The Europa Conference League may not be the highest level of European football, but there is a small town in Kosovo where it has taken on the enormity of the World Cup.
Theranda – sometimes known by its Serbian name Suva Reka and with a population of around 10,000 – is in the grip of football fever following the exploits of local club Ballkani.
Winner of the domestic Superliga for the past two seasons – and well on his way in search of the hat trick – Ballkani eyes the possibility of becoming the first Kosovar club to qualify from the group stages to the knockout stages in a club competition of UEFA.
The team have played two of their six group matches so far, losing 1-0 to Czech side Viktoria Plzen before producing a minor miracle and beating the much bigger and more famous Croatian side from Dinamo Zagreb 2-0.
On Thursday, Ballkani will host Kazakh champions Astana, although technically it’s not really “home”.
Its 1,500-capacity stadium does not meet UEFA requirements, meaning “home” matches are played at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium — with a capacity of 13,980 — about 30 kilometers from there, in the capital Pristina.
Building businessman Faton BytyciThe 41-year-old told AFP that fans were mobilizing for the roughly hour-long journey to Pristina because a victory would give them “a great chance” of reaching the round of 16.
“None of our clubs have achieved this so far,” he said. “That’s why not a single seat should be empty. The stadium in Pristina should be full.”
Unreserved support
The players are also optimistic.
Back right Armend Thaqiwho also plays for the Kosovo national team, said that “the victory against Dinamo gave us great motivation.”
The head coach Ilir Daja believes that opponents no longer underestimate his team, especially at home.
“From the first playoff league until the match against Dinamo, we only recorded victories on our home field,” he said.
“We scored 13 goals and only conceded one.”
Fans attribute Ballkani’s rise to the wholehearted support of their hometown.
Bytyci says that the citizens of Theranda “rise with Ballkani, eat with Ballkani, and go to bed with Ballkani.”
It’s still the main topic “in the city, in cafes and on the streets,” said hairdresser Korab Elshani.
“The Ballkani is also constantly the main subject of my living room,” added the 38-year-old.
Thaqi said such support “inspires us to do even more on the field, to make our fans happy.”
— Football and wine –
Before Ballkani’s rise, Theranda was primarily known for its wines.
The town produces wine and brandy and is located in a traditional wine region.
“Theranda was and still is famous for its wine production,” Elshani said. “Ballkani has only improved the appearance of our city.”
Lately, it seems like football has become as popular as wine.
“We are the only ones in the history of Kosovo football to have participated in the European group stage twice,” Daja said.
“It’s not an easy thing to reach the group competition once. We did it twice.”
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and eight years later was accepted into European and world governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.
Even though Europe’s youngest democracy has so far been recognized by around 100 UN members, Belgrade still does not recognize Kosovo as a state.
Ballkani’s players and supporters believe that successes abroad help to strengthen their country’s image.
“Sport, and especially football, is the best ambassador of the state,” believes Bytyci.
“We represent not only Theranda but the entire state of Kosovo,” Trashi said.
Coach Daja, meanwhile, acknowledges that the club are ambitious in their bid to reach the knockout stages of the Conference League.
“It’s difficult when you have big goals, but it’s easier when you have guys like these in Ballkani,” he said.
“They don’t give up. They have a winning mentality.”
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© Agence France-Presse
