Former Deputy Chairman Facil Vokrin's NFF: He returned from France to lead Kosovo towards accession to U EFA and FIFA)

May 3, 2016, is undoubtedly the historic date for Kosovo football. On this day four years ago, the Kosovo Football Federation became the 55th member of UEFA.

At Congress EFA therefrom on May 3rd 2016, held in Budapest, Hungary, Kosovo became a full-fledged member of the European football house, with 28 votes to, 24 against and 2 invalid.

Former legend associate Fadil Vokrrit, Bekim Haxhiu has confessed the moment as Vokri returned from France to become head of FFKU and lead Kosovo towards U. FIFA EFA. Fadil Vokerri was elected president of the FFKU on February 16, 2008.

Through a post on his official page, Haxhiu also indicated that most of them had thought Kosovo failed the Budapest Congress, but eventually the opposite occurred.

Former vice chairman of the FFKU, Bekim Haxhiu, the moment when Kosovo was fully accepted at UEFA, describes as an unwritten emotion, almost the same as those sense of liberation in June 1999.

Full mailing from Bekim Haxhiu:

“The FFK entry at UEFA on May 3rd of 2016 is one of the most important dates of Kosovo football.
Legendary Fadil Vokerri was elected president of the FFK in 16,02.2008. From that date we started working together in the Kosovo Football Federation. After eight years of work and dedication performed by legend Fadil Vokrri , the FFK was admitted to UEFA at the convention held in Budapest on May 3, 2016.
Proud of the legend Fadil Vokry that I was part of his team.

For those who want to know the stories, I'm making a little reminder of how Vokri came to lead Kosovo towards U accession. EFA and FIFA.
In November 2007, I along with several soccer collaborators like Hysen Sadiku, Latif Gashi, Abednego Zeka, Agim Binaku, Sahit Kelmendi and Bajram Jashar began the process of returning Fadil Vokrri to the helm of the FF.
With Hysin we were in the restaurant “Collection” in Pristina when we called Fadil Vokrin, who was in France. The conversation was conservative and perhaps the decisive step that set the way for our football's success. In that phone conversation I addressed Fadil Vokrrit, with the words: “Mayor, Kosovo football needs you, you should lead me with the Football Federation”.
His words were: ” Are you serious? Yes, I said, we football club leaders want you to lead us into the Kosovo membership process at UEFA and FIFA.
Is there any obstacles inside the NFF?
I told him that there may be obstacles, but we are determined to lead the NK.
Vorri told me: Then, wait for me, for three days I come to Kosovo. And that is what happened after three days he arrived.
While Fadil Vokry arrived from France to Kosovo, we collected 90% of the signing of NK Assembly delegates. In support of Vokrrit's candidacy, all Kosovo football regions were listed.
On February 16, 2008, Fadil Vokri was elected chairman of the FFK. Eight years later we were admitted to UEFA and FIFA.
In Budapest it was the real drama, because the statuteic changes in the UEFA Parliament were not voted, there was despair among us, because most thought we failed. At that moment I called Fadil Vokrin on the phone and said: “the mayor has finished nothing, Kosovo is on the agenda for voting. Kosovo's accession will be put to the polls, work as hard as you can inside the box”.
I was convinced that we would join, and I had full confidence in the representation of Fadil and Erroll at the UEFA Assembly in Budapest and our supporters from the friendly federations.
The news of Kosovo's accession to UEFA was an unwritten emotion, almost the same as the feeling of liberation we had in June 1999.”