He once looked at Albania from the tributaries, today the leader of the National of Kosovo.

In this year's first match with Kosovo representative Shala was captain of Denmark at the 2-2 draw in Pristina.

Since Swiss coach Bernard Challandes' arrival at Kosovo's helm, Shala has been his most trusted football player.

Only the match against Burkina Faso in March last year did Herolind not play 90 minutes after being injured in the 29th minute to be replaced by Voca.

Shala has been the leader of Kosovo in midfield, destroying the shares of opponents, running throughout the field, assisting both defence and attack.

With Challande coming to the top of our representative, Herolind has become a gladiator.

But the guy from Drenas has not had this treatment as part of Albania, since he has almost always followed the National Guard.

It was September 2014 when Shala joined Albania's National A in the travel match against Portugal, won by the Redsies with a minimum score of 1-0.

Shala has stayed most of the games in the Tribe suffering for not being given the chance at the qualifying matches to play.

The 27-year-old has played only five games (151 minutes) friendly with the Albanian National A, even though there were extraordinary statistics with his club Slovan Liberec at the time.

For me it was an honor to wear a red and black fan, but I wasn't treated as I deserved. I went through a very good shape, I scored goals regularly, and I joined the club, played in the European League groups, but that in the Nationals I was never given the chance to play at the official match to show my qualities in front of the Albanian people”, Shala said about Telegrafi.

Herolind says he suffered as he followed the National Tributes, even though he was one of the best players.

It was always my pride to represent Albania. I saw the National as the other fans from the Tributes. I haven't played, but I've always made the success of the National before the personal, because it was important that we win”, Herolind said.

I've been motivated more when I didn't play, because I haven't given up at any moment, I've increased my work capacity”.

But his suffering has ended with coming to the Kosovo Representative.

I'm living like in a dream. I worked hard for this day to be important to my country, but my people. I'm playing all the fights, but even I'm all I am for this fan, for this team, and for this coach who's giving me a big faith,”, Shala went on.

The captain's taste in the match against Denmark has made Herolin proud, who still maintains modesty.

It's a very good feeling, though I'm not the first captain. It's not important who the captain is, because we're all wearing the same Kosovo fan and playing for just one purpose, sending our country before”.

For me, it's only Kosovo's success, no matter who the captain is, or who scores and assists. We are a good group who give everything of ourselves in the field for the good of our country”, Shala said.

The next match will be the first in Kosovo's qualifying campaign towards Bulgaria, while Shala believes in positive results.

And we can say that we are a new National and that we are not favored towards anyone. Let all our favourite opponents be, since maybe this is in our favour”.

Our goal is to get into the field to play soccer, to play for our people who are so supportive and united that I strongly believe we can do big things”.

Bulgaria's “Behind us is a difficult match, like all the other opponents in the group, but I said we'd be in the field forever to win, to win for our country and our people”, Shala concluded.

Herolind has held 14 matches with Kosovo Representative's fanele since 2016.