Armand Duka raises concern/ "The number of people involved in sports is very low"

2023-04-18 13:18:00, Aktualitet CNA

Armand Duka raises concern/ "The number of people involved in sports is

The president of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka

The President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, in his speech at the National Conference "Achievements and Challenges of Sport in Albania" emphasized that there are still many things to improve in the field of sports, despite the achievements so far.

"This conference is unquestionably very important for sport and its people, not only to make a parade of achievements, which must undoubtedly be reflected and evidenced because the correct reflection of achievements and successes helps us a lot for the education of a sports society, but in the same time to reflect on things we did not do well or we did not have the right rhythm", said Duka.

Based on the figures of the "EuroBarometer", he emphasized that the numbers of people involved in sports in our country are very low.

"Today as we speak, according to EuroBarometer data, in the European Union the European average of people involved in sports is 40%. In Albania, only 3-4% of the population practice sports. They are alarming figures that require intervention and concrete actions", said the President.

Word of Armand Duka:

Dear guests and dignitaries who are in this hall today,

Allow me first to thank the organizers of this conference, the Ministry of Education and Sports and especially Minister Evis Kushi.

This conference is undoubtedly very important for sport and its people, not only to make a parade of achievements, which undoubtedly need to be reflected and documented because the correct reflection of achievements and successes helps us a lot for the education of a sports society, but at the same time time to reflect on things we didn't do well or didn't have the right pace.

Today, Albanian sport faces many challenges, the top of which is the goal of creating a sports culture. We are a non-sporting society. Here I am not talking about professional sports, but about amateur sports, about a sports movement that is missing. Today as we speak, according to EuroBarometer data, in the European Union the European average of people involved in sports is 40%. In Albania, only 3-4% of the population practice sports. These are alarming figures that require intervention and concrete actions.

On the other hand, I cannot deny that there have been positive changes in the last decade. I would divide these long years of transition into two periods:

1-The 90s where we destroyed every sports facility, football field, sports palace and gym that we had inherited from the system we left behind. And not only that. We didn't know who was going to do what, kind of total chaos and without a doubt a dark period for the sport.

2-And the 2000s in which things began to be institutionalized, a better organization began at all levels, there were changes and interventions in the infrastructure and some sporadic results that came from time to time.

During this transition, football, as the most beloved sport of Albanians, has without a doubt had positive developments in all directions.

Starting from the organizational one. Today, the football clubs that compete in the competitions developed by the Football Federation have the most qualified managerial, leadership and sports structures. They have very clearly defined legal and commercial forms and are part of an organization which has its own Constitution approved by local and international authorities.

The competitions organized by the AFL are also a remarkable story of transformation. A few years ago, only one national men's championship was organized with 16 teams and a Second Division with a points system.

Today, as we speak, 23 national competitions for boys, 3 national competitions for girls, Regional championships for boys and girls, as well as national competitions for amateur football 5×5, 6×6 and 9×9 are organized where a total of 22 thousand professional footballers play. semi-professional and amateur.

Girls' football is also an important space in our football, a big priority of the Federation. Although it has been a little more than a decade since it started, there are 2,000 girls playing football in the whole country and thanks to the projects and initiatives we have undertaken, we aim to double it within the next two years.

Every weekend 1140 boys and girls soccer teams of all levels play soccer across the country. Over 650 officials are engaged in the running of football matches. Over 100 thousand people directly involved create a football economy, which consumes and contributes to the Albanian economy.

Education is another important pillar in the growth and sustainable development of football. Thanks to our policies but also the development of new professions, today we educate, qualify and certify with diplomas valid for the whole world trainers, preparers a.../ CNA.al