Ali Mema, the symbol of the “17 Nentori” Tirana team!

Ali Mema
1 February 1943 – 26 March 2019
Role: Midfielder
Teams: 17 Nentori , Tirana.
Played for the Albanian national team 14 times between 1963 and 1967.

Prologue
Mema, a dynasty family of Albanian football and sports. Traditionally linked to football, this family has produced famous football players over the years. Talented football players of three generations in a row, starting with the three brothers, Haxhi Mema the eldest brother, Ali Mema and Osman Mema, to continue with Haxhiu’s son, Sulejman Mema, Aliu’s son, Ardian Mema and the grandson of this family, Klevin, who passed away at the age of 19.

From all this family, Ali Mema stood out, the player who later became the symbol of his “17 Nentori”.

In 1957, he started his sports activity at the ‘Pallati i Pioniereve’ in Tirana. In 1958, he was active in the youth football team and in 1960, he joined the adult football team “17 Nentori” Tirana. Since 1963, Mema has been a player of the Albanian National Football Team.

1.
His soccer career began at a young age (just 5 years old) on the streets of his neighborhood in the city of Tirana, on school pitches, and also on those of “Shallvare”, “Dopo Lavoro”, and others. Back then, they played with rag balls that they made themselves out of rags.

Later, they started providing the players with some inner tubes, which they covered with fabric on the outside to create the effect of the ball bouncing.

During this period, Ali Mema began to stand out for his dribbling, with his feet and head, until his feet and head got tired and couldn’t hold it anymore.

He provided hoops for improvised ball exercises. During this period, until the seventh grade, he played for about six hours a day, in games they organized with groups, teams, and entire neighborhoods.

After completing middle school, upon his 15th birthday, he joined the youth team of “17 Nentori” Tirana, coached by Mr. Xhavit Demneri.

In 1960, at the age of 17, he received an invitation from the adult team of “17 Nentori” in Tirana. At 18 or 19, in addition to playing for his own team, he was also called on loan to strengthen the squad by Dinamo and Partizani for the 1962 Balkan international matches.

After these activities, he became a member of the Albanian National Team “Kombetarja”, and his first match with the national team was against Denmark.

At that time, football was at an amateur level; it was about desire, passion, willpower, spirit, and talent.

Today, football is a profession like any other—although even today, if you don’t possess all the characteristics listed above, it’s difficult to become a footballer, despite your talent.

There are two matches that have remained in his memory, the match against Germany in 1967, where we had them excluded from the European Championship final to be held in Italy. Yugoslavia went in their place.

The second match, however, was the final for the Republic Cup in 1963, where ’17 Nentori’ won this trophy. The goalkeeper was injured, and at the time, a substitution was not possible as the team had already used two.

Ali Mema, of his own free will, went in goal. The match went to extra time and, later, penalties. Mema saved three penalties, and thus, 17 Nentori won the Republic Cup of Albania.

A graduate of the “Vojo Kushi” Faculty of Physical Culture in Tirana. Until 1972, he played for the Tirana football team. From 1972, after retiring from playing, he served as assistant coach of the Tirana team until 1987.

During his football career, as a player for the Tirana team, he won four National Championship titles and one Republic Cup. During this period, he won several cups awarded by the Albanian Football Federation.

He has played in over 70 international matches. From 1958 to 2010 (except 1987-1989), he was a key figure in the “17 Nentori” team as a player, coach, and football inspector.

In 1964, Mema was awarded the title of “Master of Football” and later that of “Honorary Master of Football.”

He was decorated with the Order of “Naim Frasheri”, second and first class. Following an initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, in 1999, he was awarded the title “Honor of Albanian Football.”

Awarded the title “Recognition of the City of Tirana” by the Tirana City Council. In 2006, awarded the title “Legend of Albanian Football” by the Albanian Football Federation. Decorato con il titolo ‘Riconoscenza della città di Tirana’ da parte del Consiglio Comunale di Tirana.