U n EFA: Build Albanian Football Tower, Success Will Come

Albania's second qualifying at EURO2024 was achieved after the national team's impressive presentations at their new stadium”Air Albania”, writes U. EFA in a special writing dedicated to football in Albania.

THE” opened in 2019, the most modern environment not only transformed the revenues of the Redspots, but also breathed into central Tirana.

Albania qualified to EUR2024 in style, winning its qualifying group in impressive domestic form, with three victories and one draw, with seven scores and none suffered.

They did so at the”Air Albania” stadium in Tirana, which opened in 2019.

The stadium has soon become a formidable football fortress, pushing Albania's national towards its second appearance in EURO2024.

Albania's 12th Player

“There is everything a team needs to perform in the field”, says Albania's captain, Berat Gjimsiti, explaining how the country has given players an added advantage.

“Infrastructure is better, making it much easier for us and for fans to distribute their energy and support. It's like we have a 12th player that motivates and drives us forward. It's played a big role in our 48x1> journey, he adds.

Armand Duka, president of the Albanian Football Federation, agrees, adding that modern <x0mambients and professional environment have significantly increased the morality and performance of players. The stadium's high-level training environments have allowed more effective preparation and recovery, while passionate support at home has created an atmosphere of fear for the visitors, offering our players a psychological advantage”.

More Than a Sports Ground

But the striking stadium, located in the heart of Tirana, is much more than a sports ground. It is a symbol of the FSHF's strategic plan for the development of national football infrastructure and a catalyst for the revival of the local economy.

The construction of the stadium was a visionary step aimed at transforming Albanian football landscape”, Duka explains.

“is also a key part of the city's cultural and social structure, important in the revival of the local community in Tirana”, he adds.

Benefit for the Large Football Community

Fans have also felt the effect. The 22,500-seat capacity of the stadium is an important improvement in the 60-year-old stadium” Qemal Stafa”, which he replaced.

The new environments have also improved the experience of match day, according to Ardit Saliaj from the Albanian fan group” Red and Black Typhos”.

“Conditions at the new stadium are completely different compared to the old”, he says.

<x) Our moments in this modern building have brought us much joy. Qualification at EURO2024 is a dream that Albanians cannot often realise”, he adds.

Stadium also had the honour of hosting U's inaugural final EFA Europe Conference League in 2022, giving thousands the opportunity to experience a major European football final in their country for the first time.

Hundreds of others were involved as volunteers, laying the foundation for the creation of an FSF volunteer football programme.

“An inspiration to football players”

Whatever Albania's results at EURO2024, it is part of a longer journey. The increase in revenues from tickets offered by the stadium”Air Albania”, which was filled with capacity throughout the triumphant qualifying campaign, has opened an investment cycle for the FSHF.

“Success of our national, embedded by their achievements at Air Albania Stadium, serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring footballers across the country”, says Duka.

“We have launched numerous initiatives to benefit from this moment, including basic programmes, school partnerships and youth academies. By creating paths and reachable opportunities, we aim to promote a new generation of football enthusiasts and athletes”, he adds./Ath /Cator.info