Official/ Bledi Shkëmbi takes the leadership of the Red and Black National Team: A dream come true

2024-02-01 10:50:00, Sport CNA

The Albanian Football Federation has reached an agreement with coach Bledi Shkëmbi to take over the leadership of the National U-19 team.

The former footballer of the National Team, who for years has started his career as a coach, will replace in this task the technician Ervin Bulku, who will be part of the technical staff of coach Silvinjo.

Bledi Shkëmbi is a well-known name in our country, as he was one of the most prominent footballers of his generation. He also counts 14 matches with the National Team A, while as a coach he has worked in the direction of clubs such as Teuta and Dinamo in Albania, or Balkan Liberty in Kosovo. Now his task will be to help grow the red and black talents.

In a statement for fshf.org, the Technical Director of the ASF, Fulvio Pea, explained the reasons for this change in the National U-19 team. He appreciated the work done by coach Ervin Bulku, who will now have an even more important task, as part of the technical staff of the National Team A and then added that the position of coach in the National U-19 team will be taken by Bledi Shkëmbi .

"Before introducing the new coach, I want to talk a little about the one who is leaving the National U-19 team because he has been promoted to the A team, so he officially becomes a full-time member of the National A team, Ervin Bulku, who for us has been an excellent companion because he has shown exceptional human values. This makes us very proud because for these qualities he was also appreciated by the coach of our national team. The new coach of the National U-19 team is the former player of the National Team, Bledi Shkëmbi" - said the Technical Director of the AFL, Fulvio Pea.

Speaking to fshf.org, Bledi Shkëmbi said that leading the National U-19 team is a dream come true.

"Leading a National Team is a pleasure, it's a dream. To be honest, I've always had a dream, just like the players have, we coaches also have a dream to coach the National team regardless of the age. I definitely want to thank the Technical Director who made me this offer and honestly fulfilled a dream that I hope will continue for a long time", - said coach Shkëmbi first.

Furthermore, he appreciated the great change that the AFL and Albanian football have undergone, especially in the infrastructure, comparing the time when he represented the National team as a football player.

"In terms of the change part, I think it is like night and day, in every aspect from the way of training, from the way of working and from the establishment of a great football administration. I had really heard from the outside but now from the inside I'm looking at it and feeling happy that I'm in the same boat with this great and successful group, because I'm seeing that our national team is reaping success and we hope that the football of the ages follows the footsteps of the great National Team." - he emphasized.

At the end of the speech, the new coach of the National U-19 team also appreciated the project undertaken by the Technical Directorate at the AFL, "Step by Step", which gives the opportunity to the coaches of the National teams of the ages to work every week in the premises of " Football House" with local players, who are part of Albanian clubs and academies.

"I am convinced that the "Step by Step" project will help us a lot. I think it's not just us as a staff looking closely almost every week at the footballers we think we have in the main group. But I am convinced that the footballers will also have a chance to show us, and what is most important, they will have a chance to wear this beautiful jersey almost every week, to train in a good environment, with very good conditions. good ones. I hope and am convinced that both sides will improve." - concluded Bledi Shkëmbi.