“Besa” Kavajë: A Powerhouse of Albanian Football in the mid `60-ties and 70-ties.

PART ONE!

Prologue: The Golden Awakening of a Historic Force
The roots of the beautiful game in the historic city of Kavajë are deeply stitched into the foundational fabric of national sports history. Emerging originally in 1925 under the multi-disciplinary banner of “Shoqata Kulturore Sportive Adriatiku”, the institution steadily carved out its competitive identity, formally adopting the name “Sport Klub Kavajë” by 1930.

It was during that landmark year that the team executed its first historical friendly on the turf of “Mali i Robit” in Golem, testing its parameters against an amateur lineup of students from the Albanian-American Institute of Agriculture. This initial breakthrough paved the way for immediate integration into the newly formed Albanian Football Federation, anchoring a multi-seasonal presence in the second tier before permanently breaking through the top-flight glass ceiling of the First Category in 1933.

While the early decades established a highly respected baseline, it was the post-World War II landscape that ignited a profound tactical revitalization, fueled by the explosive emergence of generational talents like the legendary Qamil Teliti. The true, steady climb toward domestic elite status took flight in 1958, a monumental season where “Besa” pushed the limits of the First Category title race, finishing as national runners-up after narrowly missing out on the championship crown to “Partizani” by a solitary point. That exact season initiated an era of deep knockout-stage pedigree, as the team reached the semi-finals of the Republic Cup, a structural hurdle where they would repeatedly cross paths with the dominant military clubs.

“Besa” fought their way to the grand finals of the Republic Cup in 1961 and again in the 1962–1963 marathon, narrowly losing the latter in a heartbreaking penalty shootout against “17 Nëntori” Tiranë. Far from discouraged, the squad asserted its growing authority by capturing the unofficial newspaper cup competitions hosted by Sporti in 1963 and Bashkimi in 1965.

By the mid-1960s and early 1970s, “Besa” had officially ascended into the ultimate aristocracy of the domestic game. This golden generation of Kavajë talent transformed the club from a provincial contender into a dangerous powerhouse, routinely challenging the heavy ministries of “Partizani”, “Dinamo”, and “Vllaznia” in a relentless war for silverware. Their tactical consistency generated a spectacular run of domestic cup finals, finishing as national runners-up in 1971 after a hard-fought 2–0 finale against “Dinamo” Tiranë, and repeating the feat in 1972 via a dramatic 2–2 draw against “Vllaznia” Shkodër that was ultimately decided on penalties.

Yet, because the Shkodra giants captured the domestic league double that same season, the structural frameworks opened a historic international door for the runners-up. Entering the prestigious UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup for the 1972–1973 campaign, “Besa” did not merely participate; they produced an unforgettable continental masterclass, asserting themselves as only the second Albanian club in history to secure a qualification round on the European stage, permanently cementing the golden legacy of Kavajë across the continent.

1
The absolute competitive apex of this era materialized during the legendary 1972–1973 continental campaign, when the squad secured a monumental qualification round in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup against Denmark’s “Fremad” Amager. This achievement holds immense historical value because it was engineered by an incredibly modest provincial unit that lacked advanced tactical training setups, possessed zero active players on the senior national selection of “Kombëtarja”, operated with absolute zero international experience, and utilized no elite top-flight guest reinforcements.

Above all, this legendary European breakthrough was completed by a club that was making its absolute debut on the European stage while simultaneously lacking a functional home stadium of its own.

Yet, to understand the raw grit behind this continental maturity, one must retrace the timeline to the autumn of 1971, when the club officially entered its first-ever sanctioned international tournament via the Balkans Cup.

After dominating their group stage by executing clean home victories and tight away battles against Bulgaria’s “Etar Veliko Tarnovo” (2–0 and 0–1 scorelines) and Yugoslavia’s “Crvenka” (2–0 and 0–1 scorelines), “Besa” shattered expectations by qualifying straight into the grand finals.

Their final adversary was Greece’s “Panionios” Athens, setting up a highly volatile political crossroad. Since the geopolitical shifts of 1944, no Albanian football team had ever faced a Greek opponent or traveled across the border, as Greek teams had systematically boycotted group formats featuring Albanian sides.

The overland expedition to Athens became an unprecedented logistical odyssey. Traveling through Bilisht to reach the Kapshtica border checkpoint, the team ran into a complete communication blackout between the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. Compounding the gridlock, the physical roadway on the Greek side of the border had been completely obstructed by a heavy landslide of massive rocks.

Refusing to wait in isolation, the Albanian athletes stepped out of their transport and manually cleared the debris from the road themselves. Only after a grueling six-hour standstill did the Greek authorities grant official clearance, offering a formal apology to the traveling contingent.

In the subsequent on-pitch battles, “Besa” suffered a narrow 2–1 loss in Athens despite a clinical goal from Bishtaja, before holding the Greek side to a hard-fought 1–1 draw in Durrës powered by a strike from Pagria. The home result, however, was heavily marred by a controversial equalizer from “Panionios” which the Kavajë defenders adamantly maintained was scored from an obvious offside position—ironically unfolding directly along the touchline where the Albanian linesman was officiating.

2
One of the most intensely debated and dramatic showdowns in the entire history of the domestic knockout tournament was the legendary 1972 double-leg final between “Besa” and “Vllaznia” Shkodër. Decades later, this historic duel remains an unmatched milestone of tension.

The opening encounter took place on the old pitch in Kavajë before an over-capacity crowd of 8,000 spectators, where “Besa” secured a stunning late victory. After a grueling, tight tactical deadlock, Qerolli and Kashami struck back-to-back goals within the final five minutes of play, under the officiating of Fidai Pupa, to lock down a 2–0 home advantage.

The return match in Shkodër, directed by international referee Ramiz Pregja, turned into a historic individual masterpiece for “Vllaznia” icon Ramazan Rragami. In front of a packed stadium, Rragami set an absolute national record by cleanly executing a total of seven penalties in a single match.

He struck twice from the spot during the regular 90 minutes to completely neutralize “Besa”‘s first-leg advantage, before calmly hammering home five consecutive penalties during the classic post-match shootout. A solitary missed spot-kick from Kavajë’s Merhori handed the silverware to the Shkodra giants. The aftermath erupted into fierce controversies, with “Besa” launching formal allegations of unfair officiating, entirely unaware that this agonizing domestic heartbreak would soon open a historic door to continental fame.

Under the standing regulations of the tournament, the domestic cup triumph meant that “Vllaznia” Shkodër had legally secured the nation’s single roster slot for the upcoming UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

However, a sudden institutional crisis fundamentally rewrote the destination of the trophy. Following a series of state allegations regarding the unapproved exchanging of private gifts during a friendly international tour in Kosovo by the Shkodra volleyball club, the political authorities handed down a comprehensive, absurd sports-wide ban against the entire “Vllaznia” multi-sport umbrella organization. This state decree automatically swept up the football division, stripping them of their European permit.

Consequently, the continental roster spot was automatically passed down to the domestic runners-up, “Besa”. Just as the entire city and playing squad were sinking into post-final despair, a surprise notification revealed that they were being formally drafted into European competition.

Because the provincial club operated with zero mainstream international pedigree—having only tested its limits in regional friendly matches and the Balkans Cup—the national football federation initially resisted the campaign, refusing to offer logistical support under the pretext that the club lacked a functional infrastructure. Furthermore, football administrators feared the heavy financial expenses of the overseas travel and the looming threat of a severe athletic defeat on the grass.

The deadlock was broken through the energetic political intervention and sheer determination of Iljaz Reka. Serving as the regional civic leader whose administrative portfolio oversaw Kavajë, Reka successfully pressured the highest echelons of state government to officially approve and fund “Besa”‘s historic entry into the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

This decisive political backing was widely viewed as a fair institutional compensation for the severe gridlocks and perceived injustices the squad had previously suffered during their controversial on-pitch battles against both “Vllaznia” and Greece’s “Panionios”.

TABLE MATCHES OF “BESA” IN EUROPE`S
“CUP OF WINNERS CUP”

BK Fremad Amager–Besa 1-1

Copenhagen, Wednesday Sept. 13, 1972.
“Sundby Idraest Park”
Spectateurs: 3.000
Referee: Jan Lazoëski (Pol)
Scorers: N. Merhori 15’/ Ryde-67’

BK FREMAD: O. Larsen; F. Skytte; P. Mathiasen, C. Jacobsen, S. Hansen, G. Yvel (46’A. Andersen, F. Nielsen (65 J. Salomonsen), P. Kristensen, E. Andersen, E.  Ryde, L. Larche. Coach: K. Petersen.

BESA: H. Arkaxhiu; A. Mullaliu, O. Kapedani; N. Hushi, Sh. Qerolli (50’ B. Dyla), B. Pagria, Z. Kashami, N. Merhori (78 N. Allaj), M. Leshteni, M. Karriqi. Xh. Bishtaja. Coach: M. Vila

BESA- BK FREMAD HAMAGER 0-0

Durrës, Wednesday Septmeber 27, 1972
“Lokomotiva” Stadium
Spectateurs: 10.000.
Referee: J. Strmecki (Jugosllavi)

Besa: H. Arkaxhiu; A.Mullaliu, O.Kapedani, N.Hush (37 Sh. Qerolli), B. Pagria, Z.Kashami, B.Dyla  N. Merhori, M.Karriqi, M. Leshteni, Xh.Bishtaja (N. Allaj). Coach: M. Vila.

Fremad: Larsen F. Skytte. P/ MathiasenC. Jacobsen, G. Ylvel, F. Nielsen. P. Kristensen, J.Madsen E Ryde (64 P. Madsen), L. Lerche 58 J Salomonsen),T. Nielsen. Coach: K. Petersen

Second Round 

HIBERNIANS FC–BESA 7-1
Edinburg : Wednesday October 25,  1972
“Ester Road Stadium” – Stadium
Spectateurs: 20.000.
Referee: Rolf Nyhus (Norway)
Scorers: A. Cropley 12’, J. O’Rourke 14’, 52’, 61’, J. Broënlie 55’, A. Duncan 57’, 64’/ Qerrolli 72’.

Hiberninas: J. Herriot, E. Schaedler (46 J. Hamilton), J. Broënlie, J. Blackey, J. Black, P. Stanton, A. Edëards, A. Duncan, A. Cropley, J. O’ Rourke, A. Gordon. Coach: E. Turnbull.

Besa: H. Arkaxhiu, A. Mullaliu, O. Kapediani, N. Hushi, Sh. Qerolli, Z. Kashami (B. Dyla 14’), N. Allaj, N. Merhori, M.Leshteni, M. Karriqi, Xh. Bishtaja  B. Pagria 15. Coach: M.  Vila

BESA-HIBERNIANS 1-1 (0-0)

Durrës, Wednesday: November 8, 1972
Spectateurs: 10.000.
Referee: K. Keller (Zvicër)
Scorers: B.Pagria 54’, Gordon 59’

Besa: H. Arkaxhiu, Mullaliu, O. Kapedani, N. Hushi, B. Pagria, Z. Kashami, N. Allaj, N. Merhori, M. Leshteni, M. Karriqi, Xh. Bishtaja (Haxhiu)  Coach: M. Vila.

Hibernians: J. Herriot (70’ B. Robertson), E. Schaedler, J. Broënlive, J. Blackey, J. Black, P. Santon, A. Edëaeds, A. Duncan, A. Cropley, J. O’Rourke, A. Gordon. Coach: E. Turnbull

To be continued ……

© Copyright by Pjerin Bj
Bryant Park / Hudson Yard / Bronx
New York: August 28 – September 11, 2026
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Sports Vision + Plus | Champions Hour in activity since 2013

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