KF Naftëtari

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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.[1]

KF Naftëtari
Full nameKlubi i Futbollit Naftëtari
Founded1926; 98 years ago (1926)
GroundStadiumi Bashkim Sulejmani
Capacity5,000
ManagerFatmir Baçaj
LeagueKategoria e Dytë, Group A
2023–24Kategoria e Dytë, Group A, 9th

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

History

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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.

In the 1987/88 season, Naftëtari qualified for a promotion/relegation playoff after finishing runners-up to second tier champions Traktori Lushnja.[2] 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.[3]

Stadium

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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.[4]

Supporters

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Rivalries

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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.[5]

Current squad

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As of 22 November 2017

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ALB Albano Kora
2 DF   ALB Ardit Lleshi
3 DF   ALB Sajmir Gega (Captain)
5 DF   ALB Florian Daci
6 DF   ALB Enea Kajo
7 MF   ALB Florian Kopaçi
8 MF   ALB Endri Koroveshi
10 MF   ALB Ardian Gega
14 MF   ALB Redon Behari
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW   ALB Romario Alushi
19 FW   ALB Gëzim Hyska
4 DF   ALB Martin Gucaj
11 FW   ALB Klajdi Pepa
12 GK   ALB Kristian Gjini
13 DF   ALB Gerald Bega
18 MF   ALB Azis Pepa
21 MF   ALB Anesti Marini
22 DF   ALB Ardian Kaloshi

References

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  1. ^ Soccerway
  2. ^ Albania 1987/88 - RSSSF
  3. ^ Speciale/ Revolta e Kuçovës, 30 vjet nga ndeshja që shkundi sistemin monist - Panorama (in Albanian)
  4. ^ "Albania - KF Naftëtari Kuçovë - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway".
  5. ^ Përparim Kovaçi, “pantera” e Beratit që u rebelua për një frigorifer - Panorama (in Albanian)