KF Naftëtari

KF Naftëtari, also known as Naftëtari Kuçovë, is an Albanian football club based in Kuçovë, Albania. Their home ground is the Bashkim Sulejmani Stadium and they currently compete in the Kategoria e Dytë.

Naftëtari means ''Oilmen'', with Kuçovë being the centre of the Albanian oil industry.

History

Founded in 1926, they first participated in the Albanian Superliga in 1946 as ''Spartak Kuçovë''. During the communist era they were first known as ''Puna Qyteti Stalin'', then ''Spartaku Qyteti Stalin'' and for most of the time ''Naftëtari Qyteti Stalin''. Naftëtari played their final season in the Albanian Superliga in 1987.

One year suspension

In the 1987/88 season, Naftëtari qualified for a promotion/relegation playoff after finishing runners-up to second tier champions Traktori Lushnja. After losing the first match 1-0 away to Albanian giants and Ministry of Interior club Dinamo Tirana, the second match in Qyteti Stalin on 5 June 1988 ended in riots and burning of the Dinamo team bus partly due to the fact that the game was led by a referee and assistants from Tirana. Dinamo also won the second leg and the riots led to the suspension of Naftëtari from playing football for a year and demotion to the third tier. Coach Pandi Angjeli and players Meta and Makashi were suspended for life and club manager and former goalkeeper Fatmir Ismaili was dismissed.

Stadium

The stadium of Naftëtari Kuçovë is located in Kuçovë, Albania. The name of the stadium is Stadiumi Bashkim Sulejmani. It has a capacity of 5,000 spectators.

Supporters

Rivalries

Naftëtari's biggest rivals are Tomori Berat, with Berat only 20 kilometres down the road and with fans of both clubs working together in the textile industry during the 1970s.

Players

A few of the best players known through their history:
Fatmir Ismaili Goalkeeper, Kastriot Haxhija Goalkeeper, Ramadan Gega Defender, Gezim Gega, Mikel Koroveshi Defender, Paskal Gaqe Defender, Mihallaq Bonjako Defender, Enver Hafezi Defender, Vasil Piperoni Goalkeeper, Sofokli Vasili Forward, Bashkim Xheka Midfield, Bashkim Sulejmani Midfielder, Agim Prifti Midfielder, Engjellush Islami Forward, Vladimir Skuro Forward, Agim Metaj, Maxim Halilaj Forward, Ilia Dashi Midfield, Muharrem Doko, Besnik Duli, Edmond Voda, Dashnor Dume Midfield, Emil Xhyberi, Kostandin Lule, Lilo Shau, Arben Iliazi, Astrit Haxhiaj, Ylli Vrusho, Barjam Fraolli, Agim Meta, Aleksander Koci Forward, Romeo Kocani Forward. Daut Hoxha forward, Vasillaq Sotiri forward, Ismaili played once for the national team in 1973.

Based on the book "Nostalgjia dhe Simpatia e Naftetarit" by Engjell S. Kureta The city of Kucove (Qyteti Stalin at the time) had two Pleiads: 1) "The Nostalgic" which started around the 1960s with professor Njazi Shehu dhe Hilmi Veleshnja who educated, trained and prepared the young generation for the team to become a candidate to gain entry in the First Category. However, in 1964 they lost (4-3) to "Ylli i Kuq" (The red Star) from Progradec. In 1965 again on the final against "Skenderbeu" of Korça lost again. Here ends the Nostalgic era and starts the new one. 2) The young generation that continued in the footsteps of the Nostalgic era and was trained by Ibrahim Hoxha brought finally Naftetari to compete in the First Category. This New Pleiad ended with the game Naftetari-Dinamo on June 5th 1988 when Dinamo won 1-0 by one undeserved penalty.

Here are many of the players of these two great Pleiads:

Goalis
Ushtar Avduramani,
Gani Beliu,
Luftar Strumi,
Virgil Ikonomi,
Zoi Halilaj,
Vasil Piperoni,
Fatmir Ismaili,
Vladimir Laçka,
Kastriot Haxhiraj

Defenders
Milto Bano (left),
Enver Nesha (Muka),
Andrea Minai (left),
Fehmi Xheka (left),
Xhevair Zaganjori (Center),
Roland Gogu (left),
Thoma Vasili (left),
Kostandin Zoga (center),
Paskal Gaqo (left),
Ligor Nakuçi (center),
Enver Hafezi (center),
Maksim Aliaj (left),
Neim Rakipi (center),
Nikollaq Dragoti (right),
Sofo Vasili (right),
Mikel Koroveshi (left),
Ramadan Gega (center),
Mihallaq Gaqo (right),
Fatmir Xhyberi (right),
Dashnor Dume (center),
Roland Makashi,
Amarillo Çaliqi (right),
Mihallaq Bonjaku,
Astrit Haxhiraj (left),

Midfielders
Razip Baci,
Nasi Llupa,
Fiqo Duro,
Luftar Kuçova,
Andrea Zoto,
Nazif Vendresha,
Bashkim Sulejmani,
Aleko Veria,
Flash Nakuçi,
Nazif Hoxha,
Hilmi Veleshnja,
Vladimir Kaçeli,
Bashkim Xheka,
Engjellush Islami,
Qetsor Faqekuqi,
Agim Prifti,
Dashnor Nishani,
Muharem Doko,
Ilia Dashi,
Tahir Skuro,
Sokol Meta,
Gezim Gega,

Forwards
Bezat Gjini,
Mihallaq Xheka,
Sami Shehu,
Agim Mukavelati,
Tomor Duro,
Ndue Isufi (left),
Jani Mita (right),
Sherif Sulejmani,
Spiro Valle,
Ibrahim Hoxha,
Misto Vera (right),
Xhoxhi Qirko,
Daut Hoxha,
Nasho Fili,
Aleksander Koçi (right),
Vladimir Skuro (center),
Maksim Halilaj (center),
Edmond Voda,
Bajram Fraholli,
Romeo Kocani,
Agim Meta,
Lilo Shahe,

Coaches
Njazi Shehu,
Hilmi Veleshnja,
Ibrahim Hoxha,
Agim Mukavelati,
Fiqo Duro,
Fatmir Ismaili,
Robert Vasili,
Agim Mukavelati,
Fatbardh Delialisi,
Pandi Angjeli

Sporting Director
Ilia Kule

Maintenance Director and Bus Driver
Pandeli Fype
E vërteta e nëpërkëmbur e Ballkaniadës 1946
- Panorama

Current squad

(Captain)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naftetari
KF Naftëtari
Football clubs in Albania
Association football clubs established in 1926
1926 establishments in Albania
Kuçovë
Kategoria e Dytë clubs