From Uvil Zajmi
Memorie.al / Ben Minga, Gust Kola and Çim Muça! Spectacular emotions and goals. Not only in championships and cups, but also in international meetings, such as those against Spain, Poland and Belgium. From the unforgettable Arben Minga, to the other two. Where are they today, what do the former protagonists of the big three of the 80s and 90s do?
The 80s, the return of the lost tradition!
“17 November”, the team of the early 80s, was potent and scary. It was characterized by the classic game within the tradition, harmonized with individual skills and group play, the high spirit of competition, rhythm, and athletic preparation, aggressiveness, also supported by the fans. Minga played and scored in all positions, while Kola, from the left, moved well in the area in search of the ball, which, after possessing it, hit the goal strongly.
Then Muca for technical ability, peripheral vision, managing the game when the team had the ball. They knew each other’s game very well and every attack of the team was finalized by them. The attack started from the wings with the defenders Millan Baçi or Nine Naçi and Bedri Omuri, to be concretized with the arches in the area for them, a typical game of Tirana football. In particular, grit (ego) was the primary element of the team that proved capable of overturning any result even when it was impossible.
The giants Minga and Kola gave guarantees in the game on the ground and in the air, while Muça, a refined master in the role of attacker, scorer and assist man. Four-time champions together and three-time winners of the Albanian Cup. Kola, Minga and Muça are also among the first in the ranking of the best scorers of the club, which was commanded by Indrit Fortuzi.
Minga-Muça-Kola, when the spirit went down to the field!
Unrepeatable, although they came from a different sports background, as well as that of educational education: a merceologist, an engineer and a physical education teacher. Intelligence, strength, and enthusiasm, and group spirit, competitive spirit: these were a continuation of Myslym Alla’s “November 17” tradition. You couldn’t play in this team if you didn’t have these characteristics.
Minga and Kola, with an admirable physical stature and height, over 180 cm. a little “smaller” was Muça. Kola left scorer, Minga in the center scorer and Muça organizer, fantasist scorer. The cycle of the Tirana trio of “November 17” begins as soon as “Dinamo” lowers the curtain. So, it belongs to the early 80s. After the ’69-’70 season, which was also the last triumph of Tirana and the dominance of “Dinamo”, the return to the decade of successes (’81-’82, ’84-’85, ’87-’88, ’88 -’89) was the contribution of the team built by coaches Enver Shehu, Shyqri Rreli, but especially the trio.
“November 17” of Kola, Minga and Muça has dominated with play and results, but also in the international representations that were lucky enough to play in the period of the 80s – 90s. In ten international matches with the national team, they are together: the first meeting dates back to October 27, 1982 in Izmir, Turkey-Albania 1-0 with Coach Shyqyri Rrelin. And the last one, when the unforgettable coach Agron Sulaj, placed all three against Spain, on December 3, 1986, in “Qemal Stafa” 1-2 (Muça’s goal in the 28th minute).
After Fortuzi, as the first scorer in the ranking list in the history of the club, immediately come the three, Kola, Minga and Muça. Some of the most spectacular goals and among the most historic of the red and black jersey have their signature: Kola’s in Mielec, in the great 2-2 draw with Poland; Minga’s second extraordinary goal in the 2-0 victory over Belgium in Tirana and Muca’s goal against Spain in “Qemal Stafa”. In the European cups, together on the field we would highlight the representations against Bayern Munich, but unforgettable, the qualification in Romania against “Dinamo” Bucharest.
Arben Minga
Born in 1959, always with the number 10 on the shirt. From the youth of Arbana with the first team of “17 November”, which was led by Fatmir Frashëri, who activated him without hesitation? With number 10, with a galloping step, it was difficult to get the ball from him, very strong physically (188 cm. tall), on any ground and time, very decisive in the matches on the road, where he single-handedly pulled the team together. All-round performer. Debut, aged 17, in August 1976, in the friendly against “Tractor” of Lushnja (1-1), scoring his first goal with the blue-white team.
Of the three magical goals in European tournaments, we single out: October 1, 1986 in Bucharest, “Dinamo” Bucharest – “November 17” 1-2; in “Olimpia Stadion” against Bayern (3-1) October 18, 1989 and against Belgium in “Qemal Stafa”, December 24, 1984, 89th minute, the second goal after a phenomenal action and action. Goal scorer in the 1984-85 seasons with Fakje with 13 goals. He played with “17 November” from 1976-1991, then in Romania at “FC Brashov”, “Dacia, FC” Giorgiu (’91-’94) and Futbol Klub Tirana 1994-’96. 738 meetings, of which 387 (266 goals scored). The first match in the National Team, Albania-FRGJ 0-2, Tirana April 1, 1981 (on the field with Ballgjini and Përnaska, Coach Loro Boriçin) and the last against England (0-2) in Tirana, in March 1989. 28 match with the national team and 2 goals.
Shine Muça
Born in 1960, he appeared in the 80s as a real talent, discovered among the youth of the club. Individual skills, dribbling-passing-speed, intuition and elegance quickly identified him from others. Three years with the youth and then in 1978, he was taken by coach Frashëri with the first team of 17 November, with whom he played until 1989. With the number 8, he immediately got in touch with the game and dynamics of 17 November, as well as the Kola-Minga duo.
Playing between them he completed and alternated force with fantasy. The goals scored by “17 November” also had Muça as an assist in the midfield. He became champion three times with this club. Among the spectacular goals, we single out the one against “Labinot” in “Qemal Stafa”; the goal scored in the final for the Cup of Albania in Shkodër against “Flamurtari”, the extraordinary goal against “Partizan” in “Qemal Stafa”, made from the midfield, but which was not assessed as regular by the referees of the match.
And, unforgettable against Zubizareta of Spain in Tirana (03.12.1986) after an Omuri-Minga-Muça combination…! Debut with the National Team on 22.09.1982 in Vienna, Austria-Albania 5-0, coached by Shyqri Rrelin. Together with Kola and Minga, we find them in the National team, in the following meeting, October 27, 1982, in Izmir, Turkey-Albania 1-0. Muça’s last match with the red and black jersey dates back to October 1987, when coach Sulaj activated him in a match played in Vlora, Albania-Romania 0-1. In total 16 matches with the national team, 2 goals.
Agustin Kola
He was also born in 1959. Talented as an acrobat and swimmer, at the age of 14, he was discovered at the Spartakiad of Pioneers by coaches Aurel Verria and Rada, who recommended him to continue at the “Sports Mastery” school in Tirana. A product of “Skëndija”, since the end of the 70s, he had left his fame and name, as the tradition was dying out. Kola played for a few years with the school team and transferred to Tirana, as a typical player of “17 Nëntoras”, with which he played from 1977 to 1996, always with the number 11.
Very powerful in the game on the wings, but also in the center and controversial with the decisions of the referees, when he was often played heavily. With an aggressive left, strong header and very unpredictable in the area. But he was also exceptional as a defender. A complete footballer, several times champion and winner of the Super Cup and Cups of Albania with “17 November”, as well as goal scorer in two seasons: ’87 – ’88 with 18 goals and ’88 – ’89 with 19 goals.
Kola officially scored 140 goals with “17 November”, while with the National Team as a starter; he was indisputable in 22 matches, when he scored 1 very valuable goal in the 2-2 draw against Poland of Bonieku (31.10.1984). On December 6, 1980, he made his debut with the national team of Zyber Konçi, replacing Sefedi Brahon (of the “Warrior of Gjirokastra”) against Austria in Tirana and the last official one, in Constanta, Romania-Albania 3-0, on September 20, 1988. He returned again with the national team of Bejkush Birçe in Athens, in the 2-0 friendly against Greece, when he played with the club of “Egalios” 09.04.1991.
The reports of the trio, the rivalry within it
Only 20 to 30 minutes, this was the time limit of the special Tirana fans, when it was not scored. The cries of “Tirona! Tyrone!” was more of a tease and aimed at the trio, Minga-Kola-Muça, as the goal from them was expected, especially by the fans of stand “A”. When Minga scored, the rivalry was at its peak, as Kola’s ego was recognized by all. Often the team’s game was focused on this footballer and everything calmed down when Kola also scored. Coach Enver Shehu knew this better than anyone, as he knew their characters well. The team bus would always leave after it was guaranteed that Agustin Kola had boarded or not.
Josa and Minga, the duo from Tirona, who shocked a Kingdom!
If “Qemal Stafa” has had a moment of uncertainty when even its foundations could have been shaken, it was that minute, that goal, that enthusiasm, that extraordinary situation of a stadium, fans, all on their feet shouting “Gooool” . European season 1984-’86, played for the qualifiers of the World Championship “Mexico 86”, group 1, Albania-Belgium. Saturday, December 22, 1984, winter noon, great interest, many spectators without numbers, sitting, standing, with tickets, without tickets, an Albania with ears on the radio and eyes on the screen.
The national team is coming off a promising 2-2 draw in Poland. 90 minutes against Belgium, unforgettable 90 minutes, for anyone who was present there that day, with “Qemal Staff” live witness of that great, unrepeatable sporting event. From the dressing rooms, the teams’ appearance on the field, the draw and the shout of the Spaniard Sanchez, to start that match, one of the most famous in red and black history. Opposite is a Kingdom, the Belgium of coach Thyes, of Pfaff, Shifo, Varkauteren, Kulemans, they are strong, impossible, but in the national capital, they will be punished! Even heavy.
There are two moments that that stadium, the spectators, history will remember forever. The first goal: ’69, when Mirel Josa heads the ball back into play, after a difficult reception by the goalkeeper, interferes between speed and 1-0. The second goal: Minute 86′, Minga owns a ball in the midfield, he started a powerful run, no one could stop him, there is only one defender and the goalkeeper in front of him, a standing stadium, waiting, endless anxiety…! At the boundaries of the area, about 17 m., he hit with his right, tokazi, a real bomb, the ball to the left of the Belgian goalkeeper and the net from the northern gate.
A wonderful individual action, an alternation of speed, strength, and masterful finishing. Then his unforgettable galloping runs towards the fans of the opposite sector, completely in ecstasy. 2-0, a triumph beyond imagination, recorded in the mythical “Qemal Stafa”! Albania of that meeting is: Perlat Musta, Hysen Zmijani, Skënder Hodja, Adnan Ocelli, Muhedin Targaj, Ferit Rragami, Sulejman Demollari, Mirel Josa, Shkëlqim Muça (Arben Vila 88′), Arben Minga, Agustin Kola. Trainer, Shyqri Rreli. Belgium: Pfaff, Grun, Van der Elst, Renkuin, Degrofte, Jespers, Shifo, (’46 Klisteers), Kuleman, Verkauteren, Klaesen, Kaniatyneski (’62 Voordekers), Trainer, Gi Thys.
Separation and union of the trio…!
The three played together until 1989. The first to leave the trio was Shkëlqim Muça, after a chronic injury, when he finally parted ways with football. After him, the Minga-Kola duo continued for a while together, but after 90 they took different directions, with teams abroad. Minga in Romania and Kola in Greece. The first (Minga) returned to move with his family to Canada in the 2000s, while Kola finally settled in Tirana. In the 1994-1995 seasons, there is a special one: Minga-Muça-Kola, we find them together again at “Sport Klub Tirana”. Minga and Kola as footballers now, at the end of their careers, while Muça as a team coach. Minga left after one year, while Kola continued for two more seasons.
Where are they today, what are the legends doing?
Unfortunately, Arben Minga is no longer alive. Graduated in Merceology, Minga passed away at a young age, after a serious illness on January 30, 2007, in Windsor, Canada, where he had been living for years with his wife, Nora Goxhi (known former basketball player) and two sons. He left football when he was 36 years old, without continuing it as a coach or management functions. Even today, national football lacks such a personality. He pulled the team even alone in difficult moments. No heirs followed his career.
Muca, Geology engineer
Shkëlqim Muça, who graduated from the Faculty of Geology, was not a product of “Sports Mastery”. He never applied for the profession of engineer. He did not play with any other team, except “17 November”. He left football after several serious injuries, poorly diagnosed and treated by sports medicine. He underwent several surgeries, but he could not return to the field as a football player, but as a coach, successfully continuing his career with several clubs. There were no footballers in the family.
Cola, incomparable
A physical education teacher, Kola did not practice the profession much. After playing for several years in Greece, after political changes and at an advanced age, he returned as a footballer to “17 November”, leaving him as a player at the age of 38. He then continued his career as a coach, directing his “17 November”. Unrivaled for his commitment and what he transmitted to the team when he played. A true leader. He currently lives in Tirana and is engaged with the chain system of children’s age teams.
Even Agustin Kola had no football fans in his family. Minga, Kola, Muça, have been and remain a trio that, no matter how much you write about them, there are still many things left to say. Even the more you remember them, the more new things emerge for them, as their career is quite rich. We’re sure we may have left quite a few details unsaid regarding their careers. But, from the desire to bring them back to the memory of sports fans, we thought that even with so many lines, something will serve. For the contribution they made to “November 17”, to the national team and what they broadcast on the field, they are unrepeatable in all aspects, sports and human.
Stool Superstition Syndrome
In “November 17” the superstition syndrome of the bench was very pronounced. So, the managers had the idea that if there was a bench in the southern part of the stand, the team would have luck in the match. For this reason, regardless of when the match was and the time of the game, from around 10:00 in the morning, a representative of the club would go to the “Dinamo” stadium or the “Qemal Stafa” national stadium and sit on the empty benches.
As if by chance, or with another motive, no one understood and could not think of such a thing. After many years, when this information was spread, the rivalry was unprecedented as to who would sit on the bench that would bring them luck. In particular, when one of the three derby matches was played and the most rivalry was in “Qemal Stafa”, since in the “Dinamo” stadium, the “17 November” team always sat on the southern bench. Memorie.al
