Vllaznia`s Poker | 4-0 against the strong “17 Nentori” of the 80-ties!

Prologue!
Vllaznia and 17 Nentori (SK Tirana), are the “pioneers” of football, a beautiful and early duel, perhaps the earliest of Albanian football.
The challenges between them begin in the distant year 1920, when they met for the first time in the only field available at that time in Tirana at “Shallvare”.

Everything started from here with a friendly meeting.

Over the years, the two teams became rivals of each other and both together were the first to break the hegemony of the undisputed champions of the
`50-`60s, Partizani-Dinamo, and even took the title of champion from this duo of titans of Albanian football.

Without wanting to make a list of names, Vllaznia e “17 Nentori”, are two teams that have produced many outstanding, classy players, suppliers of representatives of the National and “Shpresa” (Under 21) teams.

Their rivalry reached its peak, its highest peak during the 80s, as did Albanian football of those years which is thought to have been of the highest level, like never before in terms of championships and Cups.
A golden decade!

In the 80s, of course, 17 Nentori was the strongest and most in great shape team, with a beautifully integrated ensemble of players on the pitch.
Year after year, the squads of this team managed to be completed from the goal to the reserve players on the bench.

Tirana thus won the championship title in the 1981-1982 / 1984-1985 / 1987-1988 / 1988-1989 season.
Four times, like no other during this decade.

Meanwhile, “17 Nentori” was the winner of the Cup in 1983, 1984, 1986!

The Tirana lineup featured highly qualified players such as: Shkelqim Muca, Gjergj Dinella, Bujar Sharra, Petrit Rroga, Besnik Armadhi, Ilir Metani, Arben Vila, Luan Sengla, Bujar Vladi, Arjan Bimo, Bedri Omuri, Adnan Demneri, Antonin Naci, Millan Baci, Agustin Kola, Leonard Liti, Sulejman Mema, Arben Minga, and later other names joined the team such as Mirel Josa, Astrit Ramadani, Anesti Stoja, the outstanding goalkeeper Halim Mersini, Skender Hodja, Artur Lekbello, Leonard Liti, Artan Bylyku and Bathorja, all led by coach Enver Shehu.

The arrival of Shyqyri Rreli as coach in the 1987-1988 season will bring players who will refresh “17 Nëntori”: Fatos Daja, Krenar Alimehmeti, Fatjon Kepi, Ardian Ruci, Artan Sako, Florian Riza, Sinan Bardhi, Albert Fortuzi, Fatbardh Ismali, David Papadhopulli, Renis Hyka, Artan Luzi, Ardian Mema, until the end of the 80s!

“17 Nëntori” displayed a beautiful technical football, a team with prolific goal scoring, where Minga-Kola-Muca stood out. It was a team that at times created the impression of being invincible, confident in its game.

It will be precisely this excessive self-confidence, and sometimes arrogance, that will cost Tirana on many unexpected occasions “heavy lost”!

What about Vllaznia?
The team of the 80s had only won the championship title once, that of the 1982-1983 season with equal points alongside Partizan thanks to goal difference.

In other cases, Vllaznia had almost always ranked in the first 4-5 places of the final standings.
Vllaznia was twice winner of the Republic Cup in 1981 and 1987.

During the decade of the 80s, many quality players were also activated at Vllaznia, but the goalkeeper always remained the weak point of the Shkodra team: Ferid Rragami, Faslli Fakja, Bepin Pali, Fatbardh Jera, Hysen Dedja, Azis and Selman Gruda, Luan Vukatana, Hysen Zmijani, Viktor Briza, Fatmir Pacrami, Genc Boshnjaku, Ferid Borshi, Isa Sukaj, Astrit Hafizi, the goalkeeper from Korçë Gjergj Kushe, Ardian Bushati, Seit Canga, Roland Luci led by coach: Ramazan Rragami, the star of Albanian football.

Later, when another big name, Astrit Hafizi, would sit under the management of Vllaznia, the team would have new arrivals, such as goalkeeper Agim Maliqati, Arvid Hoxha, Rudi Vata, Lulzim Bershemi, Ardian Barbullushi, Ilir Kepa, Xhemal Alibali, Ardian Lacja, Besnik Bilali, Mlloja, Kujtim Shaba…

1.
The challenge that we will tell below, belongs to the 1985-1986 championship season. It is the 11th week that is played on December 1, 1985.
In Shkodra, at the “Vojo Kushi” stadium, the next competition Vllaznia-“17 Nentori” is expected.

It is the 40th jubilee football championship. And when we are faced with challenges such as Vllaznia and 17 Nentori, the tradition that these two teams have created in the long path of football championships comes to mind.
Two names that have set the tone for Albanian football in various activities.

Before this competition, the statistics show these numbers:

There are 78 matches among them of which Vllaznia has collected 31 victories, compared to 28 victories of “17 Nentori”.

19 matches have ended in a draw. Vllaznia (Shkoder) has scored 102 goals against 88 goals of “17 Nentori” (Tirana).

But something must be mentioned. Since the prologue of the championship in 1980, and until this competition in December 1985, Vllaznia has never won in the championship against “17 Nentori”. It is a fact that makes this year’s challenge long-awaited by the thirst and hunger for victory of Vllaznia in front of its public.

“17 Nentori” has led the championship all the way up to this point. They have collected 16 points with a goal difference of 29-10, achieving 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss!

However, a week ago, in the 10th week, something happened in the mechanism of their game. “17 Nentori” loses the derby against Dinamo, 3-5 and gets tied in same points (16) from Dinamo, who claims the championship title this year.
Meanwhile, Vllaznia is not in a good sporting shape.
They are roaming in 7th place with 11 points, and a goal difference of 15-12.
Shkodra team has collected 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses. For its part, Vllaznia comes after a 1-2 loss too in Vlora against Flamurtari.

So, both teams are coming off losses from a week ago!
Of course, Tirana’s loss is the most damaging because it risks losing the lead and its title claims, although it is still early, but still as part of the calculation, in the final sprint, losses in any time segment of the season can result at the end of running out of points, exactly when the contenders need them more than ever.

And that is exactly what will happen to “17 Nentori”, the team that after the 11th week will never become the leader even though it will always remain in the top three of the title contenders, along with Dinamo and Flamurtari.

For Vllaznia, things and the situation are somewhat different. With what they have done in the first 10 weeks, as we said above, they are ranked seventh position, -5 points, distanced from the leader, and it seems that they are far from claiming the title.

Thus, Vllaznia, without any pressure, knows that they have nothing to lose in this duel!

With the support of their audience, they feel that they can do their best!

This was the situation before the two teams clashed in a stadium filled with passionate Shkodra fans who have never failed to support their team, especially in such competitions against rival “17 Nentori” but also against Partizan and Dinamo too.

The Shkodra – Tirana challenge has always exalted the fans of these cities.

Vllaznia remains Vllazni (meaning brotherhood in Albanian), it always gives its best in such challenges even if the team is not in good form.

2.
A harsh winter of the 1984-1985 season is left behind, with January and February that will be remembered for the extremely cold days and heavy snowfall in the northern Albanian area.

Meanwhile, this beginning of winter, burdened with heavy rains, seemed to have preserved a beautiful day like this of this long-awaited competition, to give the footballers the opportunity to reveal the true values of their game and the sports fans the pleasure that these games bring.

So on a cold but beautiful Sunday of December 1, 1985, both teams, led by the trio of referees from Korca, Dh. Prifti, I. Koca and V. Bregu, with bouquets of flowers in their hands, lined up in the middle of the field with these formations

Vllaznia: Hoxha – Zmijani, B. Bilali, Dedja, Pashaj – Rragami, Vukatana (Borshi 72`), Jera, Mlloja, (Lacja 46`) – Fakja, Luci
Coach: Astrit Hafizi

“17 Nentori”: Bathorja – Baci, Hodja, Bimo, Omuri – Liti, Mema, Josa – Minga, Muca, Kola
Coach: Enver Shehu

A great competition is expected that will reveal beautiful football. This is felt by the 13,000 passionate fans, exalted on the steps of the stadium who have electrified its environment.

And so the match starts furiously.
The Vllaznia players are desperately seeking victory. In this match, in addition to its characteristic football full of rhythm and fast movements, the Shkodra players also successfully tried shooting from different distances.

And so, within the span of four minutes, Vukatana (32`) and Luci (36`) score, closing the first half with a 2-0 advantage.

In the second half, Lacja (52`) scores the third goal against a dizziness and disoriented “17 Nentori”.

Rragami in the 78th minute seals the “poker” victory of Vllaznia 4-0, a victory that comes after 5 years!!!

The goals of Vukatana, Lacja and Rragami showed the excellent value of shooting from a distance.

As in other matches, Vllaznia’s strongest point was the defense, where, in addition to B. Bilali, Zmijan, Pashaj and Dedja, goalkeeper Arvid Hoxha also excelled with some spectacular and decisive interventions for the fate of the match.

Striker Roland Luci was the author of the 100th goal for Vllaznia in the championship against “17 Nentori”.

Although Vllaznia’s game was not truly offensive, it was effective because its players meticulously implemented the tasks given by the young and passionate coach, a former excellent Vllaznia footballer who came from the Shkendija school.

This heavy win, 4-0, brings great joy to the winners, but also an equally dramatic defeat for the leaders and number one contender for the championship title, “17 Nentori”.

In the last two matches alone they have conceded 9 goals (5 from Dinamo and 4 from Vllaznia), while before these two challenges they had only conceded 5 goals in 9 weeks!

In fact, “17 Nentori” this season, but also throughout the decade of the `80s, is a team with an attacking character, but the defense has disappointed it on many occasions, even worse considering that almost the entire defensive department has been a supplier of the representative national Albanian teams, starting at the beginning of this decade with Millan Baci and Arjan Bimo and continuing in other seasons with Bedri Omuri, Skender Hodja and Artur Lekbello, who never found themselves with the national teams with the exception of Hodja and to some extent goalkeeper Mersini who was missing in this match!

Speaking of the goalkeeper, “17 Nentori” in the December of 1985 challenge, in Shkoder was presented without a reserve goalkeeper!

The club had stated that if goalkeeper Bathorja was to get injured during this match, then the technical staff was forced to activate a player as golie!!!

Where were the reserve goalkeepers, Sharra and Rroga?

How is it possible that such a team is presented without a complete organic staff? What happened to the goalkeepers of the chain teams of this club?

The characteristic of 17 Nentori`s football was beautiful and even special feature. The opponent’s goal not only did not cut their knees, but it encouraged their spirit, overturning the results, through an attacking game as we emphasized above, the fruit of which are the 29 goals scored this season, after 11 weeks, better than all the other teams.

So what happened to the 17 Nentori team in these two weeks of the 10th and 11th? Veteran captain Milan Baci alone cannot possibly carry the weight of such a team.

In the match against Vllaznia, the Tirana team created a few scoring chances but they remained sporadic, while the players together with the management staff had to increase their sense of responsibility, to be characterized by simplicity and humility without extravagance or unnecessary complications, with a modest and simple attitude, free from arrogance and exaggerated feelings of self-importance towards any opponent.

All of this brings about the recognition of this team’s limitations, the appreciation of the perspectives of others and being open to feedback.

This was the weakness of this team that scored a lot but also lost just as much: 0-2 In Gjirokaster against Luftetari in the 5th week of the 1980-81 season / 0-3 in Tirana against Labinoti in the 13th week on 28 November 1982 (1982-83) / 1-2 in Stalin City against Naftetari in the 4th week on 18 September 1983 (1983-84) / 3-5 against Dinamo, in the 10th week on 24 November 1985 (1985-86) / 0-4 in Shkoder against Vllaznia in the 11th week on 1 December 1985 (1985-1986) / 1-4 in Fier against Apolonia in the 19th week on 30 March 1986 (1985-1986)…

During the decade of the 80s, without wanting to mention any draw of Tirana in Burrel against 31 Korriku, the draws in Tirana against Tomorri, Traktori, Beselidhja…

Such unexpected losses and draws “out of the blue” in its best form, are proof of a team without balance!

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Sports Vision +Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013

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