The Albanian “Republic Cup” in 1972 | “Vllaznia”, The Winner & R. Rragami, its architect!

Albanian “Republic Cup” of 1972!

Let’s travel back in time, in the edition of v. 1972.

After the first matches of the semi-finals, as always in such cases, the question arises of which of the 4 teams has the chance to go to the final, Besa – Dinamo or Vllaznia – Partizani?

The problem here is confused by the fact that in the matches played in Kavaje and Shkodra, the result remained equal, which does not give the opportunity to make any predictions, so the verdict would be after the return matches on March 19, 1972

First semi-final: February 19, 1972
Besa – Dinamo 0-0
Besa: Feshti, Mullaliu, Hushi, Kapidani, Dyla, Mili, Kashami (Shyti), Pagria, Merhori, Karriqi, Bishtaja Dinamo: Ahmedani, Gjinali, Ibershimi , Kodra, Hoxha, Xhaja, Sejdini, Pernaska, Hafizi, Cutra, Ciraku
Referee: T. Kalaci, the main international category with the sides, Halili and Gjyrezi.

The match
The fans of both teams, of course, begin to “weigh” the possibility of victory and precisely this makes the challenge awaited with great interest. Besa or Dinamo?

The teams take the field with their usual formations. Dinamo, seeing that even the previous matches in the field of kavajas did not go well, started the game with some caution. This is how they try not to score any goals from the beginning and play a strong game, although during this part of the game, Besa had a territorial advantage, which is why there are also 6 corners executed by the locals. However, nothing gives results, even though the desire of the Cavaliers to gain an advantage in the first minutes has made Besa lose the clarity of the shares when they are in front of the dynamos’ attack zone. Another flaw of Besa is placed on Karriqi, the best there in the center of the field, who is able to give the game the rhythm of the right clarity, but today he is below his usual level. Even the other player Mili, next to him in the middle of the field, performs more the role of destroying the shares of the other team, than that of organizing and supporting his own team. Before this situation, Kasham remains completely “paralyzed” on the right side.

In this way, in the first 45 minutes, only the left wing works where Bishtaja and Merhori play. Dinamo defends well and fights for the first ball, giving it the opportunity not to allow the local Besa team to become dangerous, especially in front of the penalty area. Maybe it was thought that in the second 45 minutes another game would be watched, but it didn’t happen like that because both teams didn’t give another rhythm to the match. Besa created several chances like the 33′, 78′ and 88′. Dinamo, on the other hand, tried to unlock the result in the 85′, but even these did not change the result with intact nets 0-0. Seeing the great interest in this match from many sports fans, more was expected from both teams, a more beautiful game and an attractive stage. Besa was not at her usual level and why did she create superiority. Dinamo defended well but the attack was weak.

Team “Vllaznia” from the 70-ties, one of the best albanian teams at the time.

The second semi-final. In Shkoder: “Vojo Kushi” Stadium.
Vllaznia – Partizani 1 – 1

Vllaznia: Ndoja, Pasha, Duraj, Lekaj, Rragami, Canga, Kocobashi, Rakiqi, Bizi (Plumbini), Hoxha, C. Ndoja. Partisan: Muhedini, Seferi, Berisha, Ziu, Cani, Shehu, Xhafa, (Shaqiri), Pano, Balluku, Thaka, Coba.
Referee: Faik Bajrami (head of the international category), with sides Shaka and Mine

The Match: Vllaznia and Partizani, this time in the semi-finals of the Cup of the Republic, do not manage to create even a minimal advantage over each other, which it would help them a little in the return match. Of course, one of them will be a finalist, but which one? The Shkodran team had a full advantage in the first half and with great efforts even after the break, especially in the last twenty minutes, they should have won the match.

With the chances created in the 27th, 41st, 68th and 71st minutes, lost by Kocobashi, Rakiqi, again Kocobashi and Hoxha could not change the result. Partizan attacked more in the wide front, with straight balls and in such a field where the arms had to be activated more, since they played very little with them. The middle of the field was under the control of R. Rragami and S. Biz, where Canga also contributed, who did his job well by covering the dangerous Pano.

Partizan, since the construction of the formation, was noticed to have entered the field to secure the draw and with the chosen option, it achieved its goal. In addition, he took the first advantage and even led 1-0 until two minutes before the end of the meeting. The team used the counterattack more with Balluk and Panon. However, in the first 45 minutes, the attack of the partisans was weak, so that the Shkodran goalkeeper Ndoja had nothing to do with the ball. In the continuation of the second 45 minutes, he enlivened the game more and after scoring and after scoring the goal, he came down more densely.

Xhafa, in the attack came by increasing the level of his game more and more, while the most compact department was the one of defense. The goals were scored in the second half. In the 6th minute, Uran Xhafa received a long ball from Balluku and despite the efforts of the defender Basha to stop his march towards the goal, he scored smartly avoiding the exit of the goalkeeper Ndoja.

Even the equalizing goal, made by “shkodranet”, came after a ball crossed by Plumbini (who replaced Bizi), Hoxha then possessed this ball, shot it and scored.

Other results:
For places 5-8 : November 17 – Labinoti 1-1 | Skenderbeu-Tomorri 0-0.
For places 9-12: Tractor-Skendija 3-0 | Locomotive – Student (did not take place)
For places 13-16: Luftetari – Beslidhja 0-2 | Apolonia – Flamurtari 1-1

*           *           *

GRAND FINALE

Vllaznia – The winner of the Cup in 1972

In truth, Besa was only one title away from being officially called a powerhouse of Albanian football. Vllaznia, Tirana, Skënderbeu, Partizani, Dinamo, were the holders of Albania, in cups and championships in their palmares. However, at the beginning of the 70s, everyone in the city believed that it was only a matter of time. The team, built with a lot of work, talent and modern vision by Zihni Gjinali and Bet Vila, had enough footballers and schemes to bring a title to the city. It may seem surprising, but within a short period of time, Besa implemented the multi-pass game on the field, what is now called “cic-mic” and already, quite advanced for the time, successfully used the artificial offside. For the others…? A stadium was once going to be built in Kavaja, the most powerful man in the country,

Enver Hoxha, had declared himself a fan of Besa, the Municipality of Durrës, to which Kavaja belonged, was always ready to help. It was just something, a part of the football game, the penalty, which it seems that for Kavaja was her curse, the only and…insurmountable obstacle as fate brought her to prove! Nine years ago, midfielder Ali Mema of KF Tirana (at that time, November 17), found the goalkeeper as the only solution for his team, during the execution of penalties, cut three such shots from T’habit Rexha, took away Besa the right to win the Cup of the Republic!

The cup goes to Tirana, even though in the first match in Tirana, Besa won 3-2, even though in the second match, both goalkeepers of Tirana, Metani and Beliu, were injured! Was this a lesson? A warning? A whim of fate? Whatever it was, Besa, it was so close to the first title.

After almost ten years, Besa is back in the final, having won the first match 2-0. The result is more than optimal for such events, the best team, even, comes to this final, a year after losing the final for the title of Balkan Champion (1-2 and 1-1 against Panionios, Greece). Precisely from this final, Leshteni, Kapidani and Feshti, by decision of the Durra Municipality, have been transferred to strengthen Besa. Everyone rightly thinks that the day has come for a title to arrive in this city! Few remember the final lost on penalties nine years ago. In fact, Besa, in the semi-finals, after two games, 0-0 and 1-1, eliminated Dinamo right after the penalty shootout. No one can imagine everything that will happen during the second leg of the final of the Albanian Cup in the 1971-1972 edition…

Football in Shkodër is said to have been brought by the Maltese priest Gut Ruter in 1908. Maybe yes, maybe not but, it that is certainly known, is the creation of the “Independence” team from Palokë Nika in 1912. The match of the first team formed in this country, “Independence” of Shkodra, is the most representative of the war navy of the Austro-Hungarian forces located in Shkodra. The history of Vllaznia football, but also of Albanian football, starts from here. In a confrontation with the Austrians, as is often said, it is difficult even today to be referred to as Austro-Hungarian, but in the case of Vllaznia, there was, for history, something like an omen: Austria! The city from where Albanian football begins, has enjoyed a title, for the last time 26 years ago. It was the time when Vllaznia won the first two pre-war championships, those of 1945 and 1946. It is time that Shkodra finally enjoyed a title. It is the time when the superpowers of the capital have been handed over to the districts.

In fact, Vllaznia and Besa, with their geographical differences, seem to bring all of Albania to a final. The result of the first match in Kavaja does not leave much hope, but this Vllazni cannot be predicted. For the sake of truth, there is a perfect quartet of “fuoriclasse” players, starting with goalkeeper Ndoja and the other three who are actually the heart of the Albanian National Team: Sabah Bizi, Medin Zhega and Ramazan Rragami! As high as the others and as potent for Vllaznia as the three Dutchmen Gulit, Rijkard and Van Basten of Milan!

You can’t predict the youth of 1972! Although Din Zhega will not be in the final. Why are we talking about such a Vllazni, it was logical that more than 13,000 spectators filled the Vojo Kushi stadium beyond capacity at 3:30 p.m. on April 23, 1972. For them, the remaining 90 minutes, which started with the score 0-2, were enough to Vllaznia recovered the result and in the end lifted the cup. Because in addition to Biz and Rragami, there were also Sait Canga, Suad Duraj, Leke Koçobashi, Hoxha, Ç.Ndoja, etc. on the field. A whole golden generation of Shkodran football.

The first half is a long monologue of the Shkodran attack with the Kavaje defense. Ndoja warns by hitting Besa’s cross within the first 20 minutes. In 31′, Besa’s durrsak, Feshti, makes a mistake at the exit during a cross. The ball ends up at the dangerous Cesk Ndoja, he immediately shoots towards the goal and Dyla uses his hand to avoid the goal! Penalty! The first! Ramazan Rragami, on the biggest day of his career, as he knows, with concentration, self-confidence and measured even in the steps he takes towards the ball, shoots hard, sideways and scores. 1-0 for Vllaznina.

The first penalty of the second final is successful for Vllaznina and Rragami! It’s 1-0, there are still 60 minutes of play left for Besa to win the first cup or Vllaznia to win its second cup. Ramazan Rragami has only taken the first step towards a world record maybe… Besa trusts the defense again even in the second half. Vllaznia endlessly tries to attack. There are less than five minutes of play and twice the defender Qerolli, on the fatal line, denies the goals to Hoxha and Biz. In the 54th minute, captain Kapidani wrongly interrupts Hoxha and for the referee Ramiz Pregja it is a penalty. Rragami faces Feshti again… and scores again, 2-0! The overall score is equal and will remain equal until the end. Despite the inspirations of Sabah Biz and the efforts of Ç. For Ndoja, Rragami and Hoxha, the result does not change until the end. Ramiz Pregja’s last shot, in her second final, sends Besa to penalties for the second time as well. Vllaznia sends Ramazan Rragami. He scored two penalties during the 90 minutes and brought Vllaznina this far.

There are still five penalties to give him the title…and he will score all five! As if emptying a pistol, Ramazan Rragami fired seven times and didn’t miss a single one. To put it into perspective, Rragami alone scored more than Holland vs Italy in a similar match in terms of penalties during Euro 2000 or, think if Barcelona vs Steaua had a player like Rragami to shoot penalty… Since that day, Vllaznia won other titles, cups and championships, but Rragami belongs to world football history. Since that day – as a well-known figure had prophesied “half of today’s spectators in the stadium will have died, but players like Zani, Dini and Sabahi will not see again” – almost 40 years have passed and… still players like Ramazan Rragami, Medin Zhega and Sabah Bizi have not appeared anymore.

“VLLAZNIA” from the 70-ties team!

Vllaznia, as an excellent team, won the championship that year, becoming the first Albanian team to achieve the double! Communist tendencies, for completely absurd reasons, condemn him to participate in the competition of the Cup of Champions where he would face Rapid Vienna. Austria! Besa, due to completely unexpected circumstances but at the same time deserving it, will play in Europe and will pass the first round of the Cup of Cups against BK Fremad Amager of Denmark. The beautiful Vllaznia of Albanian football, without losing its luster yet, after a break at the national level of representation in international competitions, will be the first of the Albanian teams to play in Europe, in 1978. And in this return of Albania in these competitions and the Shkodra team where it was denied six years ago, in “Voj Kushi” Vllaznia will win 2-0 against Austria Vienna. Austria again! What stubborn coincidences! Besa and Vllaznia, after nine years, found themselves opponents again in the final of the Republic Cup in 1981.

Besa again wins the first match in Kavajë, 2-1. After the second final in Shkodër, Vllaznia, winning 5-1, takes the cup back. To this day, just as for the final of 1972, the opinion of Kavaja football fans accuses the judgment as guilty of this…

Finally, in the city of Kavaja, the first cup would arrive after a full 35 years, in 2007!

Shkoder, April 23, 1972. In the “Vojo Kushi” stadium,

Vllaznia – Besa 2-0 (0-2) P: 5-3
The teams take the field with these formations:
Vllaznia: P.Ndoja – Basha, Duraj, Canga, Dedja – Bizi, Leka, Rakiqi (Kocobashi) – R. Rragami, Hoxha, C. Ndoja. Tr. Xhevdet Shaqiri
Besa: Feshti – Mullaliu, (Shyti), Kapidani, Dyla, Mili – Kariqi, Qerolli, Kashami, Pagria – Merhori, Bishtaja
Tr. Muhamet Vila
Referees: Ramiz Pregja, main (international category), assistants Haxhi Pellumbi and Tomson Neviri
Penalties: R. Rragami (Vllaznia) realized all of 5. Merhori (Besa) reaized 3 out of 5. ____________________________

Brought to the Sports Vision+ Plus by: Arian Muraj,
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Translated into English: Pjerin B
November 25, 2020

References for the semifinals : “Sporti Popullor” Albanian Newpapaer of February 22, 1972,
Pjerin`s personal collection.