Ademi: I devote 80% of my time to football, I pray to God that we take Kosovo to the World Cup

Agim Ademi, President of the Football Federation of Kosovo, also spoke about the development of football in Kosovo, the federation’s challenges and its objectives for the future on the podcast “When the Heart Speaks” with humanitarian Halil Kastrati, stressing that the progress made in a short period of time since joining UEFA and FIFA is extraordinary.

According to him, the most important moment in the history of Kosovo football was Kosovo’s admission to the international organizations UEFA and FIFA in 2016.

“Our history in football has been written since 2016, when Kosovo was admitted to UEFA and FIFA. Since then, we have started building everything from scratch,” Ademi said.

He recalled that when Kosovo was admitted to these organizations, it had very little sports infrastructure and few stadiums suitable for international matches.

“When we were admitted to the international organizations, we practically had only one functional stadium. Most of the pitches were old and had not received investment for decades,” he said.

According to him, this is why the federation has invested heavily in building and improving sports infrastructure.

“We took over the federation with no property at all, whereas today the value of its assets exceeds 68 million euros. This has been achieved through investments in pitches, stadiums and development projects,” Ademi stressed.

He also praised the great talent found in Kosovo and mentioned some of the footballers who now play in Europe’s strongest leagues.

“Kosovo is a small country, but it has a great deal of talent. We have footballers who today play at the highest levels of European football,” he said.

Mentioning some of the national team’s best-known names, he stressed the importance of their contribution to the team.

“Amir Rrahmani is our captain and one of the best defenders in Italy, a two-time champion with Napoli. Vedat Muriqi is putting in very good performances in La Liga and is one of the key figures on our team. Then there’s Edon Zhegrova, who plays for Juventus and came straight from this mud, as we might put it—in other words, from this land—and many, many others who, for various reasons and purposes, left here with their families, whether because of repression, war, persecution or poverty. Today they are returning to Kosovo in peace, in a republic. And I say that the KLA uniform that liberated Kosovo has today become the Kosovo national team’s uniform, and this uniform carries just as much weight.
We are fulfilling their pledge to raise Kosovo to the highest possible pedestal, precisely with these boys and girls from these families,” Ademi said.

According to him, players from the diaspora, who grew up and developed in European countries, also play an important role on the national team.

“Many of our footballers were born and raised in Europe, but they have always felt that Kosovo is their homeland and are proud to wear the national team shirt. I call these golden boys Dardanian gladiators,” he said.

Ademi also spoke about the emotions football brings and the feelings he experiences after every national team match.

“They are truly indescribable emotions. After every match we win, I feel like a king. After every match we lose, I feel like the main culprit. Because they are not to blame, since they give 100%. It seems to me that I carry that burden and that I am the one who deserves the blame,” said the head of the FFK.

Ademi said that although he also has his own private businesses, he devotes most of his time to football, which has now become an addiction for him too.

“I also have my own company and businesses, but I devote only about 20 percent of my time to them. Around 80 percent of my time and energy goes to the Football Federation,” Ademi said.

According to him, his great dedication stems from the fact that football has been his passion since his youth.

“I have been involved in football for around 50 years, as a player, as a club executive and later at the federation. This is not my only profession; I don’t make my living from football. But it has become my passion. It’s an addiction. Why is it an addiction? Because I have taken it on as a mission. And when I take on a mission, I give it 100% and want to see it through to the end. I’m the kind of person who never gives up in the face of any challenge. I keep going to the end and look for the door, the way out, all the way to the end, until I find it,” Ademi said. 

One of the federation’s greatest objectives remains qualifying Kosovo for the World Cup, and he hopes this dream can be realized this month, when Kosovo plays Slovakia in the “play-off” semi-final and, if it wins, then faces either Turkey or Romania in the final at “Fadil Vokrri.”

“We have only two matches left, and I pray to God that we get through them in the best possible way. God willing, we will be fortunate, and to be at the World Cup would truly be something no federation has achieved so far in such a short time—to become part of the World Cup. This would be a historic achievement for such a young country in international football,” Ademi said.

He added that raising Kosovo’s flag at such a tournament would be a moment of pride for the entire country.

“Immediately after Bajram, we will be together, gathering for the March 26 match in Slovakia, where I pray to God and hope we will return with a victory and bring joy to all our people. I cannot think of any way this could be repaid, and I cannot think of any reward to give those footballers if we take Kosovo to America, where we are also in a group with the United States. To hear the anthem of the United States of America and Kosovo’s anthem there would, for me, also be a kind of reward or recognition for the United States of America, as well as for the other allies who have helped us as a state,” Ademi said.