In the 70s, Albanian football would be dominated by three teams: Dinamo, which would win the championship title 5 times, Vllaznia with three championship titles and Partizani, 2 times champion in an unforgettable golden decade, especially the Dinamo-Vllaznia duel where Zeri-Sh. Ballgjini-Pernaska stood out on one side and Bizi-Rragami-Zhega on the other!
In the 1970s, Vllaznia was at its peak, displaying quality and contemporary football.
Two years ago, it broke the hegemony of the Tirana teams by winning its third championship title and at the same time the Republic Cup, after 26 years, a lot for a city where football was born in Albania.
Its ardent fans are almost hypnotized and every Sunday they live in the arms of an exalting enthusiasm, even though for their Vllaznia, as the cradle of Albanian football, there is no participation in the European Cups, as a result of absurd penalties…. Their regret remained the testing of Vllaznia in the international arena, for which they still have to wait until 1978.
The Albanian representative "Kombetarja" is not active either, she has withdrawn from every international competition with the motive of a weak performance, condemning herself…..
However, even though an unlucky period for the outstanding players of the `70s, among others for the magical Shkodra trio Bizi-Rragami-Zhega, the stadiums are surprisingly very full!
The rivalry has now spread to other cities, in Shkoder, Vlora, Elbasan, Kavaje, Korce, add to this the extremely dignified performance of the Shkendija footballers.
September 16, 1973, will be the start date of the 28th National Championship of the First Category (after the Second World War).
In the first weeks of the national championship, "Vllaznia", which is missing its starting goalkeeper, 28-year-old Paulin Ndoja, convicted for biography issues, defeats "Partizan" in Shkodër 1-0 with a goal by Puka, who has just joined the Shkodër formation from Lokomotiva.
In the ranks of Vllaznia there are already 9 champions from the past two years of the title won; goalkeepers Meta and Isa Sukaj and then, Z.Basha, R.Rragami, Dedja, Duraj, L.Basha, Bizi, Lekaj, Ç.Ndoja, Hoxha, Puka, Zhega. A formation where the 32-year-old Ramazan Rragami stands out in the role of center back.
In the second week, Vllaznia wins in Tirana with a goal by Bizi against Shkendija (1-0), taking the lead unstoppably for 26 weeks in a row.
So it starts by defeating Skënderbeu 2-0, then goes to Tirana where it defeats 17 Nentori 1-0, draws with Labinoti 1-1, defeats in its Shkodra, Besa 3-0. then draws with «Dinamo» in Tirana 0-0 and leads with 12 points, followed by «Partizani» and «Dinamo».
It makes an excursion to Stalin City while defeating Naftëtari 0-1, continues its journey with a victory against Besëlidhja 3-1, Luftëtari in Gjirokaster 2-3. Marching forward, in Shkodra where defeats Lokomotiva 2-1, and in Lushnje, against Traktor 0-2!
So rapid is the explosion of «Vllaznia», that during the first phase, it has 10 wins and three draws, that is, 23 points and the champion of the first phase. One point less has «Partizani», which tries to monitor it after each stage.
However, the second phase will prove difficult and arduous for Vllaznia.
Already in the first week of this phase, Bizi saves it from a defeat against Partizani (1-1)!
And suddenly, after 1336 minutes, they taste the bitter taste of defeat (0-1), and even more so in the match in front of their own audience, with «Shkëndija» and even ironically with a goal from a shkodran player, Fatmir Pacrami. «Partizani», although drawing 0-0 with «Labinoti», reaches the point (each teams now have 24 points) but Vllaznia has a better goal difference.
The championship becomes quite interesting when a long debate start between these two rival teams.
«Besa» draws 0-0 with «Partizan» and «Vllaznia» wins 2-0 against «Skénderbeu» in Korça. Thus, "Vllaznia" has 26 points and «Partizani» 25.
This happens in the 16th week.
A week later, «17 Nëntori», which this championship is apparently in danger of slipping into the second category, has a moment of inspiration against its old rival «Vllaznia» and wins (3-2), causing Shkodra's second defeat.
Vllaznia seems to be struggling after only one win in three matches. However, «Partizani» barely manages to draw with «Naftëtari» in Stalin City (0-0).
Again a draw of points between them, 26 points each. A week later, comes «Vllaznia»'s third loss. This time, against «Besa» in Kavaja (0-1).
Now it is «Partizani» that leads. But when "Vllaznia" wins in the 21st week against «Dinamo» in Tirana (1-0) and Partizani with the same result, loses to «Luftëtari» in Gjirokastër, «Vllaznia» takes back the lead having two more points (30) then Partizan (28).
During the second phase, «Vllaznia» also has its grey days. It collects only 14 points (from 23 in the first phase), suffers 4 losses (two more against «Lokomotiva» and «Flamurtar» 0-1).
However, with 37 points, it is unattainable by «Partizani», which, after losing in the last weeks 1-0 in Korça to «Skënderbeg», discharges all its batteries and is not able to reach "Vllaznia", which, after many heartbeats of the Shkodra spectators, on June 9, 1974, is like two years ago, champion, for the second time in three years.
FINAL TABLE STANDINGS
Meanwhile, within the framework of the big championship, a small championship is also being held: “Besëlidhja”, “17 Nëntori”, “Skënderbeu”, “Traktori”, “Luftëtari” and “Naftëtari”, with a difference of two points (20-18) fight to keep their place in the first category.
Everything is decided only in the last week. “17 Nëntori” loses 1-2 to Shkëndija”; “Naftëtari” draws 0-0 agains “Besëlidhja”; “Traktori” takes a point away from “Vllaznia in Shkodër” (1-1). “17 Nëntori” and “Luftëtari” are at the bottom of the table. “Besa” loses to “Luftëtari” 1-2.
Thus, "Traktori" with 23 points, "Naftëtari" and "Besëlidhja" with 22 points, board the last wagon. Behind them is "Luftëtari" and “17 Nëntori" with 21 points.
Based on the regulation, the Tirana team has to play an additional match with the team ranked second in the second category, which is Apolonia.
"17 Nëntori", after drawing 0-0 against "Apolonia" in Fier, beats it 2-0 in Tirana and barely retains its place in the first category. An unpleasant fact in its history. "Luftëtari" is relegated to the second category.
But who was the champion Vllaznia of this season?
It has often been said that this Vllaznia team has been the best formation of all time in its history. And maybe this is true!
Its peak was the decisive trio for winning the title Rragami – Bizi – Zhega.
Bizi was the talent who had in his possession the entire game of Vllaznia, he directed, controlled and blocked every sector of the field, harmonized the departments and from where he then built the attack whose actions were finalized by Zhega with a true champion master.
This season the captain R. Rragami, the universal player of Albanian football, played free defender, but there were many cases when he jumped forward and thanks to his contribution to the game Vllaznia was even safer in every match.
Shkodran’s defense included players such as the late Suad Durraj, the first Albanian footballer to die on the field, Menduh Dedja, Z. Basha, and Lekaj, who provided security for goalkeepers Meta and Isa Sukaj.
The attack was also another strong point for Vllaznia, where Hoxha and Zhega were the authors of 19 goals, along with Cesk Ndoja and Halil Puka.
Vllaznia's changes also had a significant impact on its unstoppable progress towards the title: Leke Koçobashi, Fatmir Axhani, Said Çanga, Lutfi Basha under the direction of coach Xhevdet Shaqiri, born in 1923, who had truly built a perfect ensemble for a strong team that wrote its name in the history of Albanian football.
* * *
Once again, in the final of the Republic Cup, «Partizani» and «Dinamo» met. This time, «Dinamo» won 1-0. They repeated this success in the finals of the Spartakiad Games, where they took first place, defeating «Vllaznia» 2-1 in the final match.
The national youth championship was won again this time by the team of "Shkëndija".
By Pjerin Bj
New York February 2, 2025
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Sports Vision + Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013
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