From Uvil Zajmi
Memorie.al / Family traditions, among the most popular not only in Kavaja of many sports dynasties, but also in Albania. Talented, competes and Zyber Konçi likes him. Then the education at the behest of Iljaz Reka, the years with “Skhëndina”, the return to “Besa” and the unrealized desire of “Dinamo” to wear him blue. Universal footballer, who only goalkeeper has not played. Unforgettable goals, publicity in “France Football” and the popular reaction of kavajas not to leave. Biography, national team to business. Dashnor Bajazit’s passion…!
Sports travel at a young age
Born in 1955, Dashi’s sports journey begins at the “24 May” school in the city of Kavaja, where the student Bajaziti is active and in the 5th grade, not yet being a pioneer, stands out and is distinguished by coaches Dhimitër Dimroçi, Hasan Gërmani , A. Felai and Alush Merhori. Plays all disciplines: 10-race athletics, long jump, 100m distance runner. and 1500 m., but also in basketball, volleyball. Even in the school championship, which includes the district of Durrës, Kavaja, Shijaku, Durrës, he stands out in football. He stands out in the Spartakiad of Pioneers that takes place in Lezhë in 1968. He is 13 years old, active in football with the youth coached by F. Zhelegu, I. Dobiani, while the great “Besa” was led by Zihni Gjinali.
To the Mastery, without competition
In July 1969, he came to Tirana and competes to enter the School of Sports Mastery in Football, which has been open for a year. Accompanied by B. Ylviu and with the recommendation of Hasan Gërmenji, he appeared before the competition commission, which consisted of prominent and great football figures. We are talking about trainers and specialists such as Zyber Konçi, Miço Ndini, Miço Papadhopulli, Thanas Jançe, Myslym Alla, etc. Just shots on goal, then some juggling. “You don’t need anything else, where do you come from and who are you”? – Konçi asks, interrupting him to continue the test. – “You have won the competition, go and get interested in your district so that they give you the right to come to school, as you need their opinion and approval”.
DIFFICULTY FOR SCHOOL, ILJAZ REKA INTERVENTS
There were difficulties, as Kavaja refused his education. But by order of Iljaz Reka, Chairman of the Durres District Committee, on October 16, Bajaziti went to Tirana, albeit late, as school had started on September 1. “I met Iljaz Reka myself when he came to Kavaja, then I went to his office and after I explained the case, he contacted Kavaja and helped me,” Bajaziti says. – “I spent my first two years in Master’s with Myslym Alla, Bari Ishka, and in my course I had Ilir Luarasi, Bifsha, A. Toqi, Qipon. I lived in the dormitory.
Then with the youth where Dash Gëzdari, Ilir Luarasi, Konomi, P. Vako, Paçrami, Astrit Hafizi, Muç Fagu, Bujar Çela play. Durim Kushe, G. Sherko, etc. We trained twice a day, in the afternoon with Thanas Jançe, while in the morning with Myslym Alla”. “Skhëndija” had two teams with young people, one playing in the Second Category, the other in the First. “In the 1970-1971 seasons, I was with the youth of Category II, after a year in Category I, always with the youth. Then with the adult team of “Skëndi” in the Second Category, to be a starter with the first team in January 1973, which played in the First Category”, Bajaziti confesses.
The first match against Iljaz Çeço
The first meeting is registered in a friendly match: “Skhëndija” – “Dinamo”, played against Iljaz Çeço, at the school field and 0-0. From that match, he left the youth team and played with the first team of “Shkëndi”, coached by Zyber Konçi and Shyqêri Rreli. Stopper with center back Milto Gurma, Leonidha Čurin, Bujar Hushin, Sh. Kurtin, Petrit Gjonin, Arjan Hoxha, Vladimir Ajazin. From the meeting with “Dinamon” he is regularly activated, in all defensive positions, right, left, in the center, especially when the starting players went forward, or when Milto Gurma and Spiro Çuri played in the midfield.
He likes Romanian coach Bolonescu and “Dinamo”
Year 1973, June…! The representative team “Shpresa” with coach Zyber Konçin gathers, the friendly meeting with Algeria, at the “Qemal Stafa” Stadium, Bajaziti plays right back. After a year in Tirana, comes a specialist and at the same time a coach, the Romanian Bolonescu, who takes Bajazit to the national team, activating him in two positions: right and left defender in front of Jani Kaç, and next to Safet Berisha, Faruk Sejdin , Millan Vaso, Milto Gurma and Ilir Përnaska.
In the meantime, he finished the high school of Sports Mastery in Tirana and started the Higher Institute of Physical Culture, “Vojo Kushi”, which he finished in 1977 with high results. They appointed him a teacher at the 8-year school “Fiqiri Kurti” in Kavajë. He finds the “Besa” team in the Second and that year he climbs to the First, contenders for the championship, third in the championship, with coach Hasan Gërmani and footballers as goalkeepers Haki Arkaxhiu, defenders Shyqri Qerolli, Azem Mullaliu, Naim Allaj, Hasan Zyla , Durim Shtini and Xhemil Bishtaja, (the latter his brother, as the Bajazti family was also known by the surname Bishtaja). Meanwhile, there is a silent interest from the “Dinamo” club of the capital to include him in its ranks.
Popular reaction kavajas to keep
While Dash Bajaziti continued in Kavajë, starting with “Besa” already, but “Dinamo” has been following him for a long time and wants to make him a footballer of the club, until the intervention of the senior officials of the department. They had investigated and Bayazit’s biography was acceptable. But there is a strong reaction from the kavajas opinion. Letters are pouring in for Party leaders in the Durrës District to members of the Political Bureau in Tirana.
The situation became difficult and representatives of the district party sent a request to Ramiz Ali and Adil Çarçan, starting with the Chairman of the Committee, the First Secretary of the Durrës District, that Bajazit not leave “Besa”, which prevents the capital club from insisting. Although “Dinamo” would take him as reinforcement against the great Ajax, Bajaziti would end his football career with the team of his city, without being able to transfer to the blues.
Bishtaja-Bajaziti, two different brothers in “Besa”…!
From the first, doctor Lirimi, center forward with “Besa” until 1962 when he came to Tirana to study at the Faculty of Medicine, Xhemili and Dashnori, with his son Darien, together with his grandchildren, all footballers. But the case of two brothers with different surnames is rare. Xhemil Bishtaja protagonist with the famous “Besa” of the 70s, the first Albanian team that passed the first round of European Cups. Then Dashnor Bajaziti, starter, goal scorer of “Skhendia” and “Besa”, and of the national teams “Shpresa” and adults. Xhemjsi (as the friends of sports lovers called him) and Dashi, in the “Besa” team, were together in the formation in three championships 1977-80s, but with different surnames.
“It was the biography that forced Xhemil to change his last name,” says Dash Bajaziti. – While I don’t and this problem has followed me for many years of my career”.
Albania, champion of the Balkans, with Bayazit’s goals
Year 1978, player of the representative team “Shpresa” that wins the title of champion of the Balkans in “Qemal Stafa”, defeating Romania 7-1. Bajaziti and Shyq Ballgjini, although over age, were taken as reinforcements, as it was allowed by the rules of the activity. If in Romania he had played as a midfielder, on that frosty December day in Bucharest (3-1 for the Romanians), in Tirana, after two weeks, Shyqyri Rreli activated him as a center forward and in this tactical choice, he was not wrong. Bajaziti scores an extraordinary and historic three goals (first, third and fourth), taking the penalty of the second goal scored from the penalty spot by Ballgjin. And Albania Champion of the Balkans, a great sporting triumph.
Against the great “Ajax” and Arnersen
Bajaziti plays with “Besa”, he is in the national team, and he is also taken as reinforcement by “Dinamo” in the meeting for the Champions Cup against “Ajax”, a famous team that is coming to Albania for the second time. It was an early desire of the club, which was approved by Coach Sajmir Dauti, and together with Bajazit, the defender Kreshnik Čipi of the team “Flamurtari” of Vlora is taken.
“It has been a difficult week for me”, – remembers Bajaziti – “We were gathered at ‘Plepat’, in Durrës where there were many mosquitoes and we were sleepless at night, high temperature coming from the ceiling with insoles. Last week, after we complained, they sent us to the ‘Vollga’ hotel in Durrës”. During the 90 minutes he played against Arnesen, a difficult duel as he was a very prepared, technical, ubiquitous player and the key man of the team. He was the one who scored two goals in the second half. He also played in the lineup in Amsterdam, a match without much history, although it ended only 1-0 for the Dutch. After that match, while the footballers of both teams were shaking hands with each other, Bajaziti spoke to the famous Arnersen in English (a language that Dashi spoke fluently at that time), and the famous “Ajax” footballer – it, as a sign of gratitude he gave him his jersey, which Bajaziti keeps even today in his house, together with some other memories from his long sports career.
Versatile and universal player…!
During his career, Dashi (or Nori as he was called by the ardent fans of Kawai), has played against and with the caliber of footballers of the time. He did not ask and there were no difficulties due to the terrain, the time, nor the strength or physicality of the opponent. Energetic, technical, strong, tireless during the 90 minutes, a real leader in the team, adored by the fans. He has not known fear, nor his name or greatness. Bayazit has been a universal footballer, playing in every position. From defender, midfield and attack, only goalkeeper not.
In 1974, “Skhëndija” had already closed the cycle and the players, those who gave it its name, had left for the clubs of their cities and the formation of the school remained in the hands of the next generation, with Bayazit at the head. The team has no forwards, as Ballço, Bulku and Agron Sulaj are no longer there. In Durrës, against “Lokomotiva”, for the away match of the Cup of the Republic, the coach puts him as a center back and 1-1. Then 0-0 in Tirana and the Durrsaks are eliminated. The next match: in Shkodër against a strong “Vllaznie” with Astrit Hafizi, Saba Biz, Din Zhega, etc., “Skhëndija” draws 0-0:
Plays again in defense with stopper Sul Starova. On the way back, sitting on the train, while he as captain, Coach Shyq Rreli, Doctor Lluka Heqimi and commissioner Vargu, discuss the difficulty the team has in the offensive line, a surprise idea comes…! “Based on my activation as a striker for the youth of “Besa” and “Shkëndi”, I propose to play in the attack”, remembers Bajaziti. Based on this fact, in the return match, “Skhëndija” has a different strategy: Bajaziti plays in attack, scores two goals and wins 2-0 against “Vllaznia”. From this meeting, when the team played in the transfer, Bajaziti was active in defense, while for the matches in Tirana he was deployed in attack.
An exception was made when there were strong teams in front of them, which returned to the defense. He still remembers a spicy moment: “In ‘Qemal Stafa’, “Dinamo” – “Besa”, in the rivalry for the head, it is the 88th minute when the locals execute a side kick. It was a moment of hesitation and negligence, and although I played carefully towards him, that moment was enough for the uncovered Llaq Zër to stop the ball with his chest and score the winning goal with a precise cross over Arkaxhiu”, says Bajaziti.
Goleador, on the pages of “France Football” and in the magazine “Yllli”
He has been the scorer of championships several times, even in three such championships. The first was that of the 1978 season with 34 goals, the second in 1979 with 17 and the third in 1980 with 27 goals. Three times second and four times in third place, always as a player of “Besa”, when in the Albanian elite there are well-known names, legends of Albanian football, such as: Llaq Zëri, Shyq Ballgjini, Tit Dibra, Ilir Përnaska, Slave Llambi , Din Zhega, Gim Murati, etc.
Of the scored goals, two are the ones that separate them from the others: Year 1976, “Skhëndija” – “Naftëtari” 2-0. It was a heavy field, it rained during the match, but he made it from the middle of the field, with a shot over 40 meters, from the southern gate of the stadium; then the friendly meeting Albania – France with the Hope teams in October 1980: 2-2 against the French where Jean Paul Tigana also played. He scored with a shot of his style, from a distance of 30 m., from the southern gate, he equalized the numbers. (After that match, Kavaja fans were delirious, saying: “Ime, kina and Platina na”)
While the prestigious “France Football” magazine wrote after the match: “The ‘Shpresa’ team of Albania showed a promising football, where Bajaziti stood out, a very technical center forward, Gega a powerful stopper and Kola a fast left forward…”. Famous and well-known when he played with “Besa”, the protagonist of the championships, it was the motive that prompted the journalist Josif Doja to write an article in “Ylli” magazine, dedicated to his career, where he wrote, among other things: “In the years he played, Bajaziti wore several numbers: 14 when he played in attack, imitating the ubiquitous Krujfi; then the jerseys with no. 5 and 3 when he was active in defense like Beckenbauer and Brejtner. He liked fantasy players, especially the Panienka style in “spoon kicks”.
Goal from the duo on order…!
The unforgettable match with “Partizani” in Kavajë, in a packed stadium. “Besa” – “Partizani” 0-1 first half, with the desire for the reds to win the meeting as they were contenders for the championship title and this was the last week. At the break of the match, Bajaziti asked for a replacement and coach Bet Vila replaced him. He got into the shower, and while he was wiping himself with a towel, some people came into the players’ room and ordered him to get back into the game, as it was the order of Muho Asllan…, (secretary of the Party Committee of the Durres district, from where he was the city of Kavaja at that time).
“If you didn’t play, you didn’t get points, you have a bad job”, they threatened. “Forced, I undressed and before the start of the second half, I told the players of “Partizan” about the created situation”, remembers Bajaziti. The 84th minute, the referee gives a free kick and from a distance of 27 meters, he scored from the church gate and the score went 1-1. The champion title of the 1982-1983 seasons went to “Vllaznia” from Shkodra.
But there is also an episode against the Shkodrans: the first match of the championship, 4-1 for the locals at the “Vojo Kushi” Stadium. The second stage, the challenge of the return, 4-1 the Cavaliers triumphed with two goals of Bajazit, who in this meeting played right back, covering the powerful Roland Luci. This was also one of the rare matches of his career.
Red card with Uran Xhafa
There is only one such and he got this one in Tirana. In the 1976-1977 season, Bajaziti has a four-month injury period, after breaking his leg, he is on crutches and “Skhëndija” (the team of the Higher Institute of Physical Culture “Vojo Kushi”) collects 11 negative results in a row. He returns to the formation and in the “Dinamo” stadium, they play “Skhëndija” – “Flamurtari”, 1-0, a goal from a free kick by Bajazit. At one point in the game, Uran Xhafa intervened harshly, but Bayazit jumped, avoiding the aggression of the intervention. The situation became tense, Bayazit reacted nervously, trying to kick Xhafa in the chest, but when he saw the referee Namik Jareci running towards him with his hand in his pocket, he told him: “Don’t give me the red card because I will go out myself.” from the field…”!
In the National team, an endless ordeal…!
Although he is the champion of the Balkans with ‘Shpresat’, in the years 78-80, when he is in the best sports form, he does not gather with the national team, as there is an obstacle in his biography. In the meantime, “Dinamo” finally ends the attempts to take him, although in 1980, things are clarified and already the accusation that he is the nephew of Count Ferra (the well-known merchant Xhemal Ferra originally from Kruja) and has an uncle, who left before the war for Italy, they are no longer an obstacle…!
He was called up to the national team and in September 1980, in “Qemal Stafa”, Albania Finland 2-0, Coach Zuber Konçi activated him as a reserve in the second half instead of Ben Minga. Plays in Sofia in October alongside Sefedin Braho and Ilir Përnaska (2-1 for the Bulgarians), then in November, in the 90 minutes in Vienna, Austria-Albania 5-0, but not in the meeting in Tirana, 0-1 for the Austrians. The year 1981 is associated with a long period of pause, as Loro Boriçi has returned to the national team and no match for Bajazit with the red and black jersey, in the 4 meetings that it holds.
In 1982, another former spark was appointed at the head of the bench: Shyqyri Rreli, and Bajaziti came with him to the representative team. He starts as a starter in September, Austria-Albania 5-0, but is replaced by Çim Muça in the second half. It is not in Izmir, Turkey-Albania 1-0, nor in “Qemal Stafa”, Albania-Northern Ireland. 0-0, to return to a giant team: March 1983, in “Qemal Stafa”, the Federal Republic of Germany descends, with Schumaker, Hans Peter Brigel, Hans Myler, Karl Heins Rumenige, Voller, Pjer Litbarski, etc. Bajaziti plays only 30 minutes and is replaced by Ilir Lame, a challenge that ends 1-2 for the Germans. This is where Bayazit’s adventure with the representative ends: 5 matches, 4 as a starter and 1 reserve.
Years on the bench, business and government
The years that followed, after he was separated from the football played, without any symbolic ceremony, he sat on Besa’s bench. Initially as a vice-coach in 1986 with Skënder Dedja, but after the loss in the first week with “Apolonia”, Dedja left and Bajaziti took over the leadership of the team. Two years as Zhega’s assistant with the national team “Shpresa”, while he stayed at “Besa” for three seasons, to be replaced by Fatmir Frashëri, when he completely broke away from football.
With the change of systems after 1990, he got involved in business, which is his first passion, which he manages together with his relatives. Wherever he goes, he is recognized by the fame he has left behind. Then, in the government, like many other sportsmen from Agim Fagu, Marjeta Zaçe, Din Zhega, Kateshi, Paulin Stërkaj, Bare, Rauf Dimraj, Fidel Ylli, Bajaziti also joins the legends who became politicians. Of the children, the daughter was awarded at “La Sapienza” in Rome, while the son, Darien, became active as a footballer with the “Besa” team, but carrying the fame of the father on one’s back is not easy. This is a familiar story for all the heirs of great characters in every field of life…! Memorie.al
