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The new football season starts today, Duka: It will be a more difficult championship than last season

2023-08-26 10:28:56, Sport CNA

The President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, has given a message to all the clubs, footballers and staff of each team on the eve of the start of the new football season 2023-2024, wishing everyone a successful season. and full of emotions.

The head of the government of Albanian football expresses his conviction that the new formula will be a real success for the "Superior Abyssnet" category, increasing competition and quality, as he has the same expectation for the First Category, which also comes with a new scheme. in this season.

Also, President Duka underlines the many projects that the AFL is implementing in this edition as well, which support the development of football, from the young age to the professionals. Without forgetting the infrastructure with the AFL that continues to invest within the 100 fields project throughout Albania, adding football fields with modern standards.

President Duka also appreciates the program organized in cooperation with FIFA "Soccer in Schools", which will start in September and is expected to popularize Albanian football even more.

Below is the full message of President Duka:

Dear football players, football players, coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, video analysts, referees, observers, officials and club managers,

Dear fans and football lovers,

Today we start the 85th edition of "Abyssnet Superiores", the journey of a chapter full of emotions and adrenaline that football gives. A new championship that I am sure will be very competitive, even more beautiful than last season, offering us through adrenaline matches and high competition, respect on the field of play between opponents as befits the game our beautiful

After a week, a formatted First Category starts, with 12 important Albanian football teams, full of history and tradition, with better infrastructure and will undoubtedly give us great emotions.

To then continue with the Second Category, the championships of girls and those of ages that this season will have for the first time a championship for the U-16 age group that is attached to the competitions from U-7, U-9, U- 11, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-19 completing the entire panorama of competitions in age football.

This new edition in "Abyssnet Superiore" will have a big innovation with the new format "Final 4" where the top four teams will compete among themselves to determine the champion team, in a competition that aims to make the championship always more attractive, more competitive and make the race fought until the last second.

I am confident that this change approved for this season will be a success story and will help our clubs a lot in sports management, as they will play matches with strong opposition, with great pressure for the result, where maximum concentration is required , such as matches in European competitions, and this will increase the clubs and especially the players more. From this championship, with this new format, teams and clubs will undoubtedly be of better quality and stronger.

Only through a strong competition, with more competitive matches will we be more competitive at the regional and European level. These are the premises from which we started and this new formula guarantees them.

The "Abissnet Superiore" product for the next three seasons also has a new broadcaster, MCN TV, that every week will bring the emotions of Albanian football to the homes of everyone who is waiting for their team to play. I would like to thank them for their contribution to the good of our football and assure them that they will find in the AFL an ambitious partner who works every hour and day to improve and develop our magical game.

At the start of this new football season, I have a message for our clubs of all levels. To build long-term sports projects with important objectives because this is the only way to success and being competitive in the country and abroad. A great deal of work is also required with the academies in grassroots football, where I say with conviction that they have in front of them a little-explored treasure.

The Albanian Football Federation will continue its financial and logistical support for children's and girls' football this year. In the month of September, the second edition of "Uniforma Ime" returns, which will once again equip every boy or girl who plays football throughout the country with the necessary material base for training and matches.

This project is a great help for football clubs, academies, associations, but above all for Albanian families who will have unlimited support from the AFL to raise better and healthier children around football.

The Your Ball project is in its seventh year and every football club in every category that takes part receives a free playing and training ball from the Football Association, relieving them of another significant cost.

We have worked with clear objectives so that the costs for those who play football in our country are zero to increase and massify even more the most beloved sport of Albanians.

This year is special for us, because after decades we return football to our schools. Thanks to the support of FIFA, which trusted us by making us one of the first countries in the world to start this program, from September in 116 9-year-old schools throughout the country, the implementation of the "Soccer in Schools" project will begin. The inclusion of football in the school program throughout the country was and is the basis of its "Football for the Nation 2025" strategy by the Football Federation. I have no doubt that this program will increase and massify our football more.

We continue without stopping the construction project of 100 fields throughout the country. Today, 4 new fields have been added to the Tirana Sports District while work continues in Shkodër, Lezhë, Laç, Lushnje, Fier and Berat to create more spaces to be used by our youth and clubs.

In parallel with the infrastructure projects, we have undertaken a deep reform and designed important projects for the work we need to do for young talents across the country. Under the direction of the Technical Department, the new Performance Centers in the 8 Regional Football Associations will help all talented players to grow in all physical-technical-tactical components directly serving players, clubs, but and our national and regional teams.

Our aim is to create all the spaces and opportunities for a society that plays more sports, not only professional but also amateur. Even this year we will expand the amateur competitions for 5×5, 9×9, veterans but also those for people with different abilities to have as many people as possible involved in the magic of football.

In this message of mine at the start of this football edition, I could not stop to greet the most beautiful element of the competition, the 12th player of each team, the fans. They are the necessary energy to move forward and echo our races. I am convinced that this season they will increase their presence on the steps of our stadiums and together with the good work that the clubs have to do, they will give a great excitement to our competitions and turn our stadiums into an accepted place for all where Albanian families spend beautiful hours near football.

I want to welcome and wish good work to the media, journalists, our field critics and the great advertisers of our product. Thank you for everything you do in your work. I want to assure you that we will listen carefully and pay attention to your criticism or suggestion for the benefit of our football and we will work together for a fantastic season.

On behalf of the Albanian Football Federation, I wish all actors and factors much success in this new season and lots of Fair Play!