1945 | 1st Albanian National Football Championship!

The 1st National Football Championship in Albania.

History!

The birthplace of “top-kambes”, the nursery of national football, Vllaznia of Shkodra is the champion of Albania in 1945!

It is December 26, 1945. The Shkodra champions pose before the second final, the return match in Shkodra against SK Tirana won 2-1. only after they won the first match played in Tirana on December 23, (1-2)

Postwar Championships!

And the fields echoed again. It was the first days of the liberation of the country. Precisely on December 4, 1944, in the chronicle of our sport, immediately after the liberation, one of the first matches will be recorded, between the football players of Elbasan and those of the “Tirana” Sports Club.

Our people celebrated the day of freedom that they had been waiting for years and why not for centuries, they celebrated with songs, dances, cheers, and also with sports matches. Such were developed between the teams of the neighborhoods, of the cities, with the teams of the National Liberation Army units.

Those who still wore partisan clothes played… But what does it matter how they played those days? Soon they would play even better than they had played. Among the martyrs of the war there were footballers like Prokop Myzeqari, Ali Visha, Dum Alla, Lef e Mitaq Sallata, Teli Ndini, Reshit Rusi, Ferit Xhajku, Adil Alushi, Sami Karriqi and many others.

Thus, the meetings began to become more frequent.

The first local championships also start, although the inherited fields that were previously few and in poor condition.

New fields had to be raised, and so it happened.

The first sports centers began to be added to our cities. And here is the most notable event: the first championship is organized with the participation of 12 teams.

On September 2, 1945, the 1st national football championship began .

The first chronicle of this championship was taken from the newspaper “Sporti” dated September 2, 1945.

“The national football championship is knocking on the door. I’m glad it came. Today, in September, the matches begin among no less than 12 teams, which make up the National “A” Category, divided into two groups….the long series of matches for the much-desired champion title begins”

The long series of matches begins. How impressed is this fact today after a long time since that first championship. Well, they were only 10 weeks, within a very tight championship in about 4 months. The first national championship started fast and soon it ended in a flash. The difficulties of that first year of Liberation were great and this is the reason, among other things, that every veteran of those years would not without emotion remember the enthusiasm of the games in that championship.

Here is what is written in the “Sporti” newspaper: “despite the difficulties of its regular continuation (lack of means of transport, rainy and cold season), still it has reaped significant successes”.

The first tradition of the teams was born in this championship, the first generation of famous football players was affirmed and this is the most beautiful story of the championship party of the new Albania.

Sportklub Vllaznia and Sportklub Tirana are the two best-known names of the first national championship. Not only that they were the finalists of this championship, or as the well-known sports commentator Anton Mazreku wrote: “the best teams, the most ladies, the most technical, the most prepared…that come out head first in the final match”, but even that many footballers of these teams would write with the passion and mastery of their game, that beautiful beginning of Albanian football.

Borici, Gjeloshi, Fagu. Llambi, Dibra, Spahiu, Koxhaj, Begeja, Smajli, Gjinali, Juka, but also many others, were among the most distinguished of the championship and then many of them would make up the first contingent of team coaches.

The first group includes: “Vllaznia” from Shkodra; “Tomori” of Berat; “Ismail Qemali, Vlore”; “Teuta” of Durres; “Besa – Kavaje” and “Liria”, the team of the National Liberation People’s Army based in Korce.

In the second group were: “Tirana”; “Union” of Elbasan; “Skenderbeu” of Korce; “Shqiponja” of Gjirokastra; “Apollonia” of Fier; and “Ylli” squad of the military department based in Shkoder.

The old rivals, “Tirana” and “Vllaznia”, which we have seen develop such exciting matches even in the Pre War championships, do not forget the tradition.

Tirana, in their group, lose only one match. In Korce against “Skenderbeu” (2-3), and with 15 points and a goal average of 30-6, they take the first place, leaving behind “Ylli” with 11 points. “Skenderbeu” and “Bashkimi” with 10 points, “Apolonia” with 7 points and “Shqiponja” with 6 points.

Shkodra does even better. They reach only one draw in Kavaje with “Besa” (0-0), they collect 17 points with a goal average of 26-2, leaving behind “Besa” with 13 points, “Teuta” with 12 points, “Liria” with 8 points, “Ismail Qemali” 7 points and “Tomori” 3 points.

Thus, on December 23 and 26, first in Tirana and then in Shkoder, both teams hold meetings that will bring out the champion.

View from the final match on December 26, 1945

The match in Shkoder, the first half ends 0-0. Two of the best footballers L. Borici from “Vllaznia” and Xh. Demneri of “Tirana” are missing. However, the game has rhythm. Lisi of “Tirana” loses a penalty during the first half. The people of Shkodra do not forgive.

In the 25th minute of the second half, Barbullushi scores. 12 minutes later they calmed down, because Juka scored the second goal. And this happens after Parapani of “Tirana” hit the post twice. Finally, two minutes before the end, Bicaku scores the only goal for “Tirana”.

Yes, they have not lost hope. They have another meeting. This time in Shkoder.

First scores again for Shkodra through Vasia. Fagu equalizes with a penalty. First half 1-1. Tirana try in the second half. Bicaku seals the post, but Smajli, four minutes before the end, is more accurate and scores the winning goal.

Anton Mazreku gives the Championship Cup to the captain of Vllaznia, who becomes the first champion of the country!

“Vllaznia” becomes champion for the first time after winning 2-1 in both finals, but this championship also respected the other finalist, Sportklub. Tirana” and even sports clubs “Besa” and “Skenderbeu”.

Meanwhile, the first international meetings began. In October 1945, the representative team of Tirana met in Tirana with that of Macedonia and won 5-3.

Finals: Tiranë, December 23th, 1945
“Sportklub” Tiranë – “Vllaznia” Shkodër 1-2
Scrorer: Z. Barbullushi 70’ (V), Xh. Juka 82’ (V), V. Biçaku 88’ (T)

Shkodër, December 26th, 1945
“Vllaznia” Shkodër – “Sportklub” Tiranë 2-1
Scorer: Vasia 10’ (V), Fagu pen. 28’ (T), S, Smajli 86’ (V)

Champions of Albania: Vllaznia Shkodër
Enrolled the year after: “Erzeni” Shijak, “Spartaku” Kuçovë
Dissolved: “Liria” Korçë, “Ylli” Shkodër
Total goals scored: 211; 3,4 per match
Top scorer: ?

January 2021

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Sports Vision +/ Hour of Champions since 2013
Reference: “Sporti Popullor” July 23, 1985 / p. 3 and “Historia e Futbollit” / “8 Nentori” / S. Kellici / p. 65-69. (PB personal library).