By David Owen
May 23 – Kosovo’s first officially-sanctioned football international could take place as soon as this autumn, accompanied by what the head of the territory’s football federation believes will be “a big party” in the Balkan province.
Speaking to insideworldfootball the day after FIFA gave its 208 member countries permission to start playing friendlies against the Kosovo team, Fadil Vokrri (pictured above, right with FIFA President Sepp Blatter), President of the Kosovo Football Federation (FFK), said he and his colleagues would “reflect” on the identity of the side’s opponents for this landmark occasion.
It would, he said, be “a good opportunity to promote Kosovan football”.
The Jamaica-sized fragment of the former Yugoslavia declared independence in 2008, but its sovereignty has yet to be recognised by the United Nations, although its independence is recognised by around 90 countries.
Over the years, it has played a handful of what Vokrri referred to as “semi-clandestine” matches, including a 7-1 win over Monaco in 2006.
“We have waited a long time,” he said.
A round of international friendlies is due hot on the heels of the London 2012 Olympics, on August 15.
However, most European international teams have accepted engagements for that date.
More opportunities for the Kosovans may present themselves on November 14, when Italy are due to play France, and Holland to take on Germany.
Vokrri indicated that the FFK would in time hold talks with a number of players about possible nationality switches.
If every player who could conceivably play for Kosovo did so, it could quickly build the basis of an effective team, just as Montenegro has in recent times.
Clearly, this is unlikely to happen until such time as Kosovo is cleared to enter competitive international tournaments such as the European Championship and the World Cup.
The gifted Swiss international, Xherdan Shaqiri (pictured above), whose parents are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, is probably the best-known current player who might conceivably pull on the blue and yellow national team shirt in future.
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