“Luftetari”, the team that surprised Albanian football with its fast game and lightning attack!

“Luftetari” (The Warrior) is one of the Albanian football teams that regularly participated in the first category, but at the end of the 80s and during this decade this team would achieve more successful results.

However, the numbers show that Luftetari, until 2000, was seven times champion of the second category: 1934 / 1962-1963 / 1965-1966 / 1974-1975 / 1988-1999 / 1993-1994 / 1998-1999 as well as the runner up in the 1977-1978 season in a championship as a second category team where they failed to win the title against Vllaznia.

Gjirokastra’s participation in the first category in the post-liberation championships will be immediately in 1945, since the first championship under the name “Shqiponja”, the team which will continue in the previous years 1946, 1947, 1951, while from the 1954 championship it will appear under the name “Luftetari”, even ranking fifth in the final classification.

A year later, 1955, it closed the last of the rankings this time under the name “Puna” of Gjirokastra, relegating to the second category. It returned to the first category in the 1963-1964 season, which closed again at the end, being relegated to the second category.

The return to the first category of the best was achieved in the 1966-1967 season, but unfortunately it was again not successful, falling directly from the category as the last place in the rankings.

In the 1969-1970 championship season, Luftetari ranked 11th and participated in the following seasons, 1970-1971, 1971-1972, 1972-1973. However, in the 1973-1974 season, it closed the championship at the end, saying goodbye to the first category, after 4 consecutive participations. It returned in the 1975-1976 season to fall from the category again.

This is how the 1977-1978 championship is reached, which is also the most successful championship of Luftetari coming from the second category. And here they are the sub-champions of the country, with 26 points, behind Vllaznia of Shkodra, the champion, with 29 points. In 22 matches played, they have won 10, drawn 6 and lost the same number of matches, they seem to have had a goal difference of 26-22.

From this moment on, the team has a different physiognomy characterized by a fast and surprising football characterized by a lightning attack where Kalluci, Seiti and of course the “arrow” Sefedin Braho stand out.
The most prominent results in this championship are 1-1 against Vllaznia in Shkoder, 1-0 victory in Tirana against Partizan, where immediately after this success they become contenders together with Vllaznia in winning the championship title.

The 0-0 draw in Gjirokaster against Shkendija prevented them from becoming champions of the country.

Already here and during the 80s, the team led by Hito Hitaj, one of the most successful coaches, would have a generation of prominent players not only in ‘Luftetari” but also in Albanian football such as Sefedin Braho, Hysen Braho, Dhori Kalluci, Gjergj Kalluci, Gurma, Luan Seiti, Shameti, Angoni, Shoni, Boni, Ksera, having an excellent goalkeeper like Ahmet Cumaku who would later join the National team as Musta’s reserve alongside Luarasi.

Although short, Luftetari players are extremely fast and have an opening game characterized by a dangerous attack where Braho and Kalluci stand out.
Below we are giving a brief overview of Luftetari during the decade of the `80s.

In the 1980-1981 season, “Luftetari” ranked 5th, collecting 25 points, after 10 wins, 5 draws and 11 losses with a goal difference of 25-24 (+1), showing not very much a stable team and as a unit that scores goals but also concedes. However, the best results in this season can be mentioned in the 5th week (November 19, 1980) when they beat “17 Nentorin” in Gjirokaster 2-0 and in the 16th week (February 22, 1981) when they beat Dinamo in Tirana 3-1!

In the 1981-1982 season, the Gjirokastrites started very well, even after 5 weeks, in October 1981, they were in first place, after beating “Vllaznia” 2-1 this week and after having achieved three other victories, 2-0 against “Lokomotiva”, 5-0 against “31 Korriku” and 1-0 against “Flamurtari” in Vlora!

They kept the sole lead even later when they drew 0-0 against “Dinamo” in Tirana, beating “Labinoti” 3-1 in Gjirokaster, while losing in the 8th week against “Tomori” in Gjirokaster (1-2). But in the 9th week they let go of the “leadership” of Partizan after a 1-1 draw against “Naftetari” in Stalin City / Kucove. They close the first phase in 4th place, ahead of Partizan, Dinamo and “17 Nentori”.

But the second phase is not successful for them, who lose ground, always feeling lower due to consecutive losses and draws, and are ranked at the end of the championship in 11th place with 23 points after 8 wins, 7 draws and 11 losses with a goal difference of 24-22 (+2).

In the 1982-1983 season, worth mentioning are the victories in Tirana against “17 Nentori” (1-0) in the 5th week (on October 6, 1982); “Partizan” 1-0 in Gjirokaster in the 16th week, (on February 27, 1983); “Vllaznia” 1-0 in Gjirokaster on April 3, 1983; “Dinamo” 3-1 in Tirana in the 23rd week on May 1, 1983, and being ranked in 5th place at the end of the championship with 29 points, after 11 wins, 7 draws and 8 losses and with a goal difference of 25-21 (+4).

In the 1983-1984 championship, “Luftetari” has somewhat lost that brilliance of previous seasons but the team is again at a level that can give the spectator surprising results although overall the results are shaky. However, Luftetari’s surprises this season are the 2-2 draw in Tirana against “Dinamo” in the third week (11-09-83), 1-0 again against “Dinamo” in Gjirokaster in the 16th week (26-02-1984).

The victory (3-0) in Elbasan against the newly consecrated champion team, Labinoti, although the result that surprises everyone is a 5-2 victory in Tirana against “Partizan” on April 15, 1984 in the 21st week. “Luftetari” that could also lose against teams ranked at the end of the classification.
They end the championship in 10th place, with 24 points after 6 wins, 12 draws, 8 losses with a goal difference of 29-34.

In the 1984-1985 championship
The start of this season for Luftetari is quite promising, the team after three weeks has a full 6 points. It is a Luftetari of fast football, surprising and a productive attack of many goals. After 6 weeks it is leading together with “17 Nentori” with 10 points each but with a better goal difference. A week later the direct challenge between them ends 1-1 in Gjirokaster maintaining the same positions in the lead, but with 11 points each.

In the 8th week the 1-0 loss in Tirana against Partizan, brings Luftetari to lose the lead. In the 9th week they won against Vllaznia 2-0 in Gjirokaster on November 18, 1984. The loss in the last week in Tirana against “Dinamo” 3-0, did not know the values of Luftetari this season, who closed the first phase in 2nd place with 18 points, runners-up of the Winter Champion, right behind “17 Nentori” which has 22 points.

The second phase, especially the first weeks, did not prove to be successful for the Gjirokastrites, who had lost the brilliance of their game. After 16 weeks, they were down to 4th place with 19 points. The team did not manage to have stability in results, with many draws and losses. But in the 21st week, they managed to beat Partizan 1-0 in Gjirokaster on April 28, 1985, a result that remained an illusion in their rise, since losses and draws would accompany them until the end, when they finished in 7th place with 26 points.

Luan Seiti

In 1985-1986 Champioship
“Luftetari” starts very well when they beat “Vllaznia” 2-0 in Gjirokaster on September 8, 1985. In the 5th week they beat Tomorri in Gjirokaster
5-2, but the team has ups and downs during this season. They finished the first phase in 6th place with 14 points. In the second phase the team appears weak, finishing this championship in 8th place with 22 points.

1986-1987
The beginning of this season shows a Luftetari that travels to the first places. To mark the 4-0 victory in Durres against Lokomotiva in the third week on September 11, 1986. Meanwhile, after 5 weeks, Luftetari even leads with equal points alongside “Apolonia” (8 points).

Then the team starts to lose ground, although they win with “Vllaznia” in Gjirokaster 1-0, they finished the first phase in 6th place with 14 points. In the second phase, “Luftetari” defeats “17 Nentori” in Tirana 2-1 (February 22, 1987), but the team again has the same physiognomy, ups and downs until it ends this season in 5th place with 26 points.

1987-1988
Even in this season the team continues with its ups and downs without any stability, capable of winning and losing with any odds. This will even result in the weakest championship for “Luftetari” during the decade of the 80s. However, in this championship to be noted is a 3-0 victory in Gjirokaster against the powerful “Dinamo” in week 22 on February 28, 1988. At the end of the season after a long championship with three phases the team ranks in 12th place in the last of Group B, with 33 points, falling into the second category together with “Tomorri” and “31 Korriku”.

After a hiatus during the 1988-1989 season, relegated to the second division, “Luftetari” immediately returned in the 1989-1990 championship.
In the third week they defeated “Dinamo”, albeit 1-0, on September 8, 1989. Their journey during this season is almost the same as the previous two years, ups and downs, without any stability. But here is another surprise for them, in the 17th week on December 29 when they defeated “Vllaznia” in Gjirokaster 3-2. In the end, they finished in 7th place with 30 points in a championship with 12 participating teams.

Sefedin Braho

Luftetari line ups of the mid 80s

Goalkeepers: Cumaku and Lamaj
Defenders: Shameti, Ciko, Cabeli, Ksera, Halili, Liti
Midfielders : Angoni, Boni, Gradova, H. Braho, Millo, Hysi,
Xhimo, Prifti, Nanidhi
Attackers: Gj. Kalluci, Seiti, Malaqi, Thimio, Anastasi, S. Braho

Coach: Hito Hitaj

© By Pjerin Bj
Bryant Park , New York
May, June and July – 2026
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Sports vision +Plus | Champions Hour since 2013

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