By Salajdin SALIHU
Memorie.al / In the 30s of the last century, Serbian newspapers appreciated the progress of sports and the adoration of Albanians, especially towards football. The Belgrade newspaper “Pravda”, on November 25, 1933, published the article: “Albania works with dedication and with a modern approach in the physical preparation of its youth”.The newspaper wrote that; from Albania there were no longer only news about stone throwing, but the great dedication to sport was felt everywhere.
“Sports teams do not pay tax stamps, for requests addressed to state institutions. They don’t even pay for telephone or telegraph. When the teams travel by plane abroad, they pay half price tickets”.The article stated that sport was under the supervision of the King’s sister, Princess Myzejen Zogu, who distributed prizes, decorations and precious medals to athletes, while the General Sports League in Albania, founded in 1929, had 5,000 members, while each sports discipline, was developed only according to international rules.
Several tennis clubs were founded in Albania, while in Korça and Durrës, there were water polo and swimming teams. Cycling, motorcycling or motoring clubs were also established, while motorboat and sailing races were organized. There was a lot of adoration for athletics and as a good example, the national junior championship is mentioned, where over 250 participants competed. The state was very supportive of football, received “with a lot of sympathy”.”There are 50 registered teams. The champion in the first three years was S.K. “Tirana”, while “Skënderbeu” of Korça has now received the palm.The government had ordered the municipalities to “give new teams, which were born like mushrooms, sports fields”, while “for the construction of a large stadium in Tirana, a loan of 200 thousand dinars was allocated”.
“In short, sport is flourishing in Albania. King Zog is a big fan of physical culture. With his initiative, sport has become a compulsory subject in schools, while the youth are competing with unparalleled enthusiasm”.The newspaper emphasized that Albanian sport lacked international competitions.”Until now, football teams from Podgorica, Nikšić and Cetinja are coming. From time to time, some team comes from Greece and very rarely from Turkey. When a French, English or Italian fleet appears, then they compete with the sailors, but they play average football and you can’t learn much from them”.This newspaper wrote that; foreign coaches also came to Albania, who were engaged by different sports teams.
MARK TEMALI FOR ALBANIAN SPORTS
In the same newspaper, that is, in “Pravda”, on August 23, 1934, the article was published;”Letter from Tirana: Albania before the Balkan Games” by Mark Temal, who is regarded as “one of the most important sports figures in Albania”.
The article written for the newspaper “Pravda”, on the eve of the Balkan Games, which were held for the fifth time in Zagreb, is a comprehensive overview of the organization of sports in Albania.”Sport in Albania is still in its infancy. It is said that Albanians for the first time saw a football game during the occupation, while athletics began to develop only after the World War. But until 1920, the sport developed at a very slow pace. After this year, it took off in Albania”, Temali wrote for “Pravda”.
“Sports associations started to be founded in 1927 and were under the care of the government. With this spurt of development of sports in Albania, we believe that very soon we will be equal to the other peoples of the Balkans”, writes Temali, who, as the seat of Albanian sports, distinguishes Tirana, where championships were organized in many sports disciplines.”Great football is played here and there are very good athletes. Government representatives are present in each competition. Here there are some beautiful fields for exercises, and the government has allocated loans for the construction of a large and modern stadium, for 50 thousand spectators”.
Besides Tirana, the sports centers were Shkodra and Korça. “In Korça,” Temali wrote, “there is a very beautiful stadium, where football players and athletes practice under the care of coaches.” Korça also had a winter sports hall.”Sports in Korça have better conditions for development and progress. Citizens are very supportive of their athletes”.According to the author, Durrës also had good sports fields and he believed that;”in a few years it will become the center of Albanian sports”.In Durrës, in addition to football, summer sports were also developed. Elbasan, Himara and Gjirokastra had also made progress, while Pogradeci organized the swimming championship.
“Our teams do not receive help from the state, but enjoy great privileges. Municipalities play a bigger role, where Tirana stands out”, writes Temali.
TIRANA TEAM, WITH HUNGARIAN COACH
The author S. Ivezič, in the article “Organization of Albanian sport in the hands of the state”, published in “Vreme”, on November 18, 1934, singled out the good organization of sports teams, especially S.K. “Tirana”.”Until now, the champion of Albania, Sport Club “Tirana” was led by the Hungarian coach Mr. Samuel Singer. S.K. “Tirana” has 64 players, divided into 6 teams. The chairman of S.K. “Tirana” Peki Selman, a state secretary at the head of the government, lacked commitment to the club, so the lawyer Dr. Shundi”.
The newspaper wrote that every year, the state football championship was organized, where seven teams competed. The last team in the ranking moved to a lower category, its place was filled by a new team that had not competed in the championship.”Last year the champion was S.K. “Skenderbeg” from Korça, and this year, it is S.K. “Tirana” from Tirana. In this year’s championship, S.K. “Tirana”, “Bashkimi Shkodran”, “Teuta” from Durrës, Sport Club “Vlora”, “Gjirokastra” and “Skënderbeu” competed.
The weakest team was Gjirokastra, and its place was taken by S.K. “Elbasani”.Albanian teams were noted for their sports discipline.”Everyone listens to the coach, commissioner or referee. Every mistake is punished with 3 weeks of suspension, the second mistake is one year, and for the third mistake, the player’s right to play sports is taken away”.Albanian teams also played international matches, mainly with teams from Montenegro.
“TIRONA”, ACCORDING TO SERBIAN NEWSPAPERS
The team that is mentioned many times in the Serbian media is S.K. “Tirana”, which is said to have been founded on August 15, 1920 (or August 16, 1920, as stated on the team’s official website). In the 30s of the last century, this team often held international matches, defeating well-known teams from the then Yugoslavia. During the reports, the quality play of the Albanian team was often emphasized. This year, this team experienced the fall from the Superior Category. A Serbian newspaper of the time writes that the same thing happened in 1933, but then the situation looked different, because the first team fell to the second category, but it was the reserve team that went up to the superior category.
In writing;”This did not happen! The saving substitution”, published in “Vreme”, on May 21, 1933, it was written: “Here the unusual has happened. In Albania, it happened that the team of the highest rank played in the second rank. S.K. “Tirana” with the first team, took the last place and had to compete in the second rank, while the reserve team took the first place in the second category and moved to the first category! Otherwise, football is constantly progressing here. Helped a lot by the state, football takes off a lot. It is interesting that so far Korça is better. “Skënderbeu” is the first in the championship, the second is “Bashkimi” from Shkodra, the third is “Sport-kKub” from Kavaja and the fourth is “Teuta” from Durrës.
FROM THE TIME PRESS
In the following, we convey to you some articles of the time in the Serbian newspapers, which talk about the successes of the “Tirana” club.TIRANA CHAMPION OF ALBANIA “Tirana, August 1 – The football championship in Albania ended last week. This year the championship was won by the sports club “Tirana” and soon preparations will begin for a tour around Yugoslavia” (Pravda, August 2, 1934) S.K. TIRANA – S.K. CERNOGOREC 7:0 “Cetinje, August 7 – Today at the Cetinje stadium, a friendly match was played between S.K. “Tirana” and S.K. “Cernogorecit” from Cetinje. The match was followed with great interest.A large number of spectators came to the stadium, for whom this sports attraction is a rare event. The Yugoslav and Albanian flags were raised in the tribune.
Before 5 o’clock, the Albanian players arrived, who were greeted with military music (…) Exactly at 5 o’clock, the judge Mr. Vlado Mitrović started the game. In the first half, both sides played a good game, with many interesting moments. The first half, however, ended with a 0:0 draw. The second half was disastrous for the locals, because they suffered losses that no one could have foreseen. The goals came like a torrent of rain, until the revolted public began to leave the stadium. After every scored goal, the military trumpets sounded, executing the salutation march. The defense and goalkeeper stood out among the Albanians. They decently presented Albanian sport. The match ended with the score 7:0 for Tirana” (Vreme, August 8, 1937).
CERNOGORACI IN THE RETURN MATCH DEFEATED THE CHAMPIONS OF ALBANIA WITH 4:2 (2:2)
“Today at the stadium of S.K. “Cernogorac” played the rematch between the champion of Albania S.K. “Tirana” and S.K. “Cernogorac” from Cetinje. This sports duel was followed by a very large number of spectators. I don’t remember ever having a match with so many fans. To watch the match, the crowd came in trucks from Boka e Kotor. After yesterday’s disastrous 7:0 loss in favor of “Tirana”, what should the officials of S.K. “Cernogorac”, because they fielded a weak team, today with an excellent team we were more attractive than “Tirana”. The Albanians yesterday gave a lecture to S.K. “Cernogorac”, especially the team leaders, who showed that they should not be opportunistic about the composition of the team, but a team with the best quality players should be made.
The changed team of “Cernogorac” did everything and was at the height of the former Montenegrin sport, when the glory was heard all the way to Malta.Exactly at 5 o’clock, referee Kiselev started the game. It was immediately noticed that the match will be more interesting than yesterday. From the second minute, S.K. “Tirana” took the lead. 1:0 for Tirana. In the 10th minute, “Cernogoraci” tied the score, while in the 26th minute, the club from Cetinje took a 2:1 lead.
The Albanians equalized in the 42nd minute and with the score 2:2, the first half ended. The second half started with a more lively pace. The crowd motivated the players. In the 15th minute (of the second half – S.S.) the hosts advanced 3:2. Very quickly they scored the fourth goal and the match ended 4:2 for our team.After each goal scored, military trumpets sounded with a salute march. Among the hosts, goalkeeper Tahir Doda stood out, as did Ivanoviqi, Peroviqi and Dule Vukceviqi. The referee Mr. Kiselov, was at the level” (“Vreme”, August 9, 1937).
YUGOSLAVEN – TIRANA 4 : 3
“Today, in front of a large number of spectators, the friendly match was played between the champion of Albania S.K. “Tirana” and locals S.K. “Yugoslav”.Yugoslavia won with a score of 4:3 (4:0). Only the end was depressing and allowed the Albanians to score three goals. During the Albanians’ third goal, an Albanian player was injured and had to be sent to the hospital.The two defenders stood out for the hosts, while the Tirana players showed a very lively game with many combinations.The match was referred by Večević, who made many mistakes. The rematch will be played tomorrow” (“Vreme”, August 11, 1937).
“TIRANA” REVENGE TO “YUGOSLOVANIA” “Kotor, August 12, 1937 –
Today, the rematch between the champion of Albania S.K. “Tirana” and the club from Kotorri S.K. “Yugoslavian”. The match ended with the victory of the guests, with a score of 3:1 (1:0).The Albanians showed an amazing game for the large audience. In the home team, the strong defense should be mentioned, especially Pozhegun. For the game of S.K. “Tirana”, the best words can be said. The champion of Albania was also a dignified partner for our league clubs.The match was excellently refereed by Marinović. After the game, the leadership of S.K. Yugoslav, organized a banquet for the guests, which lasted until dawn” (“Vreme”, August 13, 1937, p.12). Memorie.al
