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UEFA in Tirana/ Ceferin and Duka: Football unites, assessment for Albania

2025-09-11 13:51:00, Sport CNA

The football festival took place today at the "House of Football" as part of UEFA's "Football in Schools" activity, with the special participation of UEFA President Aleksander ?eferin, the President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, and all members of the UEFA Executive Committee.

Also attending the opening ceremony were UEFA ambassadors Luís Figo and Aljoša Asanovi?, the Albanian Football Association's ambassador for this event Jahmir Hyka, former players and local personalities, boys and girls from local schools and parents, creating a festive atmosphere in the "House of Football".

Upon the arrival of the delegation, the children created a welcoming corridor for President ?eferin and President Duka.

The activity continued with a football match, where the teams included President ?eferin, Luís Figo, Aljoša Asanovi?, the coach of the Albanian National Team Silvinjo, the two assistant coaches Zabaleta and Doriva, Jahmir Hyka and children from local schools, conveying the message that football, the most beloved sport in the world, is for everyone.

After the match, UEFA President Aleksander ?eferin and AFF President Armand Duka spoke to the Albanian media that covered this very important event on the eve of the historic UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Tirana.

In his speech to the Albanian media, the UEFA President underlined that football should unite people and not divide them. He stressed that people who use this game to spread their useless ideas should stay away from football. “My message, not only for a certain match, but for everyone is that football and sport should be the thing that unites people and not that that divides them. We should try to get rid of these 'idiots' who use football for their absurd ideologies. Everywhere, not just in one country, but in all countries. Because these people do not love football. They only love themselves and use football to spread their useless ideas”.

Asked why they waited so long to hold the UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Tirana, the head of European football's government said: "It didn't take us long. I think this is the third or fourth meeting we have held outside Switzerland. Every September we go to different countries. I think you have a bronze medal now and that's something very good."

President Ceferin praised the football infrastructure in Albania, especially the national stadium. Regarding the projects that UEFA has for Albania, he said that it is necessary to talk to President Duka and at the moment he cannot talk about anything concrete. “You should talk to the President of the Albanian Football Association about this. But your infrastructure and especially the national stadium is very beautiful. We can organize something here, but at the moment it would not be right for me to talk about anything concrete. On the one hand, there is an application process and on the other hand, I do not know at the moment. I only know that your infrastructure is very good and I have an excellent relationship with Armand, which helps a lot.”

Finally, the European football chief gave some advice to young players across Europe and underlined that they should stay in their domestic leagues as long as possible. "I would give some advice to all young players, not just in Albania. To work, work and work. I tell them to stay in their domestic leagues as long as possible because it is easier to prove yourself in a domestic league and then go abroad. Many players make the mistake of leaving at the age of 16-17 for big clubs and in the end their careers end prematurely. That is why they should enjoy football and train as much as possible."

President Duka began his remarks with a special thank you to UEFA President Aleksander ?eferin. The head of the Albanian football government described this historic moment as an appreciation of the great work done by the football community in the country for the development of football in Albania.

"I would like to publicly thank the UEFA President, Mr. Aleksander ?eferin, for the decision to hold the Executive Committee meeting in Tirana. This is an appreciation not only for the Football Federation, but for the entire Albanian football community. An appreciation of the cooperation of the Football Federation with UEFA and respect for the work of the Albanian football community. It is not just a meeting, it is an event including today's activity, the football festival which I believe will remain in the children's memory for a long time and will be one more objective to join our game", - said the President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka.