Perparim Kovaci, the “goal” man of the “Tomorri” team, baptized with the name “Maradona” of Berat!

It is a great honor and appreciation for every player when they become their idol and even more so when they are baptized with one of the greatest players in the world.

Robust and only 168 cm tall, although not with ideal characteristics to be a typical goalscorer. But, nothing has prevented him from being such, and he has even scored many of his goals with his head, jumping over tall defenders like Berisha, Çoçoli, K. Hysi, Targaj.

Kovaci was physically prepared and fast. Rain, difficult terrain, bad weather, field factor were never a problem for this short-legged striker. Using both feet, a typical zone player, sniffing, unpredictable and brave, because he put his head in the opponent’s leg. Fast, 12 seconds in 100m and 3.9 seconds he achieved the time in 30 meters. Impulsive, but also sacrificial, as he worked long even after training.

Perprim Kovaci or Rimi as he was affectionately called, was not only the goal man but also became a symbol and the best player of Tomorro for all time.

He wore the jersey of this club for about 18 years and was the most productive player. Over 100 goals scored are associated with his name, matches that determined the fate of “Tomorri” many times both in the team’s progress in the first category but also in the second category, survival matches in the first category, cup matches and others, are all clear and evident evidence why it was baptized with the name of the great Maradona.

Not only did he have a physical resemblance to Diego, but also the case of an identical goal scored with his hand against Flamurtari of Vlora, when he rose above the Vlora defense to score…of course the comparison with Maradona ends here, and it would be an exaggeration if any other comparison placed him alongside or close to Maradona in terms of technical ability and Diego’s ability in world football.

Another special goal in Kovaci’s career was the one in 1976 against “Beselidhja” in the decisive match where “Tomorri” managed to qualify for the first category.

Of course, without forgetting the goal against “Skenderbeu” in 1983, when he saved “Tomorri” from falling into the second category.

One of his unforgettable matches is also the one played against “Labinoti” in 1980 when the away team were leading 2-0 against “Tomorri” in Berat who was playing without the sick Kovaci on the bench. And immediately after his activation with two goals scored, he closed the match in 2-2.

Although unfortunately statistics are lacking, making it difficult to count his goals, during his 20-year career, we can say that there are about 200 of them. He scored his first goals (a brace) in Delvina, in Tomori’s 4-2 victory. While in Berat, on the old field, he scored his first “local” goal against a strong team like “Dajti”, in the first half, and the whole challenge ended 1-0.

Kovac’s career began as a child when he first came into contact with the ball in neighborhood matches in the city and with the “Pioneer’s House” of Berat. Catching the eye of coach Zoi Ikonomi who encouraged him and brought him closer to the chain teams.

It will be the 1972-1973 football season when Kovaci will become part of the first team of “Tomorri” without ever betraying his city team until 1990, when he hands over his number 10 to another rising talent like Kliton Bozgo. During all these years, Kovaci played with the most prominent names of Berat football such as Hodo, Hoxha, Buza and up to the golden generation of the `80s with Cilingiris, Kokalari, and A. Arberi, Mile etc. But Rimi always remained the best for all times.

Although he faced the toughest defenses of the time like Targaj, Hametaj, Cipi, Taho, Bimo, Kovaci, he still scored, in Tirana, Shkoder, Vlora, Durres, or elsewhere..

Thus in the national championship of the 1979-1980 season, he is the top scorer with 18 goals scored.

He has no matches with representative teams like the National Team or any Shpresa Under 18 & 21 team. But, it is the people of Vlora who have thought of him. Rimi is a participant in a Balkan tournament but with “Flamurtari” jerseys. All of a sudden, they announced that he would play with “Flamurtari” in the Balkan Cup, in a group where “Velež” of Mostar and “AEK” of Athens were.
What remains deeply in his memory is a great personal sporting fact: He scored a goal against the legend, the idol of Albanians for the time, the famous goalkeeper Enver Maric, even twice: In Vlora 3-2 and in Mostar 1-4.

Perparim Kovaci remains the undisputed striker of Berat football, whom the great Loro Boriç did not want in the national team because he was short!

Titles

Champion of the Second Category 1976 – 1977
Holds the title of “Master of Sports”
Winner of the title “Footballer of the Century”
Holds the title “Honour of Berat Football”
Winner of the Sports Survey “10 Best Footballers of the Year”
Best scorer for the 1978 – 1979 edition with 18 goals scored.

© Pjerin Bj
Bronx & Bryant Park, New York: May-June 2026
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Sports Vision + Plus | Champions Hour

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