2009–10 KF Tirana season

KF Tirana
2009–10 season
Chairman Refik Halili
Manager Nevil Dede
(until August 1, 2010)
Alban Tafaj
(caretaker manager)
Kategoria Superiore 4th
Albanian Cup Round of 16
Albanian Supercup Winners
UEFA Champions League 1st Qualifying Round
Top goalscorer League:
Gjergji Muzaka (10)
All:
Gjergji Muzaka (10)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

The 2009–10 season is Klubi i Futbollit Tirana's 71st competitive season, 71st consecutive season in the Albanian Superliga and 89th year in existence as a football club. Following the title win the previous season, KF Tirana added to their 22 titles to make it their record 23 title wins. As the club were the league winners they were Albania's only team to play in the Champions League which was against Norwegian side Stabæk IF.

Contents

Pre-season friendlies

Oher, Macedonia

Tirana's president Refik Halili chose not to reveal where the club would be holding their re-season training camp ahead of the club's appearance in the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League until he named the manager and the players had signed new contracts at the club. The two possibilities were either Oher in Macedonia or southern Turkey. After winning the Kategoria superiore 2008-09 the players received a three week break ahead of the new season.[1] It was announced that the team would be traveling to Oher, Macedonia instead of Turkey for their pre-season training camp on June 24, 2009, this was announced before Halili had signed a new coach which was not expected.[2] The club along with new coach Ilija Loncarevic traveled to Oher in western Macedonia for their pre-season training on June 28, 2009, which was 4 days after than they had previously expected, the club left Tirana at 16:15 local time. The squad along with the staff planned to stay in Macedonia for 9 days and had planned to play 3 friendlies against Macedonian sides during their stay there.[3] The club planned to stay at the 'Mizo' hotel in Oher for the duration of their trip.[4] The club's first game was planned in Oher against local side FK Karaorman of Struga, however due to heavy rainfall the match was called off, it was due to be staged at a small stadium close to where Tirana was training, however it was expected for the friendly to be staged the next day depending on the weather.[5] Tirana played their first game of the pre-season against Albanian-Macedonian side KF Vllaznimi on July 1, 2009, this match gave a chance for new coach Loncarevic to try out the squad for the very first time and to see the younger and fringe players of the side as well. The 1st preseason game proved to be a success for the champions of Albania and the coach as Tirana won comfortably 6–0 against the Macedonian side. KS Besa Kavaje bound striker scored 2 goals, the captain Devis Mukaj netted once, as did Jetmir Sefa, Ergys Sorra and new signing Arbër Abilaliaj.[6] Three days later the club faced their biggest test of the stay in Oher, FK Teteks. The match was played on July 4, 2009 and the scores ended 1–1 with both teams creating chances but neither able to in the end.[7] Tirana then played local a Struga side who they beat 3–1 with mostly young players and also a Macedonian League selection team on July 6, 2009 who they beat comfortably 6–0, the second time they beat a team with this same scoreline after their first game against KF Vllaznimi. The goals came from doubles from both captain Devis Mukaj and midfielder Gjergji Muzaka and the rest came from Daniel Xhafa and Arbër Abilaliaj.[8] The team and staff left Macedonia for Tirana on July 7, 2009 after they had finished their last dinner in Macedonia. The club had spent a week and a half in Macedonia and had played 4 friendlies against teams from different levels of football, this gave Loncarevic the chance to see his players for the first time since taking on the job at Tirana and to witness some of his younger players. In total Tirana played 4 friendlies in Oher, winning 3 of them and drawing just 1 which was seen as a positive result out of Macedonia ahead of the club's Champions League games and the Albanian Supercup.[9]

Total Games

Match won Match drawn Match lost
Date Tournament Location Opponent team Score Scorers
July 1, 2009 Friendly Oher Vllaznimi 6 – 0 Xhafa , Muka , Sefa , Sorra , Abilaliaj
 ? July 2009 Friendly Oher Struge 3–1  ?
July 4, 2009 Friendly Oher FK Teteks 1 – 1  ?
July 6, 2009 Friendly Oher Selection 6 – 0 Mukaj , Muzaka , Xhafa , Abilaliaj
 ? July 2009 Friendly Tirana KS Kamza 5 –1  ?
July 25, 2009 Friendly Tirana Olimpiku 4 – 1 Lila , Xhafa, Ferra , Abilaliaj
July 28, 2009 Friendly Tirana KF Tirana U-19 5 – 1 Sefa , Mukaj (p), Hajdari (p), Ferra , Abilaliaj
August 6, 2009 Friendly Tirana Partizani 1 – 1 Lila  21'(p)
August 9, 2009 Friendly Tirana Kastrioti Krujë 1 – 3 Lila  40'
August 10, 2009 Majaci Cup Fier Apolonia 1 – 0 Malindi  38'
August 10, 2009 Majaci Cup Fier Apolonia 1 – 1 aet

(5–4p)

 Abilaliaj  18'

Albanian Supercup

As Kategoria superiore 2008-09 champions Tirana kicked off the domestic 2009–10 season with the annual Albanian Supercup on August 16, 2009, where they played the Kupa e shqipërisë 2008–09 winners Flamurtari. The match was played at the Qemal Stafa stadium with only a few thousand fans showing up from the start of the game. Tirana were forced forced to play an unusual line-up due to injury to some of their main players like inspirational leader Devis Mukaj and goal-machine Migen Memelli. Tirana started the game with just Arbër Abilaliaj up front with youngster Blerti Hajdari playing just behind the striker. The fans providing the atmosphere inside the stadium as always were the 'Tirona Fanatic', another notbale fan was former chairman of KF Tirana and the president of Albania, Bamir Topi who had taken up his normal place in the V.I.P section of the stadium. The match itself started very slowly with very few chances to shout about until the second half when Tirana whipped in a corner and after confusion in the box former Flamurtari player Arbër Abilaliaj managed to scramble the ball into the back of the net on the 72nd minute mark. This proved to be the only goal in the game.

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers
August 16, 2009 Flamurtari N 1 – 0 Abilaliaj 72'

Kit

Other information

President Refik Halili
Ground (capacity and dimensions) Selman Stërmasi stadium (12, 500 / 105m x 68m)

Source: Selman Stërmasi stadium

Squad Statistics

No. Pos. Name League Albanian Cup Europe Supercup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Blendi Nallbani 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 1 0 0
3 DF Rezart Dabulla 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 2 0
4 MF Laurent Mohellebi 2 0 0 0 2(2) 0 1 0 5(2) 0 1 1
5 DF Entonio Pashaj 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 0
6 DF Andi Lila 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 2 1
7 MF Blerti Hajdari 1 0 0 0 1(1) 0 1 0 3(1) 0 0 0
8 MF Jetmir Sefa 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 0 0
9 FW Hendrit Ferra 1(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1(1) 0 0 0
10 FW Devis Mukaj 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0
11 FW Ergys Sorra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 GK Pece Korunovski 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 MF Sajmir Patushi 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
14 MF Bledar Devolli 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 2 0
15 FW Migen Memelli 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 DF Abraham Alechenwu 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 0 0
17 MF Gjergji Muzaka 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
18 FW Erand Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 DF Tefik Osmani 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 1 0
20 FW Arbër Abilaliaj 2 1 0 0 2(2) 0 1 1 5 2 2 0
23 MF Sabien Lila 2 0 0 0 2 0 1(1) 0 5(1) 0 0 0
27 MF Gerald Tusha 1(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1(1) 0 0 0
31 GK Klajdi Kuka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Players

Squad information

N
 P
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Since
 App
 Goals
 Ends
 Transfer fee
 Notes
1 GK ALB Nallbani 40 2004 86 1 2010 $1 million
12 GK MKD Korunovski 29 2008 5 0 2010 undisclosed
31 GK ALB Kuka 21 2007 1 0 2011 Youth system
3 DF ALB Dabulla 32 2008 25 0 2010 undisclosed
19 DF ALB Osmani 26 2008 24 0 2010 €40,000
5 DF ALB Pashaj 27 2008 4 0 2010 undisclosed
16 DF NGR Abraham 25 2008 60 0 2010 $160,000
6 DF ALB Lila 26 2008 30 4 2010 undisclosed
4 MF FRA Mohellebi 28 2009 0 0 2011 €100,000
14 MF ALB Devolli 34 2008 31 2 2010 Free
23 MF ALB Lilaj 23 2008 21 1 2011 Youth system
13 MF ALB Patushi 35 2009 (Winter) 15 0 2010 Free
8 MF ALB Sefa 25 2005 75 6 2010 Youth system
27 MF ALB Tusha 22 2008 3 0 2010 Youth system
10 MF ALB Mukaj 35 2002 159 50 2010 undisclosed
17 MF ALB Muzaka 27 2008 30 3 2010 €100,000
7 MF ALB Hajdari 21 2007 10 0 2011 Youth system
20 FW ALB Abilaliaj 25 2009 2 1 2011 Free
9 FW ALB Ferra 23 2008 2 0 2011 Youth system
15 FW ALB Memelli 31 2008 29 22 2009 undisclosed
11 FW ALB Sorra 22 2007 5 1 2011 Youth system
18 FW ALB Rica 22 2009 0 0 2010 Youth system
? DF ALB Bicaj 23 2009 0 0 2011 undisclosed
? DF ALB Ahmataj 32 2009 1 0 2010 Free
? DF ALB Dede 36 2009 0 0 2010 Free
? DF ALB Sina 33 2009 0 0 2010 undisclosed
? DF ALB Sinanaj 26 2009 0 0 2010 undisclosed
? MF ALB Karabeci 24 2009 0 0 2010 Free
? FW ALB Celiku 24 2006 0 0 2010 Youth system
? FW ALB Malindi 24 2009 0 0 2010 undisclosed

Source:

References

  1. ^ Tirana prepare for new pre-season (in Albanian)
  2. ^ Pre-season in Oher confirmed (in Albanian)
  3. ^ Tirana travels to Oher (in Albanian)
  4. ^ Tirana arrive in Ohrid (in Albanian)
  5. ^ Freindly postponed (in Albanian)
  6. ^ Tirana 6–0 Vllaznimi (in Albanian)
  7. ^ Teteks 1–1 Tirana (in Macedonian)
  8. ^ Tirana 6–0 Selection (in Albanian)
  9. ^ Tirana leave Oher (in Albania)