1972 "VLLAZNIA", WINNER OF THE CUP! R.RRAGAMI IS ITS ARCHITECT!

 

"Vllaznia" Shkoder - 1972 Winner of Albanian Republic Cup

 

It`s April, 23 – 1972. The second leg of the Final Albanian Republic Cup, it`s ready to start at “Vojo Kushi” stadium in Shkoder.

In fact, Besa lacked only one title so that it could be officially called a power of Albanian football. Vllaznia, Tirana, Skënderbeu, Partizani, Dinamo, were already holders of Albania, in cups and championships in their Roll of honor. However, in the early 1970s, everyone in town believed that this was simply a matter of time. The team, built with a lot of work, talent and modern vision by Zihni Gjinali and Bet Villa, had enough players and schemes to bring a title to the city.

It may seem surprising, but within a short time, Besa implemented the game with many passes,  and quite advanced for the time, successfully used the artificial offsite. And for the rest...? A stadium would once be built in Kavaja, the most powerful man in the country, Enver Hoxha, had declared himself a fan of Besa. The Municipal of Durres, to which Kavaja belonged, was always ready to help. It was just something, a part of the football game, the penalty, which seems to Kavaja to be her curse, the only obstacle and ... insurmountable as fate brought to be proven! Nine years ago, midfielder Ali Mema of KF Tirana (at the time called 17 Nentori), found himself as a goalkeeper, as the only solution of his team during the execution of penalties, saved three of them by T'habit Rexha, deprives Besa of the right to win the Republic Cup! The cup goes to Tirana, even though in the first match in Tirana, Besa had won 3-2, even though in the second match, both Tirana goalkeepers, Metani and Beliu were injured! Was this a lesson? A warning? A whim of fate?

Whatever it was, Besa was so close to the first title. After almost ten years, Besa is back in the final, winning the first leg 2-0. The result is more than optimal for such events,  even, the better team comes to this final, a year after the lost final for the title of Balkan Champion (1-2 and 1-1 against Panionios, Greece). Exactly from this final, Leshteni, Kapidani and Feshti, by decision of the Municipality of Durrës, were transferred to strengthen Besa. So everyone rightly thinks that the day has come for a title to arrive in this city!

Few remember the final lost on penalties nine years ago. In fact, Besa, in the semifinals, after two matches, 0-0 and 1-1, eliminates Dinamo just after the penalty shootout. No one can imagine what`s going to happen  during the return match of the final of the Albanian Cup of the 1971-1972 edition ...

Football in Shkodra, is said to have been brought by the Maltese priest Gut Ruter in 1908. Maybe yes, maybe not but, what is certainly known, is the creation of the team "Independence" by Palokë Nika in 1912. The match of the first team formed in this town, "Independence" of Shkodra, is against the representative of the navy of the Austro-Hungarian forces stationed in Shkodra. The history of Vllaznia football but also of Albanian football starts from here. In a confrontation with the Austrians as it is commonly said, it is difficult even today to be mentioned as an Austro-Hungarian but in the case of Vllaznia, there was, for history, there is something like an omen here: Austria! The city where Albanian football begins, has enjoyed a title, for the last time 26 years ago. It was the time when Vllaznia won the first two pre-war championships, those of 1945 and 1946. It is time for Shkodra to finally enjoy another title. For the sake of truth, there is a perfect quartet of "fuoriclasse" players, starting with the goalkeeper Ndoja and three others who, in fact, are the heart of the Albanian National Team: Sabah Bizi, Medin Zhega and Ramazan Rragami! As high as the others and as potent for Vllaznia as the three Dutchmen Gulit, Rijkaard and Van Basten of Milan! You can never predict the team 1972 of Vllaznia! Although in the final will not be Din Zhega. Why are we talking about such a Vllaznia, it was logical that more than 13,000 spectators filled the Vojo Kushi stadium to capacity at 15.30 on April 23, 1972.

For them, the remaining 90 minutes which starts with the result 0-2 of the first leg, were enough for Vllaznia to recover the score and finally raise the cup. Because except  Bizi and Rragami, were also in the field Sait Canga, Suad Duraj, Leke Koçobashi, Ismet Hoxha, Çesk Ndoja, etc.. They were an entire golden generation of Shkodra football.

Picture shows actions from the 1972 second leg final match played in Shkoder

 

The first half time is a long monologue of the Shkodra attack with the Kavaja defense. C. Ndoja warns by hitting Besa's crossbar within the first 20 minutes. In 31 ', Besa's from Durres player, Feshti, commits an error in the exit during a cross. The ball ends up to the dangerous Cesk Ndoja, he immediately shoots towards the goal and Dyla uses his hand to avoid the goal! Penalty! The First! Ramazan Rragami, on the biggest day of his career, as he knows, with concentration, self-confidence and prudent even in the steps he takes towards the ball, shoots hard, sideways and scores. 1-0 for Vllaznia. The first penalty of this final is successful for Vllaznia and Rragami! It is 1-0, there are still 60 minutes left in the game for Besa to win the first cup or Vllaznia to win its second. Ramazan Rragami has taken only the first step towards a world record, maybe ... Even in the second half, Besa believes in its defense again. Vllaznia endlessly attempts the attack. It is less than five minutes of play and twice the defender Qerolli, in the fatal line denies the goals of Hoxha and Bizi. In the 54th minute, Kapidani another player from Durrës, mistakenly interrupted Hoxha and for the referee Ramiz Pregja it is a penalty, a second one. Rragami is once again placed in front of Feshti ... and again scores, 2-0! The overall score is equal and, will remain equal until the end. Despite the inspirations of Sabah Bizi and the efforts of Ç. Ndoja, Rragami and Hoxha, the score does not change until the end. The last whistle of Ramiz Pregja, in this second leg historical final, sends Besa, for the second time also to the penalties shoot out.

Actions from "Vllaznia" - "Besa", second leg final!

 

 

Vllaznia sends Ramazan Rragami. He has scored two penalties during the 90 minutes and has brought Vllaznia at this point. There are still five penalties to give him the title ... and he will score all five of `em ! Just like if he fired a pistol, seven times with no mistake. To better understand, Rragami alone, scored more than the Netherlands against Italy in a match similar in number of penalties during Euro 2000 or, think of Barcelona against Steaua, having a player like Rragami to shoot out penalties ...

Since that day, Vllaznia won other titles, cups and championships but Rragami belongs to the world history of football. Almost 40 years have passed since that day - as a well-known figure had prophesied "half of today's spectators in the stadium will have died but players like Zani, Dini and Sabahi we will not see anymore" - and ... still players like Ramazan Rragami, Medin Zhega and Sabah Bizi have not appeared anymore. Vllaznia, as an excellent team, that year wins the championship, becoming the first Albanian team to achieve the double!

S. Bizi with the Trophy and goalkeeper P. Ndoja, followed by 

the other "Vllaznia" players

Communist tendencies, for completely absurd reasons, condemn the team to participate in the Champions Cup competition where Vllaznia would face the Rapid Vienna. Austria! Besa, from completely unexpected but at the same time deserving circumstances, will play in Europe and will pass the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup against BK Fremad Amager of Denmark. The beautiful Vllaznia of Albanian football, without yet losing its luster, after a break at the national level of representation in international competitions, will be the first of the Albanian teams to play in Europe, in 1978.

And in this return of Albania in these competitions and the team of Shkodra where it was denied six years ago, in "Vojo Kushi" Vllaznia will win 2-0 against Austria Vienna. Austria again! What stubborn coincidences! Besa and Vllaznia, after nine years, found themselves opponents again in the final of the Republic Cup in 1981. Besa wins again the first leg match in Kavaja, 2-1. After the second leg final in Shkodra, Vllaznia, scores 5-1, winning the cup again. To this day, as well as for the final of 1972, the opinion of the football player Kavaja accuses the trio of referees being partially ... Eventually, in the city of Kavaja, the first cup would arrive after 35 years, in 2007!

 

"Vllaznia" players in 1972 winner of Albanian Cup of Republic

Shkoder, April 23, 1972. “Vojo Kushi” stadium.

Vllaznia – Besa 2-0 (0-2) Pen: 5-3

Lineups

Vllaznia: P.Ndoja - Basha, Duraj, Canga, Dedja – Bizi, Leka, Rakiqi (Kocobashi) – R.Rragami, Hoxha, C. Ndoja.

Coach. Xhevdet Shaqiri

Besa: Feshti - Mullaliu, (Shyti), Kapidani, Dyla, Mili – Kariqi, Qerolli, Kashami, Pagria – Merhori, Bishtaja

Coach. Muhamet Vila

Referees: Ramiz Pregja, Haxhi Pellumbi and Tomson Neviri

Penalties

R. Rragami (Vllaznia) scores 5 of 5.

Merhori (Besa) scores 3 of 5.

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 *Brought by Arian Muraj & Sport Vision / The Champions Hour | November 25, 2020

 

 Vllaznia - Besa 2-0 / (0-2) Pen. 5-3

Highlights from the 1972 second final match!

 

I HAVE SEEN MARADONA!

 

"Oh mama mama mama / Oh mama mama mama / Sai perchè mi batte il Corazon / Ho visto Maradona, Ho visto Maradona / Oh mama, inamorato sono"…..

I saw Maradona, I was lucky to live in the time when Diego was playing when he was the protagonist of the football, and with his successes he would later become the greatest player of all time, even today he remains such. It represents football, the ball and everything spherical. To say Maradona is dead is almost the same as saying football is dead. Therefore, the news of separation from life is horrible in the world of sports and especially in that of football. Because Maradona is not like any other player, but the great champion, the architect of the 1986 World Cup victory, the soul of Argentina, the heart of Napoli and the successes in Serie "A". With this artist of the ball player who will arrive in Naples on July 5, 1984, I have many beautiful memories of my life. Well, a person can become a part of life even without ever meeting him or her, only through the emotions convey, mastery, interpretation and many other qualities, makes him stay in the memory forever. Such was Maradona for me when "I knew him for the first time" (although I had heard about his talent displayed at the World Youth Championship and then in the duel with Gentile at the 1982 World Cup or some sporadic news when he played for Barcelona), the day of the presentation in Serie "A", in "San Paulo", when he descends from the helicopter in the green field welcomed by 100,000 devout Neapolitans and for whom he will turn into an idol, singing in the choir "Oh mother, mother my heart is beating, because I saw Maradona and I am in love with him." Yes! I have seen too and lived with emotion Maradona time. As images of his mastery pass before my eyes, I remember an impossible free kick, executed only by champions such as Diego, as he humiliates Juventus in "San Paulo" on November 3, 1985, taking the top of standings and finally also the title of “Scudetto”. Another goal against Como from the middle of the field, another one and another… ..in almost every match in Serie "A", until I arrive with fragments of memories in the biggest match in the history of this championship, (my opinion) a clash of the Titans on May 1, 1988. Maradona vs Gulit, Napoli marching on the road to the title against AC Milan and the Dutch (Gulit and Van Basten) that were put in pursuit throughout the season. This was the decisive moment, a clash that would be broadcast on satellite TV in many different countries of the world for the importance that this match carries but for me as a resident of a communist country….in the inability to see it directly, for reasons that are already known, I was listening on the radio through the well-known commentator Enrico Ameri. Then later on I saw the 45 minutes replay on Rai Channel, with blocking transmission  on the screen that "did not take into account" the importance and the event of this match.
I have seen Maradona, I have been fortunate to see the world's greatest player in the consecration as such on the day he raises the World Cup on June 29, 1986, completely unique to Argentina with a modest lineup of players. But first, after he performed miracles in this edition, among other things, the goals against England, especially the first one, when he gets dizzy by dribbling  half of the team from the middle of the field, and the second one with "God's hand"! These are some moments, but part of my life as the most beautiful memories and of course memories of the whole world of football that today turned into mourning. Maradona is no more, but he will still be in everyone's memory, in every field, stadium or match where football is played, because he is the representative of this game. When we say Maradona, we mean Football and vice versa. This was for me Diego. A. Maradona, the greatest of all time!  

*Sport Vision / The Champions Hour | Nov. 25, 2020