KF Arbëria

Arbëria
Full nameKlub Futbollistik Arbëria
Nickname(s)Stuhia e Kuqe (Red Storm)
Founded1977 (1977) as KF Përparimi
1997 (1997) as KF Arbëria
30 May 2016 (2016-05-30) (refounded)
GroundSami Kelmendi Stadium
PresidentJahir Krasniqi
ManagerArbnor Morina
LeagueKosovo Second League
2022–23Kosovo First League – Group B, 10th of 10 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.fcarberia.com/

Klub Futbollistik Arbëria, commonly known as Arbëria, is a professional football club based in village Dobrajë e Madhe of Lipjan, Kosovo. The club play in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, which is the second tier of football in the country.

History

Early years (1977–1990)

In 1977, a group of villagers sent a request to the village council of Dobrajë e Madhe expressing the common will to establish a football club. In June of the same year, some young people from the village before the village council proposed that this team be called KF Përparimi and this team would consist of young people from the village. The team at the first season was led by coach Adem Brestovci and part of the team were Xhelil Gashi (GK), Elhami Llugiqi, Elmi Bublica, Enver Llugiqi, Fatmir Bytyqi, Haki Tafili, Heset Llugiqi, Ismet Uka, Nuhi Bahtiri, Nysret Llugiqi, Qemajl Rexhepi, Sali Nuredini, Skender Gashi, Sylejman Statovci, Shefqet Bahtiri, Shemsi Gashi and Xhevat Berbatovci. Some of the players of this team were guides for many other generations by inspiring many young people in the village over the years to play football and all this unfortunately ended temporarily in the 1990s, where due to the deteriorating situation in Kosovo, the Serbian occupators was stopped all activities (including even sports activities) throughout Kosovo.[1]

Returning, extinguish and second returning

After seven years break, in 1997, it was again the sports fans of the village of Dobrajë e Madhe brought the club back to functionality, but the club would be called KF Arbëria, in honor of the donor of the club of that time, Nazmi Rrustemi, where one of his businesses bore the same name. From 2003 to 2010 it was part of First Football League of Kosovo, while due to financial conditions in 2010, the team was extinguished.[1]

On 30 May 2016, KF Arbëria is reactivated and Jahir Krasniqi was appointed president of the club, the club was registered in the Second Football League of Kosovo and after one season was promoted to the First Football League of Kosovo.[1] In the 2019–20 season, KF Arbëria for the first time in its history secured promotion to the Football Superleague of Kosovo and this came after Football Federation of Kosovo's executive council stopped the all competitions (including even First Football League of Kosovo) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and decided that together with Besa Pejë, which until then were in the two first positions in the table be automatically promoted to the Superleague.[2]

Players

Current squad

As of 6 February 2021[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  KOS Armend Miftari
6 MF  BRA Bruno Arrabal
7 FW  KOS Hysen Bytyqi (captain)
8 MF  KOS Dior Zabërgja
9 MF  KOS Kreshnik Bahtiri (3rd captain)
10 MF  KOS Fidan Bahtiri
11 MF  KOS Agon Llugiqi
12 GK  KOS Donat Kaqiu
13 DF  KOS Ergon Hyseni
14 MF  GER Andi Seferi (on loan from Union Schafhausen)
15 FW  BRA Marclei
17 DF  KOS Çlirim Avdulli
18 MF  ALB Gresild Lika (on loan from Bylis)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW  SRB Anes Hot
20 DF  KOS Lavdim Gashi
21 MF  KOS Almir Kryeziu
22 DF  KOS Labinot Ibrahimi (vice-captain)
24 MF  KOS Agron Bruqi
25 MF  MNE Aldin Adžović
28 DF  KOS Leutrim Beqiri
30 DF  KOS Arbër Pira
91 DF  ALB Elmir Lekaj
96 GK  KOS Andi Thaqi
98 MF  KOS Aldrin Uka
99 FW  GER Çlirim Koshtanjeva
MF  SRB Aladin Đakovac

References

  1. ^ a b c "Rreth klubit – Historia e klubit" [About the club – History of the club] (in Albanian). KF Arbëria. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. ^ "KE i FFK-së mbajti mbledhjen e radhës" [FFK's EC held the next meeting] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Skuadra" [Team] (in Albanian). KF Arbëria. 11 September 2020.