The victory of Naftëtari in 1983, like the victory of Pyrrhus of Epirus!
When we remember that unimaginable 3-0 victory of Naftetari in Tirana against Partizan, in November of 1983, the use of the phrase “Pyrrhic victory” finds the best comparison in this case.
Such a pyrrhic victory is one that exacts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any real sense of achievement or undermines long-term progress. The phrase originates from a quote by Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose triumph against the Romans at the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC destroyed many of his forces.
Even on that day, Naftetari’s boys, for that victory that remains in the history of Albanian football, gave everything they had, spending all their strength, energy, even losing the goalkeeper Gurraj (excluded with red card), the position of the most neuralgic of the team, they cleverly and coolly took advantage of the inferiority shown by Partizan against them, psychologically and tactically. And at the end of this season, Naftetari will be saved by an “inch” of relegation, thanks to the better goal difference against Traktor, where both teams had accumulated 22 points each. kucovars had a goal average of 22-28 (-6) against 18-25 (-7) of lushnjares.
This is why the phrase “Pyrrhic victory” finds a place in our story, just like the victory of Julius Caesar in the battle of Alesia in Gaul (52 BC), although in inferiority in the number of soldiers, as the victories have happened in sports of any team that although “small” knows how to make it a part of its success. I agree that football is played between two teams that have an equal number of players, but in our case who were the players of the great Partizan compared to those of Naftetari and even more so to beat Partizan in its home field in Tirana?
Naftetari was a team that played fast, exciting football, although during the 70s and 80s the team had fallen and several times, risked relegation from the category. Champion of the 2nd category only in the season 1972-73, and sub-champions of this category (as the second team entering the first category) in the 1964-1965 season (after Erzen, the champion); 1968, 1977-78 (after Besa), and that’s it, until November 1983 before the match against Partizan.
However, even before, several times our big football teams have experienced the bitter taste of defeat in Kucove. That’s exactly how Partizan lost 1-0, in the 1980-1981 championship season, in the 9th week on December 21, 1980, at the Naftetari sports facility, against a team that was fighting to survive in the first category. In this season, Naftetari won in Vlora (2-1), in the 24th week (May 24, 1981); a week later, on the 25th, they beat Vllaznina in Kucove 3-0 (May 31, 1981);
In the following season (1981-82), in the 7th week, on November 1, 1981, they won against the great Dinamo 2-0 and also 1-0 on December 10, 1982, in the 7th week of the 1982-1983 season. ; but in this season, in the 11th week, on November 14, 1982, they won 2-0 against Flamurtari, which was considered one of the 4 big teams at the time. In the 1982-1983 season, Naftetari falls into the second category.
These were the sensational results achieved by Naftetari before the start of the 1983-1984 season. But on the other hand, it was also Naftetari who lost 6-0 in Durres against Lokomotiva in the 2nd week of the season 1982-1983. In general, it was an unpredictable team with ups and downs. On their best day, this team could win against any opponent.
This victory, against Partizan, will be achieved in the season 1983-1984, which will turn out to be a surprise within a big surprise, with the name “Labinoti”, the team that at the end of this season will be declared the champion of the country for the first time like no other “small” team before, outside rivals “Partizani”; “Dynamo”; “Vllaznia” and “17 Nentori “!
To list Partizan’s successes to get to know this team, maybe it is not worth it in this article. However, they had won the championship title 13 times and the National Cup 12 times. Among many others, two years ago they beat Austria Vienna 1-0 in Tirana, one of the best teams in Europe at the time. But we can’t leave it without mentioning that it was the base of our National Team. Thus, more or less a week ago, this national team, which had summoned 7 partisan players, managed to achieve an epic match, although it lost in the last minutes 2-1, against the almighty West Germany of Rrummenigge at the time, in Saarbrycken on November 20, 1983. valid for the Qualifying’s of the European Championship, of the 6th group.
In that meeting against the Germans, five of the seven players called in the National Team were playing on the field: Musta, Eksarko, Ahmetaj, Lame and Tomorri (the goal scorer for us). Hysi and Lika would follow the match from the reserve bench. Meanwhile, with Under 21, the team that entered the finals of the European Championship was only Adnan Ocelli and reserve Vladimir Skuro, precisely the boy who came from Kucova and had been active with Naftetari team until before this season, before moving to Partizan where he managed to win this gathering with the historic team of our Shpresa U21. For Naftetari, the only one active with U21 was Dashnor Dume, a year ago (1982), when Albania beat Cyprus in the return match in Tirana 4-0 (after losing the first, 0-1 in Limassol).
The 1983-1984 season, in which the event takes part, starts like this In the first week on August 28, Partizan lost in Korce 3-1, while Naftetari lost 2-3 against Flamurtari.
Then until their meeting, Naftetari will have these results: Naftetari – Lokomotiva 0-2 / Labinoti-Naftetari 1-0 / Naftetari – 17 Nentori 2-1 / Skenderbeu-Naftetari 1-0 / Naftetari – Dinamo 0-0 / 31 Korriku – Naftetari 1-0 Naftetari – Vllaznia 1-1 / Tomorri – Naftetari 0-1 / Naftetari – Besa 2-1
After 10 weeks, the team had won only 3 times (including the sensational victory against 17 Nentori), tied 2 and lost 5, half of the matches. They had collected 8 points with a goal average deficit (-3) 8-11 and occupying the 11th place in the ranking. At Naftetari home field, the victory against 17 Nentori 2-1 in Kucove and the 0-0 draw against Dinamo stands out.
“NAFTETARI of 1985 year (above, from left to right) Agim Meta, Astrit Haxhiaj, Aleksander Koçi, Agim Prifti, Mikel Koroveshi, Kastriot Haxhiaj, Vladimir Skuro, (seated from left). Artan Mersini, Dashnor Dume, Fatmir Xhyberi, Gezim Gega .
The Reds had reached the collection of 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. Partizan was in third place with 13 points with a goal average of 9-7 (+2)So, without wanting to deny the merit and fully deserved victory of Naftetari, as can be seen from the results. it was not that “legendary” team as it is read in various portals, especially after the 90s, mentioning it as such thanks to unbridled enthusiasm. Of course, Naftetari, as we pointed out above, was a technical team, fast, unpredictable for anyone, with ups and downs, once in the while entering and exiting the category, miraculously saving from being relegated in the second (as they will save themselves in end of this season) but leaving traces for some results that this team achieved, especially against 4 big teams of our football that have lost in the field of Kucove (even Dinamo and Flamurtari, lost twice). Exactly, like they left a mark and will always be remembered for this victory over the great Partizan, 3-0 in Tirana.What we just quoted above about Naftetari of that time, will not take us quite long to prove, not that much time so that the Kucova team after this victory, will immediately lose the next match in its home field against Luftetari 1-2! They will draw in Lushnje with Traktori 1-1 and lose again in Vlora 2-0 with Flamurtari……..so ups and downs, until in the end of this season, they will miraculously escape relegation thanks to a more positive goal scored against their rivals , the Tractor of Lushnje.
Now let’s turn to the match. Both teams will meet together in the 11th week of the 1983-1984 Championship, on November 29, 1983, at the “Qemal Stafa” National Stadium.
Naftetari who had arrived in Tirana the day before, was accommodated in the center of the capital at the “Arberia” hotel. Apparently, everyone was focused on this match. Meanwhile, their coach Fiqiri Duro, apparently, had prepared this challenge in the smallest details. He instructed his boys to be careful in the way they eat and sleep. Even everything was strictly monitored by their team doctor. In addition to the tactical schemes that he laid out for the players, Mr. Duro used to check out every room where the players were assigned, asking about every concern and every request that could appear.
He had told his players not to lose concentration in the stands filled with Partizan fans of the national stadium, which compared to their field in Kucove could leave them with a feeling of distraction.
Then, coach Duro, upon entering the field, drew their attention: “hey, guys, the match will not be played up there around the stands and against the fans, but down here on the field, 11 against 11. Maximum attention. Organized defense and quick counterattack.
Do you understand? Come on guys”!!!
This photo belongs to the year 1984, one year after Naftetari’s victory. September 9 at the National Stadium: Partizani – Naftetari 2-0 Both teams pose together
The teams enter the field with these formations:
Partisan with a completely red uniform: Musta; Exarko-Hysi-Hametaj-Ocelli (Starova);
S. Gega-Tomorri-Duro-Lazemetaj (Y. Shehu); V. Skuro, Lika
Coach: Bejkush Birce
Naftetari in the all-white uniform: Gurraj; T. Skurro – R. Gega (Dume) – Dashi – Koroveshi; Doko – Prifti – Mersini – Duli; Meta – A. Koci
Coach: Fiqo Duro
Referees: S. Bilali; L. Agolli; T. Prela (from Shkodra) | Spectators: 8000 | Corners: 11-3 for Partizan
The balance among them: Partizani 12 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses; goals 48-9
The match started quickly as expected. Partizan started attacking and exerting more and more pressure on the goalkeeper Gurraj. Naftetari’s defense turned out exactly as their coach had ordered, focused and careful in coverage, organized and stable to withstand every opponent’s attack.
T. Skurro, Gega, and Dashi stand out and of course the one who will become the protagonist of this challenge, the defender with number 4, Koroveshi.
But the midfield together with the attack too had elements that stood out quite well from the others, Duli, Meta and the dangerous and experienced striker Aleksander Koci.
Another Partizan attack that it seems to score from moment to moment, but the defense is insurmountable. Even the goalkeeper Gurraj made two decisive interventions. Attacker Vladimir Skuro proves, exactly the one who was doing his military service at Partizan, who came from Naftetari and knew their tactics very well. But in vain, even this does not manage to break the well-aligned defense square. Koroveshi intervenes two or three times, knocking him down.
Now Eksarko, takes a incursion from the right wing, crosses for Lika who tries with a head, but Gurraj is attentive. The minutes pass and Partizan cannot find the way to the net, showing shades of nervousness of a fruitless game even though it has total superiority.
Naftetari boys counters several times, but quite dangerously. In the midfield, the organizer Prifti gives beauty and models the game, while Duli, Doko and Mersini breathe life into Naftetari’s play. Today coach Duro has sacrificed the striker Duli by returning him to the left wing of the midfield to contribute to a double helper to connect the defense and the attack.
This maneuver will be very appropriate and positive. Partizan loses his composure, he perseveres, but something is wrong in the game mechanism of this great team.
Naftetari bursts into a counterattack with Meta, with his individual actions, creating some panic in the defense where Hysi and Hametaj are located. There, in the front line of attack, there is also the center forward and scorer of the race A. Koci, very aggressive in his movements with and without the ball.
Now the game of an ensemble begins to take shape, where the technique, speed, and physical preparation of Naftetari stand out.
28 minutes have passed since the first half. It is an episode that marks the fate of the game. Musta and Hysi cannot coordinate between themselves. Koci is there and like a predator steals the ball from them by smashing it into the net from a prone position that only such attackers know how to score.
Goal! Partizani 0, Naftetari 1
Silence reigns all the way around of the national stadium “Qemal Stafa”.
Partizan has made two substitutions in the second half. Starova has been inserted in the defense, replacing Ocelli, and Ylli Shehu, an intelligent player with a flair for scoring goals, has been tried in the attack.
In the 47th minute, Tomorri was brought down in the area by goalkeeper Kastriot Gurraj. Referee Skender Bilali punishes Naftetari’s goalkeeper with a red card, after a long argument with him, but surprisingly he does not sign a penalty, but a foul inside the area (!). The most delicate phase of the match, especially for Naftetari’s team, where their manager makes a move that will surprise everyone, maybe even himself. Naftetari has as a reserve a good goalkeeper, Ylli Vrushon, but…
Defender Mikail Koroveshi will now be activated in the goal, who will take the gloves from the recently departed goalkeeper Gurraj!!!
Few people know the reason for this replacement. The left defender Korroveshi, was 174 cm tall and it is said that he was activated several times as the youngest goalkeeper of the team, and maybe the two of them , (he and his coach) made a silent “agreement” that he or the central defender Ilia Dashi, since he was tall and played basketball should cover the goal.
The coach judges better the replacement with Korroveshi without making it possible to remove a high stature central defender like Dashi. Meanwhile, a midfielder could be recruited as a left defender. And so it happened.
It is an episode that will remain in the memory of Albanian football for a long time, but not the only one, because four years later it will be Partizan that will replace the departed Musta (for the red card, he got in the locker room), with Genc Tomorri as goalkeeper. in a championship match against the rival 17 Nentori.
Koroveshi, even though a good defender, will know how to protect Naftetari’s goal while keeping the net intact. Among other things, he punches a dangerous ball from V. Skuros. Koroveshi lies down and looks desperate. He is not aware of this decisive intervention. He doesn’t understand what he has done until one of his friends tells him to get up, because it`s a corner kick against Naftetari as a result of his reaction.
Phase of the game where Naftetari waits for Partizan with calmness and confidence and then reacts with a quick counterattack.
In the 50th minute, Meta surprises Partizan’s defense by making a diagonal shot with the mastery of a champion so much so that even a goalkeeper like Musta is unable to avoid it.
Goal! Partizan 0, Naftetari 2
No one believes their eyes when they see the result on the electronic scoreboard.
Even the “iron” coach Bejkush Birce does not believe his eyes and does not understand what is happening with his boys. In vain he shouts from the bench and tries to tell his players not to be discouraged, to continue to persevere and have more faith.
Partizan returns to the attack now composed of the trio V. Skuro – H. Lika and Y. Shehu.
But his midfield shows weakness. The absence of Lame, the departure of Gjike Balgjini to Lokomotiva, and their replacement with Skender Gegen, Duro and the young Lazemetaj will apparently take time to show their effectiveness.
But now even the defenders with experience like Eksarko, or the high stature Kastriot Hysi, Sul Starova seem to have lost something that distinguished them from the unstoppable defenders.
There are still 25 minutes of the game left, for Partizan to react and reverse the result, completely unimaginable for anyone until those moments.
However, the team does not give such signs of reaction, on the contrary, a lost ball in the midfield will turn into a fatality for the 13-time champions who are experiencing the most frustrating nightmare of their entire history.
It is again Meta who starts an individual incursion from his own half of the field. He evades Ocelli after Eksarko. Not even Hametaj can stop his momentum , who from a distance of about 20 meters launches a ground ball, scoring the third goal for Naftetari and the second personal one for this player.
Agim Meta, the protagonist of the match and the author of two goals.
The match continues to be dramatic. The remaining minutes of the match speak of Partizan’s futile efforts to do something, but the result will not change even after the referee’s final call for the end of this historic match for a team like Naftetari of Kucove.
Partisan 0, Naftetari 3!
And who thought so? Who had really dared to predict such a result that it would be difficult to turn a dream scenario into a movie, as the world cinema director Akira Kuruzava did in many cases.
All the barbell!
Silence!
Did Partizan lose 0-3 in Tirana from Naftetari?
Maybe the players of Naftetari together with the management staff and reserves are “afraid” to rejoice because they don’t believe what they have done.
In the dressing room from everyone, the enthusiasm seems limited.
In Kuçovo, when the team returns after this success, no one is around to wait the team and to start a celebration. Newspapers write something the next day.
The biggest surprise had happened and people still didn’t understand.
The Executive Committee of the district at the time, however, had organized a meeting with the team and its leaders.
At the end of the 11th week, the ranking will present Labinoti as the leader and Albanian Champion with 15 points, one more than Lokomotiva, 17 Nentori, who share the second place. After with be Skenderbeu and Partizani with 13 points.
With this victory, Naftetari will climb to 9th place with 10 points, the same as Vllaznia.
Later after this match and this sensational result, there will be a lot of talk. Conspiracy theories and rumors like the following will circulate among sports people: It is said that a UEFA observer watched the match. After it was over, the observer who was not so informed about football in Albania at that time said: “I didn’t know you had a strong champion team both technically and tactically”, while the representative of our Federation who accompanied him, returns: “Actually, we have the team with red jerseys as national champions, sir, and this opponent comes in most cases from the second category”!
Starting from the unimaginable victory of Naftetari in Tirana against the champions of Partizan with 7 national players, it will leave room for doubts and voices behind the scenes, to the point that the theory of a “sold out” match will begin to circulate. , and for this incident will be blamed the ardent and well-known fans of the team based in Lapraka (district of Tirana), which had influenced and conditioned the dependence of the result. Of course, all these remain doubts, conjectures and officially we cannot verify them, but as a wise saying goes, “where there is talk, there is nothing without”.
But one thing is certain that there were also results released at that time, interventions from above that changed and influenced the finalization of the championship title or survival in the category.
By Pjerin Bj.
© Reserved Material | The exclusivity on the site is dated August 15, 2024
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