Detroit Besa is an American soccer club based in Hamtramck, Michigan, an

enclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...

of Detroit. The club was founded in 1974 and originally competed in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). In 1979, the club made the transition to the professional level by becoming the fourth American franchise ( Buffalo Blazers, Detroit Canadians, and

Detroit Vardar Detroit Vardar is an American club based in Detroit, Michigan. The club was founded in 1972, and originally competed in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). After several notable achievements at the amateur level the organizat ...

) to compete in Canada's

National Soccer League The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its d ...

(NSL). After competing in the NSL for three seasons they returned to the amateur level by rejoining the Detroit Soccer League. Detroit originally played their home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan. The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018.

History

Detroit Besa was formed in 1974 as a soccer club which represented the Albanian American community in the Metro Detroit, and played in the Second Division of the Detroit Soccer League (DSL). Detroit would also make their debut in the National Amateur Cup tournament during their inaugural year. In 1976, Detroit defeated Carpathia Kickers by a score of 2-0 for the DSL second division title. In 1977, the club was promoted to the First Division, and was fined by the league after a

brawl Brawl or Brawling may refer to: * Brawl, a large-scale fist fight usually involving multiple participants *'' Brawl Stars'', a game desarrollated by Supercell, created at 2018 * Brawl, Scotland, a crofting community on the north coast of Scotland ...

erupted between fans during a match. The remainder of the season Besa competed in the 1977 National Amateur Cup, but were eliminated in the state semifinal to Detroit Sport Club. For the second consecutive season Detroit reached the state semifinal of the 1978 National Amateur Cup. Throughout the regular season Besa clinched the National Conference title, and faced

for the DSL Championship but were defeated by a score of 6-1. In 1979, the club entered the professional ranks by securing a franchise in the

(NSL), and became one of the few American representatives in the history of the Canadian league. The following season Detroit briefly played in the Detroit Soccer League, but returned to the NSL for the 1981 season. The 1981 team was managed by former Yugoslav player Nino Berisic with an assembled roster of players with experience in the American Soccer League. Detroit returned to the NSL for the 1982 season, but withdrew from the competition near the conclusion of the season. In 1985, the team competed in the Budweiser Indoor League The club was later renamed Drita S.C. and played in the Michigan Premier Soccer League in 2018.

Honors

*Detroit Soccer League National Conference: 1978 *Detroit Soccer League Second Division Championship: 1976

Seasons

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Detroit Besa 1974 establishments in Michigan Association football clubs established in 1974 Soccer clubs in Michigan Canadian National Soccer League teams Diaspora sports clubs Soccer clubs in Detroit Hamtramck, Michigan