National Championship 1964-1965 | “17 Nëntori” Breaks the Hegemony of the “Partizani” & “Dinamo” Duel!
The Prologue
The setting is the mid-1960s. Albanian football had been steadily elevating its standard over the course of 19 officially recognized post-war championship editions. Up until the dawn of this historic season, the domestic landscape was utterly dominated by two major sporting establishments: “Partizani” with 10 championship titles, and “Dinamo” with 7.
Up until the eve of this season, the domestic scene was entirely dominated by two major forces: “Partizani” with 10 championship titles, and “Dinamo” with 7. The only club that had ‘dared’ to win prior to this dualism was “Vllaznia” of Shkodra, during the first two post-war years in 1945 and 1946.
Dismantling this absolute monopoly held by Partizani and Dinamo—two teams that naturally consolidated the country’s finest footballing talent—stands as an event of monumental historical proportions, not just for “17 Nëntori” club, but for the entirety of Albanian football. However, this specific championship was characterized by an unprecedented organizational anomaly during its final stretch.
At a time when all primary title contenders, including “Partizani” and “Dinamo”, had fully completed their season schedules, “17 Nëntori” was left with three remaining fixtures to play (!)
Although they trailed four points behind the leaders, who had concluded their campaigns at the 30-point mark, the capital city club held a golden opportunity to snatch the trophy right out of their rivals’ hands. The question arose naturally: why was such a fixture backlog allowed to happen?
Before tracing the dramatic arc of this domestic season, we must shed light on the intense activity of the Albanian National Team-“Kombetare”, which was deeply involved in the qualifying stages of the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
The National Team in the 1966 World Cup Qualifiers!
This era marks the historic debut of the Albanian National Team in the qualification stages of a FIFA World Cup, with the final tournament scheduled to take place in England in 1966. Albania found itself placed in Group 5 of the European zone, drawn against formidable continental powerhouses: Switzerland, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands.
National Team in Rotterdame against Netherlands
The historic campaign kicked off on May 24, 1964, against the Netherlands in Rotterdam, registering as Albania’s first-ever official World Cup qualifying match. Albania suffered a 0-2 defeat, fielding a lineup consisting of: M. Janku, F. Deliallisi, F. Frashëri, S. Halili, A. Mema, M. Bushati, L. Shllaku, P. Bukoviku, B. Ishka, R. Jashari, and P. Pano.
On October 25, 1964, the return fixture in Tirana yielded an identical 2-0 victory for the clinical Dutch side. The negative streak persisted on April 11, 1965, in Tirana against Switzerland, sealing a third consecutive defeat by that same 0-2 scoreline. A fourth consecutive loss followed on May 2, 1965, in Geneva, where the Swiss claimed a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of a 10th-minute penalty converted by Kuhn.
Just five days later, on May 7, 1965, in Belfast, the national side endured a heavy defeat at the hands of Northern Ireland. While Jashari managed to score a solitary goal for the Red and Blacks in the 49th minute, the hosts dominated proceedings entirely through a hat-trick by Crossan (16′, 30′, 61’pen.) and a final exclamation point by George Best in the 85th minute to close the match at 4-1.
Nevertheless, the finest hour of this group stage unfolded on November 23, 1964, when Albania and Northern Ireland walked out onto the pitch of the “Qemal Stafa” National Stadium in front of over 16,000 spectators, under the officiating of referee Petre Sotir.
Albanian National Team – Kombetarja, against Northern Ireland ai “Qemal Stafa” Arena – Tirane
Albania lined up with: Janku, Frashëri, Halili, Kasmi, Mema, Shllaku, Rragami, Andoni, Zhega, Haxhiu, and Rudi.
Photo taken from the match Albania – N. Ireland!
On the opposite side, Northern Ireland showcased a star-studded eleven: P. Jennings, J. Magill, A. Elder, M. Harvey, T. Neill, J. Nicholson, J. McIlroy, J. Crossan, W. Irvine, D. Doughan, and the legendary George Best.
The visitors desperately required a victory to sustain their qualification hopes, and in the 59th minute, Willie Irvine put them ahead. But in the 72nd minute, it was Lin Shllaku who engineered the start of an attack. He combined with Rudi, who whipped a swift ball toward Zhega. In a fraction of a second, amidst an iron clad circle of defenders, Zhega guided his header into the bottom-right corner of goalkeeper Pat Jennings’ net. Goal! Albania has leveled the score at 1-1!
The Northern Irish pushed even harder now for the victory that would secure their qualification. The famous George Best, however, ran into an impenetrable roadblock in Frashëri.
Yet, in a surprising turn of events, it was the Albanian attacks that surged next, but the match ultimately ended 1-1—a draw that saw Switzerland advance to the World Cup finals instead of Northern Ireland.
Following this historic result, the FIFA Vice President at the time, Mr. Keven, stated in a radio interview with renowned journalist Skifter Këlliçi: “Albania possesses talented football players, even if they were unable to extract anything more than a draw.”
Throughout these qualifiers, manager Zyber Konçi utilized a core group of players:
Mikel Janku in goal; Fatbardh Deliallisi, Fatmir Frashëri, Ali Mema, Skënder Halili, and Gëzim Kasmi in defense; Mehdi Bushati, Iliaz Çeço, Lorenc Vorfi, Lin Shllaku, Paulo Bukoviku, Ramazan Rragami, and Foto Andoni in midfield; and Panajot Pano, Robert Jashari, Bahri Ishka, Mexhit Haxhiu, Fiqiri Duro, and Bashkim Rudi leading the attack.
Albanian Clubs in Europe
On the continental club stage, Albania was represented in the European Champions Cup by “Partizani”, the reigning domestic champion representing the People’s Army.
The draw pitted the “reds” against the powerhouse champions of West Germany, FC Köln. On September 9, 1964, in front of a passionate crowd of 20,000 spectators at the “Qemal Stafa” Stadium, Partizani secured a historic 0-0 draw against the German titans.
For more info about this game: https://www.sportsvisionplus.com/1964-1965-partizani-in-champions-cup/
Renowned manager Loro Boriçi deployed the following lineup: Janku – Deliallisi (Cap), Frashëri, Vaso, Baspalla – O. Mema, Shllaku, Ndini – Kraja, Pano, Jashari.
Meanwhile, FC Köln, managed by Georg Knöpfle, fielded: Schumacher, Overath, Weber, Müller, Hemmersbach, Pot, Regh, Schäfer, Sturm, Thielen, and Wilden.
The match featured sustained territorial dominance by Partizani, with clear scoring opportunities falling to Jashari, Pano, and Bespalla, though they ultimately found no way past goalkeeper Anton Schumacher.
In the Balkan Cup, “17 Nëntori” found themselves placed in Group B alongside Rapid Bucharest (Romania), Cherno More Varna (Bulgaria), and Beşiktaş (Turkey).
The Tirana side initiated their campaign on December 16, 1965, with a 0-0 stalemate against Cherno More. On May 26, they suffered a 1-0 defeat in Varna, followed by a 1-1 draw against Beşiktaş on June 2.
On July 14, 1965, the capital club was defeated 3-1 by Rapid Bucharest, subsequently conceding the return leg on May 19, 1966, by a 1-2 scoreline.
However, the undisputed highlight of this campaign came on November 26, 1965, when “17 Nëntori” delivered a masterful performance to defeat Turkish giants
Beşiktaş 2-0 in Tirana.
The Albanian side ultimately finished third in the group standings with 4 points, leaving Beşiktaş at the bottom with 2 points.
The Domestic Championship Narrative
The jubilee 20th post-Liberation edition of the National Championship commenced in September 1964 and concluded on June 20, 1965.
The tournament featured 12 competing clubs:
“Partizani” (reigning champions), “Dinamo”, “Besa”, “Labinoti”, “Flamurtari”, “17 Nëntori”, “Lokomotiva”, “Tomorri”, “Skënderbeu”, “Traktori”, “Vllaznia”, and “Ylli i Kuq” of Pogradec, who had replaced the relegated “Luftëtari”.
The season opened with a major shockwave. “Lokomotiva” of Durrës stormed through the opening four weeks, capturing four consecutive victories to establish a lonely lead at the top of the table.
The turning point arrived in Week 6. While “Partizani” defeated “17 Nëntori” 1-0, “Lokomotiva” suffered their first setback, falling 0-1 to “Dinamo”.
Immediately following this, the Durrës side dropped two more points against “Traktori” of Lushnja (1-2), a result that marked “Traktori’s first victory of the season. This allowed “Partizani” to seize control of the championship lead.
“Lokomotiva” proved resilient, recovering from their temporary slip to defeat the leading “Partizani” 2-1, shortly after the “Reds” had played out a 1-1 draw in the capital derby against “Dinamo”.
The primary beneficiary of these dropped points was “17 Nëntori”. Following back-to-back 2-0 victories over “Labinoti” and “Flamurtari”, Tirana drew level with “Lokomotiva” at the top with 14 points each, leaving the “Dinamo”-“Partizani” duo just behind on 13 points.
Partizani’s form deteriorated significantly as they claimed just a single point from three matches, a slump epitomized by a shocking 0-1 home defeat to “Besa” of Kavaja. Simultaneously, “17 Nëntori” crushed “Skënderbeu” 5-1, “Lokomotiva” fell 0-1 to “Traktori”, and “Labinoti” held “Dinamo” to a 2-2 draw.
At this juncture, “17 Nëntori” assumed total control of the title race, solidifying their status in Week 12 with a vital 2-1 victory over “Dinamo”.
The competition grew fiercely competitive. In Week 17, “Partizani” struck back, winning the high-stakes derby against “17 Nëntori” with a clean 2-0 scoreline, leapfrogging the white-and-blues by a single point.
The championship entered a scorching phase, but complacency soon plagued the reigning champions. “Partizani” was held to a 0-0 draw in Vlora by “Flamurtari”, suffered a costly 1-2 defeat at the hands of “Dinamo”, and could only manage a 1-1 draw away in Kavaja against “Besa”.
This sequence set up a highly dramatic climax. “Partizani” and “Dinamo” completed their full season schedules, tied at the top with 30 points apiece. Behind them sat “Besa” with 29 points and “Lokomotiva” with 28.
Besa -“17 Nentori begins! Ali Mema and the “Besa”-s captain.
“17 Nëntori” languished in fifth place with 26 points, yet they possessed a massive mathematical advantage: three games in hand. Their rivals watched on in absolute suspense.
In the first of their rescheduled fixtures, the Tirana side dismantled “Vllaznia” 4-2 in the capital. Next came a grueling away trip to Korça; in a breathless, high-stakes encounter, they managed to salvage a nerve-shredding 3-3 draw against “Skënderbeu”.
Everything came down to the final match of the season—a championship decider against “Flamurtari”. “17 Nëntori” required nothing less than a victory, but the Vlora defense proved to be a formidable wall, continually threatening on the counter-attack. The first half ended in a tense 0-0 stalemate, carrying the immense psychological weight into the second period. In the 57th minute, the breakthrough arrived: Ali Mema found the back of the net to put Tirana ahead. The narrow 1-0 lead was fiercely preserved until the final whistle at the 90-minute mark.
With this historic triumph, “17 Nëntori” of Tirana claimed their first post-war National Championship title, accumulating 31 points built upon 13 wins, 5 draws, and 4 defeats, with a goal difference of 42-20.
Ali Mema of “17 Nentori” is the protagonist of the Tirana 1-st tittle
The new Champions of “17 Nentori” added their names beside the other three names: “Partizani”, “Dinamo”and “Vllaznia”.
The squad, masterfully guided by legendary manager Myslym Alla, successfully shattered the long-standing “Partizani”-“Dinamo” hegemony.
The historic architects of this highly anticipated title were: Ilir Elini, Gëzim Saraçi, Nuri Bylyku, Rexhep Bathorja, Luigj Bytyçi, Skënder Halili, Gëzim Kasmi, Fatmir Frashëri, Niko Xhaçka, Skënder Hyka, Pavllo Bukoviku, Bahri Ishka, Ali Mema, Bujar Tafaj, Osman Mema, Vaso Konomi, Tomorr Gjoka, and Aurel Verria.
Statistics and Season Wrap-up
The Golden Boot of this memorable season was awarded to Partizani’s clinical forward Robert Jashari, who finished as the league’s top scorer with 9 goals.
Across the campaign, a total of 132 matches were played, producing 307 goals at an average of 2.33 goals per fixture.
At the bottom of the standings, “Ylli i Kuq” of Pogradec suffered relegation, with their top-flight place for the subsequent season taken by “Erzeni” of Shijak, the champions of the Second Division.
“Skënderbeu” of Korça preserved their first-division status via a commanding performance in the two-legged Play-Off against “Naftëtari”, securing a resounding 6-0 victory in Korça and a 5-3 win in Qyteti Stalin (Kuçovë).
Meanwhile, the “Republic Cup” was hoisted by “Vllaznia” of Shkodra, who claimed a narrow 1-0 victory in the grand final over “Skënderbeu”, concluding a heroic cup run for the Korça side despite their parallel battle against domestic relegation.
Official Home & Away Score Record: National Championship 1964-1965″
1. “17 Nëntori”
• Against “Besa”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 2–2
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 2–1
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 2–0
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 5–1 | Away: 3–3
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 5–0 | Away: 2–1
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 4–2 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 4–2 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 2–0
2. “Besa”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 2–2 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 2–2 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 3–0 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 4–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 2–1
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 2–0
3. “Dinamo”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 1–2 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Besa”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 2–2
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 3–0 | Away: 2–2
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 3–2
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 4–2 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 2–0
4. “Flamurtari”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Besa”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 0–3
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 4–2 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 2–2 | Away: 2–2
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 6–2 | Away: 2–0
5. “Labinoti”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Besa”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 2–2 | Away: 0–3
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–5
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 3–2 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 1–0
6. “Lokomotiva”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Besa”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 2–3 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–0
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 4–0 | Away: 0–0
7. “Partizani”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 2–0
• Against “Besa”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 5–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 3–0 | Away: 2–1
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 2–1
8. “Skënderbeu”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 3–3 | Away: 1–5
• Against “Besa”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–4
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 2–4
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–0
9. “Tomori”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 1–2 | Away: 0–5
• Against “Besa”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 3–2 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 1–0
10. “Traktori”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 2–4
• Against “Besa”: Home: 1–2 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 2–2 | Away: 2–2
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 1–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 3–0 | Away: 1–0
11. “Vllaznia”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 2–4
• Against “Besa”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 1–2
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 2–4
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 0–0
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 2–0 | Away: 2–3
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–2 | Away: 0–3
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 2–1 | Away: 2–3
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 1–0 | Away: 1–1
• Against “Ylli i Kuq”: Home: 3–1 | Away: 2–0
12. “Ylli i Kuq”
• Against “17 Nëntori”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Besa”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Dinamo”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 1–3
• Against “Flamurtari”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 2–6
• Against “Labinoti”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Lokomotiva”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–4
• Against “Partizani”: Home: 1–2 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Skënderbeu”: Home: 0–0 | Away: 0–1
• Against “Tomori”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–2
• Against “Traktori”: Home: 0–1 | Away: 0–3
• Against “Vllaznia”: Home: 0–2 | Away: 1–3
© By Pjerin Bj
Bryant Park, New York City September 1, 2026
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