name in the golden history of Albanian basketball. And that is not anything, even though our mind goes to the heights that Henri aimed for and could have reached…!
NAME: Marjeta Zaçe (Pronjari)
DATE OF BIRTH: 3 September 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH: Korçë
MARITAL STATUS: Married with two children
EDUCATION: Graduated from the Higher Institute of Physical Culture “Vojo Kushi”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1971 Assistant/lecturer at HICP “Vojo Kushi”
1978 Lecturer at HICP “Vojo Kushi”
1992 Head of the Athletics Department at HICP
1992 Vice‑President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee
1993‑1996 Secretary General of the Albanian Olympic Committee
1999‑2001 Research Fellow at the Sport Research Centre
SPORTING CAREER
1964‑1974 Athletics, 31 national records and 7 years national champion in high jump and pentathlon.
1974‑1979 Member of the Women’s National Volleyball Team
1968 First woman in Albania with the title “Merited Master of Sport”
POLITICAL CAREER
Member of the Democratic Party from 1991
1996‑1997 Deputy of the Assembly of Albania
1996 Member of the National Council and member of the Presidency of the D.P.
1998 Chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s League, Tirana branch
2002‑2005 Deputy of the Assembly of Albania
2005 Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Taqo Duka’s 35‑Year Hurdle
The incident that denied this excellent coach‑athlete duo a well‑deserved record has still not been overcome. They had trained hard, accompanied by a record result. “Fortunately, Marjeta had positive emotions in the competition. Everything turned into mobilisation and confidence for her. Even at that National Athletics Championship held in Elbasan in 1973, we were very optimistic. The first trials passed and the bar moved only by the hand of the referee and not by Marjeta Pronjari’s body. Confident, we dared and asked for the bar to be set at a height of 1.80.
Before that height was properly measured, we saw eyes and faces that conveyed surprise and doubt. Our calmness and persistence may have been felt by some as caprice or arrogance… whereas for us this height had become usual in training. The measurements finish and the referee starts the competition. The whole stadium in silence, waiting for the miracle. Focused and very cool‑headed, Marjeta starts her vigorous and explosive step. She flies and the bar does not fall…! Ovations explode. Hugs begin for this dizzying, world‑class figure.
As if given a command, all the athletes at this event rush to Marjeta giving her hugs…! Many wiped their eyes from doubt and tears of joy, but that bar had now become an eloquent witness, staying just as the referee had fixed it. However, it was that same referee who “attacks her”, as if to punish her for not falling…!
After a few minutes, we are informed that the record is not valid because in the middle the bar is slightly deformed. A strange discrepancy with the truth and an inexplicable decision by the referee. How is it possible to measure it and then announce that the high jump competition for the height of 1.80 begins, and later say the bar has bent…?!” Memorie.al
