From UVIL ZAJMI
-The story of the “King” of the Albanian floor that the Italians asked to buy him for 100 million lire, as much as Jabbar, the best NBA player, cost-
Memorie.al / A whole world of Albanian sports are connected with Agim Fagun, but not only. They are the passions of a generation, of a youth, for a model man, a symbol admired endlessly. That extraordinary sportsman, very popular, famous, in the fans at the Sports Palace, in matches, training, walks, everywhere, just to see him and be near him. An indisputable personality on and off the field. Meetings and conversations with Gimi, with many discussions, but the one related to “Oransoda”, deeply moved us, and surprised us beyond measure. Even when we go back to those 40 minutes, the year it was played, it seems to us that it was another time, like in the legends. Yes, because “Partizani” – “Oransoda”, in addition to the result, has a climax that refers only to Agim Fagut, the author of 48 points, which stunned a basket continent?
I remember the words of Sergej Biellov, the “Czar” of Russian basketball, told Petri Beci, the former director of Kinostudio, (Klan, RTVSH, etc.), when in 1993, located in Pesaro, Rimini, for the Film Festival “Nuova Cinema”, heard from him, that; “It was a great luck that Albania remained closed and we were hoping that Agim Fagu would not escape. He was a great player, with a small team, think if he was playing with an elite European club”, said Bjellov, the giant of the floor.
Or, when due to my interest in the Italians who have experienced those challenges closely, when the president AL-ONESTA, also of “Oransoda”, offers the figure of 100 million lire, for Fagu to be transferred to Italy, when the figure is more the highest of a famous footballer of the time, like Anastasi, the “Juventus” footballer, was 300 million lire. And the technical director of “Oransoda”, who explained to him that Abdul Qerim Jabbar (American NBA legend), costs 100 million and up to 80 million can be paid for a player in Europe.
“With Fagu, I become a champion in Italy and in Europe”, he insisted. The biggest prize offered to a player in Europe. And Bjellovi, who at that time was the first European player, wanted in the NBA, but the Russians did not allow him. Very sporty even today, with an unchanged will and physique, while systematically running to the lake, Agim Fagu, stopped for a moment when I asked him to return the confrontation with “Oransoda” to the readers and sports fans, accompanied by episodes, moments remembered by him.
At first he hesitated, he thought, and thanks to our friendship, he very modestly asked not to talk about it. He has never talked about his brilliant career, even more about that cold December evening, developed half a century ago, both in the “Partizani” Sports Palace and in Kantu, where he was the absolute protagonist of the challenges. A rare story told by Agim Fagu himself, the legend of Albanian basketball.
Mr. Fagu, do you remember the moment of the draw?
When we were informed after the draw that our team “Partizani” will play with the champion of Italy, “Oransoda”, it was a surprise. It was unknown, but in those years, Italian clubs, together with CSKA of Moscow, “Real” of Madrid, competed for winning trophies. This created an “uncertainty” for us and the public, in the sporting sense of the word, and of course the question was: How will we prepare? Astriti, our coach, drew up a detailed two-month program, which overlapped with the championship. We tried not to waste time in district matches, such as in Korça, etc.
I remember, when a heavy rain filled the field of Korça with water, they told us to do it the next day. We did not accept and near the stadium, we found a neighborhood field somewhere, without water, we drew it, just to finish the meeting and leave for Tirana. We paid special attention to physical and especially tactical preparation. The Tirana match had to be used also because they didn’t know us. It was a little different for us, that we had information about them.
Why so important in tactical terms?
Astriti judged that, in front of a team with high European and world individual qualities, the weapon in attack would be a combination of double blocks and my exit in free positions, after Greva, he was convinced that if the effectiveness of the precision would was high, that would be the only way we could compete and that had to be exploited. Also for the fact that during those two years, I scored about 30-35 points a game. We prepared for a completely aggressive defense, each one his own, closing in front of tall players, which we missed and miss, historically and today. Then the quick exit with “open and closed” counterattacks, which require a high level of physical preparation.
And the envelope comes from “Oransoda”…?!
Ten days before the match, we receive an envelope, sent by Kantu, inside which were several dozen photos, with the players of “Oransoda” lined up, in playing positions, someone dribbling, another shooting, with those beautiful uniforms, of course with a photography master, which created a negative effect for us, as it looked like a point that you couldn’t climb up to. Catalog with photos, individual postcards. Even, on the day of the meeting at lunch, while we were staying at Hotel “Donika”, from the balcony, we saw the players of “Oransoda” dressed in “legendary” costumes, walking on the boulevard.
A team of Americans, right?
Mike Lynn, a center player, came from UCLA, California, a four-time champion of Universities in America, on a team with Jabbar, who went to professional basketball, while Lynn, came to Italy. Bërxhes, the European American of “Real” Madrid, of high levels, D’Aquila, together with the center De Simone, both Argentines. Two national team players, captain Frixherio e Rekalkati, one of the future stars of Italian basketball, as well as some promising players, such as; Della Fiore, Farina, etc. This created an atmosphere of sports “fear”.
We are getting closer to the match, how was the situation…?
I remember very well that there was a slightly bold decision. The match was on Wednesday, we trained on Monday, which showed a good physical condition, relatively good accuracy and this was the last session, as we decided not to train on Tuesday. We took a break, against the rules, we organized a walk from the lake that created calmness and physical strength for us, and the truth is that in the match, regardless of the technical side, it was a wonderful physical performance, which surprised even the Italians. “Oransoda” was not prepared for our game.
Why…?!
It was our extraordinary rhythm that hit them and they couldn’t get used to it. We were aggressive in defense and, luckily for us, we had absolute precision. “Oransoda” was not prepared for our game. Until the last minutes, we, or they in front, I remember a moment, when we were four points ahead and we could go six points ahead, but Agim Lahi, free, did not realize Bërxhes and De Simone, because we were loaded with personal, they managed to score three baskets, going two points ahead, when there were still a few seconds left.
Let’s pause for a moment in the dramatic moment. What happened?
There were about 15 seconds left, the ball for us who only had one attack available. Coach Greva directed two or three turnovers and the ball was addressed to me. The moment I receive the ball, I see a rush of Italian players, towards me and located at the edge of the area, I made a move to give them the idea that I would shoot, or penetrate. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Besnik (Pëllumbi), free, to the left of our attack, from the southern basket, and although he was surrounded, I passed the ball to him, without seeing him at all.
Indeed, at the time of the pass, there was about 1 or 2 seconds left in the game. From the judge’s table, Zeneli, the clock technician, set on a Chinese table with second’s circles, slows their beat. The pigeon, of course, hesitated, but knowing that it was the last chance and that the game was over, he shot it with a raised half-leg and the ball went into the basket. By the time she finished, more than two seconds had actually passed, but Jones stepped in to end it all.
Was there a reaction?
The guests started to talk, but the result, the enthusiasm, made them stop talking. No one believed that the game ended in a draw. Not even us, but also the confused Italians, looked at each other and for a few minutes, they were as if paralyzed. Of course, in their minds, they had peace of mind that they would return to Kantu. They shook hands, greeted each other, but there were no signs of life.
How was the atmosphere during and after the match?
I’m not talking about the fandom, extraordinary. With hundreds of fake tickets made, that had occupied the Palace, so much so that those who came a few moments before the start, remained outside the door, as the police kept the crowd, because people tried to enter by force. As before and during the meeting, the palace was filled with chants of “Partizan, Partizan”.
Because at that time cigarettes were smoked, from the smoke, up from the 20th degree, the field was not visible at all. I remember a girl or woman, who was suffocated by the pressure of the people standing, and hand by hand, they brought her down to the first step. The atmosphere after the match was a real miracle. Exalted people, almost all on the floor. I remember a group of friends, basketball fans, intellectuals, professors, chemists, doctors, welcomed us and accompanied us along “Durres” Street to the center. They were the ones who talked about the match, since we were not able, we did not perceive it, and they showed scenes of the meeting.
When were you informed about the 48 points?
Both before and after “Oransoda”, I never knew how many points I scored. I noted, without dealing with them. I realized they were a lot, but not exactly, as it was common to score over 30 points a game. But, in this case, we were playing with a team in the elite of Europe and it was different. In conversations with friends along the way, someone told me 40, another 42, and then 46. Rodolf Cici, one of the table referees, came and confirmed correctly: there are 48 points. I only remembered that I had shot 6 shots, none of them missed, others were shots from the game. I remember playing with the tights on.
At a young age, you were the captain of “Partizan”…?!
In sports, but also in life, in some children there is a moment called premature maturity. I grew up in a sports family, with school education and dedication to sports, sacrifice, love, correctness, seriousness, honesty, for what you do. A 20-year-old boy like me should lead a team called “Partizani”, with the desire to make it as big as possible. So, I started to grow up, to mature very early, to lead, mobilize, and inspire them, with play and results, not with words.
That’s how we connected, I talked, I brought the players together, we understood each other with our eyes, they followed me, everywhere, how I trained, what regimen I kept. All of them were focused on me. Even that day I was a mature twenty-year-old, even though in front of us we had a team like “Oransoda”, but I had created the belief that they do what they do, we will do this, what we do. And so it happened.
The Italian press said that not even the Americans can stop Fagu. Were you aware of this?
In Tirana, I was marked by four players, among them the two Americans. If we had gone back in time, since in those years most of the personal fouls were taken on the sideline, with the large number of personal fouls inflicted on me, with today’s rules, I should have shot over 13, 14 of those.
The banquet with Ulliam Jones and…?!
At the banquet organized at the “Dajti” Hotel, the dominating personality was William Jones, a great figure for over 25 years as head of the World Federation, a man with a British style; he had good words for the team, while he gave me a flag of FIBA. I thanked him in English that I was a student studying that language and the communication with him was positive.
It is said that you received an invitation to the representative of Europe. Can you tell us something about it?
It was Williams’ wish that I be called up to the European national team. In February, the official announcement came that invited me as a player of the European representative, in the matches organized by FIBA, such as those against America, for the “Koraç” Cup, or traditional meetings that took place in Europe.
And you, why didn’t you go?
I didn’t know anything, but my father, being in the ministry for a meeting, was shown the official invitation, and he had written down the names of the invited players, including me, on a regular letter. He comes home and tells me: “You have been invited to the European national team.” I read them and I knew some of them, from the Russians; Alexander and Sergej Bjelovë, the Czechs Zidek, Zednicek, two Yugoslavs, the Belgian, the American Stivenier, famous at that time.
Let’s go back to “Oransoda”…?
With “Oransoda”, we parted in Tirana, while the New Year was approaching and we discussed how we would organize the traditional evening. For a team, in a tough sports regime, a way had to be found. We agreed that, on the night of December 31, we would spend it at the Central Officers’ House, so we would celebrate, but also be controlled, so that nothing was exaggerated. It was a group that didn’t overdo it, a regular sports team.
Was the match televised?
Yes, I also saw it after a week or two, when together with my parents; there is a good chance that we went for the New Year’s visit to the family of doctor Ilo Kola. He had a television that he had brought from the Soviet Union and when the rebroadcast started, the visit was “broken” because everyone was watching the match…! Of that match, unfortunately, a few seconds are left.
“Partizani” arrives in Milan; they await you as a “48-point mystery”…?!
I remember that before the departure, I sewed a new suit, with a piece that Myslym Bey, the president of “Fenerbahçe”, had given to my father in Turkey in 1961. Then I arrived in Linate, which impressed us, not only me, but to everyone. A huge airport, where hundreds and thousands of people entered and exited, among them journalists, very interested in waiting for our “Partizan” team. They came up to me and started asking questions, which was out of our way of behaving and living. We had an orientation, but not many conversations and restrainedly I replied that I was entirely of “Partizan” and personally I was not interested in anything.
We settled in Komo and in the evening we went to Kantu, for the cognitive training. We came back, absolute calm, very good hotel by the lake and I was in the room with Besnik Pëllumbi. When we woke up, we see Komo covered in snow, a real miracle. We took a walk near the Swiss border and at the invitation of the Italian leaders; we went for a visit to the “Oransoda” Club. It might have been 11:00, the players were having breakfast, while the managers offered us a warm welcome.
Italian newspapers ask: Will Fagu repeats Tirana?
I was surprised when, on the day of the meeting, the newspapers wrote: “Following the training of “Partizan” last night, we saw that coach Greva was preparing Përmet and Pal for shooting”. The journalists had smelled that we would play with different tactics, that Fagu will not shoot, but will follow the others. I remember that after lunch, we did the analysis; the match was too late outside of our schedules. We found people, walked the created corridor and when we went out for warm-up, to the basket where we attacked the first half, a group of enthusiastic young people, before and during the game, attracted attention, shouting and supporting “Partizan”. Then, the meeting that doesn’t really need my comments.
So, you applied another strategy, but why?
Both teams already had recognition for the way they played. From us, it was thought to apply a logical game strategy, which usually happens in basketball, when two or three players mark one, it is played with the variants that the ball is sent to the one who is free. But, it didn’t work, because there was a lack of precision in the execution and in a few minutes, a difference of 20 points was created, which in a way, ended the game, when you have a team like “Oransoda” in front of you and on its field. In the second, we changed tactics, played a good match, almost equal. I came out on my game, scored 23 points, just shooting, some of them from eight yards.
Even in Kantu, the Americans could not stop you…?!
The truth is that they were interchangeable. In the 10th minute, Lynn had 3 personals, in the 13th, four, and at the end of the first half, he caused the fifth, but the Swiss referee signaled to me: “Leave Fagu, it’s not worth it prolongation”. Lyn was the nature of a nervous sportsman, not with the European discipline, but like the Americans, who explode. When he made the fifth goal in the second half, he came out screaming, talking to Stakovic, arguing between them, complaining and looking irritated even though they were a point ahead, but I didn’t understand anything, because I was far away. Even in Tirana, he showed signs of nervousness when he marked me.
Do you consider “Oransoda”, the peak of your career?
If you take it from the points, from the opponent and the value of the result, as well as from the time when that result was achieved, for what that match represented, that is, for Albanian basketball, of course, which is a peak. But technically, as a game, it’s not my peak. There are some matches that are very beautiful, like the one a year later, in Bucharest in the Champions Cup, against the local “Dinamo”, the one against the Austrians of “Vienerberger” with “Cepel” in Budapest, with the French of “Aspo” -Tour”, with “Crvena Zvezda” in Belgrade, as well as in the qualifiers of the European Championship in the Netherlands, Caljari, Budapest, or the World Student Universiade, held in Turin.
What is the history of photography?
Are you talking about the photo with “Oransoda”, published in “Sporti”? Both from the artistic side, sports and the moment, the characters with Bërxhes, it is a photo, which has all of them rare. I didn’t have that photo because I didn’t ask for it at the time. When I remembered, I couldn’t find it. Some friends brought me when they came to visit me at home in London, in 2000. While I do not know the photographer, I have never seen or met him.
A passion related to football, how did you end up a basketball player?
In life, man never knows what can be done. Football player, like my father, can, after I played well, a tall, fast center back, with a pretty good jump and shot. Even today, I follow it, and not only see it, but I have the impression that I read football, I can discuss about it, just like about basketball.
Inter fan, was Macola a role model for you?
Like Macola, I was also a school student in those early days. I liked Macola for its simple style, very precise, high technique, based on a passion, a jersey, a color, morality, strength, freshness. He was a role model for me. But also Soviet basketball, simple game. As well as Italian music, Roberto Carlos, Katerina Kazeli, I remain a fan of Celentano.
Mr. Fagu, have you never parted with number 9?
It was a coincidence…! When I was a student at “Qemal Stafa”, girls and boys, we were sent to get the shirt, for matches with the schools, in the warehouse that was located in front of the Fashion store, at the beginning of “Dibra Street”. I was together with Rina, Tomorr Shehu’s wife, volleyball player with Tirana. Storekeeper Karapici gave her number 10, while I got a blue shirt with number 9, which I played with “Partizan” and in the national team, without ever changing it.
Today in modern times, a curious question is asked by everyone: if the three-pointer would work at that time, what would be the figure against “Oransoda”?
If we remember the picture of the game and where the points were made and scored, I can say that, of the 21 baskets, 10 to 12 of them are all from the three-point range, plus the staff, at least ten more points, judge the figure for yourself, as I cannot calculate it.
After a few years, you are the ambassador of Albania in London, where fame also reaches you, as an outstanding former basketball player?!
During an official ceremony, when the presentation of the attendees was made, for me, by an ambassador of Bulgaria, whom I did not know, very enthusiastic, he added some sports facts. Out of curiosity, I asked him, where did he get this information? “I was an ambassador in Tirana, in the years when you were a well-known basketball player,” he told me.
Today, 55 years, from that confrontation, what values does it carry for Agim Fagun?
It was not just a match, not only the sports result, but a confrontation, with great political-social values, that gave a national inspiration. Because we have values, we have the opportunity to face anyone, as “Oransoda” was the champion of Italy. A sports showdown, that was widely reflected, that takes away the fear, when you are equal to the greats. The result and the game with “Oransoda” demonstrated that a basketball of hope was approaching, which was expressed quite well in the 70s. I consider this 55th anniversary to be a national and not a personal assessment. Memorie.al
