Shyqyri Ballgjini, the greatest Dinamo striker of Albanian Football!

Ballgjini is one of the best wing forwards in Albanian football where his talent has flowed naturally. He is one of the most qualitative footballers in his period especially at Dinamo. Together with Ilir Pernaska and Vasillaq Zëri they have formed a formidable attacking trio for any opponent.

Shyqyri Ballgjini was born in Durrës on March 14, 1954. From a very young age, he stood out for his use of the ball.
Then Ballgjin’s involvement with the then sports classes at school began and later he moved on to the junior teams until he reached the adult team.
He was in the fifth grade, exactly when he came into contact with football for the first time, and starting from his desire for this sport he joined the Lokomotiva youth chain teams and at the age of 15 he is part of Lokomotiva youth team in 1969.

It should be emphasized that at that age Ballgjini had good technical skills, which he immediately liked and step by step over time, thanks to rigorous training and seriousness, he perfected these skills, earning a place of honor in the history of Albanian football.

Shyqyri Ballgjini and the Partizani – Dinamo challenges!!

His career spanned from 1969 until 1987 when he retired from football. During this period, Ballgjini was one of the most dangerous strikers in the Albanian championship.

He made his debut at a very young age in 1969 with the team of his hometown, Lokomotiva Durrës, where he would end his football career with this team.
In 1973, the “dangerous” striker who left no defense or goalkeeper unbeaten moved to Dinamo, and together with a group of footballers he found there, and others who came later, created a great Dinamo, well-known by all the ardent fans of those years as one of the best teams in the history of Albanian football.
Sh. Ballgjini is part of the constellation of a Dinamo where there are many talents: Ilir Përnaska, Iliaz Çeço, Jani Rama, Faruk Sejdini, Vasillaq Zëri, Muhedin Targaj, Xhorxhi Puka, Andrea Marko, etc. and with a great coach like Skender Jareci.

The competition was great for the 19-year-old newcomer Ballgjini, but he still managed to get into the starting lineup. Undoubtedly, that period was the peak of Shyqyri Ballgjini’s football career where together with Dinamo he won everything despite the rivalry especially with the Partizan team. It was a team built with true champions where discipline, will and desire to win every challenge prevailed.

Thus, he was declared national champion 5 times, in the seasons 1972-1973, 1974-1975, 1975-1976, 1976-1977, 1979-1980. He also won the Republic Cup trophy 5 times, while also received two National Spartakiads cups.
Ballgjini also received all the honorary titles that were given at that time, starting from “Merited Master of Sports”, “Grand Master”, “Master of Work”, etc.

In 1982, at the ripe age of a footballer, the 28-year-old returned to his hometown of Durres to continue his career with “Lokomotiva”, which also created a group of quality players, including his brother Haxhi Ballgjini, then Bujar Hado arrived, with the young Eduard Zhupa (also recently returned from Partizan), and together with Filjali, Miho, Hima, Koka, etc., they formed a competitive and strong Lokomotiva, especially on its field.

He was active with Lokomotiva until 1987, the year he retired from football. With Lokomotiva, it should be mentioned that Ballgjini also won a Republic Cup.

Meanwhile, with the national team, he was called up for the match against Algeria, which Albania won with a clear 3-0 score. He did not play many matches with the national team, also due to the fact that Albania was not active in international activities for political reasons.

Historical photo: 1981 – In “Qemal Stafa” stadium, Sh. Ballgjini and West German Manfred Kaltz before the match ALBANIA-FRG

A total of 5 such international matches, which in the 70s were very limited, therefore, as a result of political problems. As is known, at that time the country was in a moment of isolation. Then came the break with China and complete isolation, so this type of policy was also reflected in sports.

However, this absence was somewhat compensated by the international matches played at club level, where in addition to his appearances with Dinamo, Sh. Ballgjini has also played for Partizan and Vllaznia of Shkodra in their matches with foreign teams and above all the most prominent moment of his life as a footballer, coincides with one of the brightest moments of the Albanian National Football Team, that of “Shpresa” U21, after the victory over
Romania 7-1 in Tirana (1-3 Romania) and by scoring the most beautiful goal of this match Shyqyri Ballgjini, as captain of this team, raises the Balkan Champion Cup to the sky.
A cup taken from the hands of the King of Albanian football Loro Boriçi, exactly where Boriçi himself had lifted the same cup with the National Team 32 years ago!

In total, he has played around 25 international matches in his club career.

Originally published on the Facebook page in August 2014
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Sports Vision +Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013

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