Bekim Bala

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Bekim Balaj
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991
Place of birthShkodër, Albania
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current clubJagiellonia Białystok
Number9
Youth career
2002–2009KS Vllaznia
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009–2010KS Vllaznia38(17)
2010–2011Gençlerbirliği1(0)
2011–2012KF Tirana37(15)
2012–Sparta Prague12(3)
2013–→ Jagiellonia Białystok (loan)20(6)
National team‡
2008–2010Albania U-196(3)
2010–2012Albania U-2113(4)
2012–Albania4(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 December 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2013

Bekim Bala (born 11 January 1991 in Shkodër) is an Albanian football player who currently plays for Jagiellonia Białystok in the Ekstraklasa, mainly as a centre forward.

Career

Vllaznia

Bala joined the Vllaznia Shkodër youth setup at the age of 11, which was his local club. He was first tried as a goalkeeper because he was very tall and his father had told the manager of the team Astrit Premçi that he was an able goalkeeper. However, after a few training sessions with the player Premçi realised that the player was very good with his feet and so played him as a centre forward.[1]

Gençlerbirliği

A top Turkish club had been tracking the young forward for most of the 2009–2010 season whilst he was at Vllaznia; the club was not identified in January 2010 as they did not make a bid,[2] however following the huge interest shown by Gençlerbirliği S.K. in May and June, it became clear who the unnamed Turkish club was. Bala signed a four-year contract with Gençlerbirliği on 17 June 2010. The transfer fee was reported to be around €200,000 to €300,000, which was all given to his previous club Vllaznia in Albania.[3] Bala's manager Dritan Gjyrezi had only been a licenced FIFA agent for a year before managing this deal; this was his first deal in his career as an agent and he hoped to be able to send more Albanian players to Turkey as the two countries have very strong roots and the Albanian players who play in Turkey are treated very well.[4] Bala signed the contract earning him €150,000 for the first year, making the deal to be worth around €600,000 for the full four years.[5]

KF Tirana

In January Bala received offers from both KF Tirana and his former club Vllaznia for a return to Albania.[6] But after meeting with Refik Halili he signed a two-year contract for KF Tirana on 20 January 2011, earning €70,000 a season, which was a higher offer than Vllaznia's €50,000.[7][8][9]

He made his debut for his new club on 3 February in a home match against Skënderbeu Korçë which ended in 0–0 draw, with Bala coming on at the start of the second half for Gilman Lika.[10] His first Tirana goal came in the Albanian Cup semi final second leg against Besa Kavajë on 6 April, scoring the equalising goal to secure his side's place in the final.[11] He then went on to score his first league goal just nine days later in a 6–1 thrashing of KF Elbasani.[12] Despite good performances since his January move, new coach Mišo Krstičević did not pick him to start in the final of the Albanian Cup. Bala came on for Gilman Lika in the 54th minute and helped his side win the trophy despite ending the game with ten men and Bala himself missing a penalty in the shootout which ended 4–3 after heroics from the keeper Ilion Lika.[13][14][15]

2011–12 season

He scored the winning goal in the 2011 Albanian Supercup against the league winners Skënderbeu, in a match delayed and distrupted by crowd trouble.[16][17] His first league goal of the season came on 17 September in the second week of the campaign, away at Kastrioti Krujë. Starting the game as a lone striker, he equalised for KF Tirana in the 48th minute and helped his side win the game 3–2, earning their first three points of the campaign.[18][19] Following KF Tiran's first win in the league, it had become evident that Bala and Gilman Lika had formed an effective partnership from midfield to attack, both of who are from Shkodër.[20] His next goal came just four days later in the first round of the Albanian Cup against SK Himarë of the Albanian First Division. He scored in the 36th minute, a penalty in the 52nd minute and finally rounded off his hattrick in the 67th minute, before Julián Rubio being forced to replace the player following a strong challenge which left him with an ankle injury.[21][22] After scoring four goals in as many days he hoped he could one day force his way into the Albania national team, which he said would be a dream following a good start to the season.[23]

Sparta Prague

Bala joined Sparta Prague on trial in July 2012 in order for the manager Vítězslav Lavička to get a closer look at the player before the deal to join the club was finalised. Lavička started with Bala in a friendly against Graffin Vlašim on 17 July. Bala started the game brightly, getting close to scoring with a header in the 5th minute, and eventually scoring in the 19th minute with a powerful shot on goal from just outside the 18-yard box to put Sparta Prague 3–0 up. He was substituted at half time and the game was won by Sparta Prague 5–0. After the friendly he returned to Albania to sort out his contract with KF Tirana, who did not want him to leave unless they received a fee of €100,000, with Sparta Prague only offering half that sum because Bala's deal with KF Tirana was due to expire in January 2013. On 8 July 2013 he moved on loan for a year to Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok in the Ekstraklasa.[24]

International career

Albania under-19

Bala was part of the Albania U-19 squad for the qualifying stage of the 2009 European Championship, where he made his debut against England at Ballymena Showgrounds in Northern Ireland on 8 October 2008 in a 3–0 loss for Albania, replacing Guido Tepshi at half time.[25] He scored his first goal, and Albania's only goal of the qualifying campaign, against Northern Ireland on 13 October 2008 at The Oval, Belfast in a 2–1 loss, Bala scoring a cancelation goal in the 76th minute.[26]

Albania national football team

After his transfer to Sparta Prague and a successful debut with a number 9 jersey, Bala is looking forward for a call from Albania's coach Gianni de Biasi.[27] He made it his debut for Albania national football team on 14 November 2012 against Cameroon by coming on as a substitute on 78th minute in place of Edgar Cani. [28]

Personal

The player has stated in an interview for 'Panorama Sport' that during his short time with Vllaznia he learnt many things from striking partner and Vllaznia legend, Vioresin Sinani. Although they only played together for half a season, Bala believes that Sinani is a great player and that it was an honour playing alongside him.[29]

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Albania League Albanian Cup Europe Total
2007–08Vllaznia ShkodërAlbanian Superliga10––10
2008–097051–121
2009–1030965404014
Turkey League Türkiye Kupası Europe Total
2010–11GençlerbirliğiSüper Lig1010–20
Albania League Albanian Cup Europe Total
2010–11KF TiranaAlbanian Superliga13241–173
2011–122413146204019
2012–13––2020
Czech Republic League Czech Cup Europe Total
2012–13Sparta PragueGambrinus liga1230051174
2013–14Jagiellonia Białystok Ekstraklasa2060020226
Total Albania 752429138011237
Turkey 1010–20
Czech Republic 1230051174
Poland 2060020226
Career total 8428301310112444

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bekim Bala.

References

  1. ↑ Gjergj Kola (20 June 2010). "Bekim Bala: Po përjetoj njëlloj ëndrre në Turqi…" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  2. ↑ Jorgis Memo (17 December 2009). "Qipriotë dhe turq, për "yjet" e Superiores" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
  3. ↑ "Bekim Bala transferohet te Gençlerbirligi" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
  4. ↑ Gjergj Kola (17 June 2010). "Gjyrezi: Bala në Turqi, zgjedhja më e mirë" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Turkish team signs Albanian striker" (in Albanian). World Bulletin. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Bekim Balaj, me një këmbë te Tirana". Gazeta Shqiptare Online. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  7. ↑ Leonard Karaj (20 January 2011). "Bala te Tirana per 70 mije". Info Arkiv. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  8. ↑ Gjergji Mima (21 January 2011). "Tirana firmos me sulmuesin Bekim Balaj". Yll Press. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  9. ↑ Besi Donati (20 January 2011). "Perfundimisht:Bekim Bala te Tirana". Albania Soccer. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  10. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (3 February 2011). "KF Tirana 0–0 Skënderbeu". Football Database. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  11. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (6 April 2011). "Besa 1–1 KF Tirana". Football Database. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  12. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (15 April 2011). "KF Tirana 6–1 KF Elbasani". Football Database. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  13. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (22 May 2011). "KF Tirana 1–1 Dinamo Tirana". Football Database. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  14. ↑ Fatjon Pandovski (22 May 2011). "Tirana shade Dinamo in Albanian Cup final". UEFA.com. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  15. ↑ Altin Vorpsi (23 May 2011). "Ilion Lika i jep titullin e 14-te kampion Tiranes". Info Arkiv. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  16. ↑ "Skënderbeu 0–1 KF Tirana". Soccer Way. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  17. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (18 August 2011). "KF Tirana 0–0 Skënderbeu". Football Database. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  18. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (17 September 2011). "Kastrioti 2–3 KF Tirana". Football Database. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  19. ↑ "Kastrioti 2–3 KF Tirana". Soccer Way. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  20. ↑ Arbi Laçi (20 September 2011). "Bala: Unë dhe Lika, është një Tiranë "shkodrane"". Sport Ekspres. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  21. ↑ Oltian Ruçi (21 September 2011). "KF Himara 0–3 KF Tirana". Football Database. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  22. ↑ Arbi Laçi (22 September 2011). "Bala shou, tre gola pë të hipotekuar turin tjetër". Sport Ekspres. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  23. ↑ "Bala: Pasi të fitoj Tiranën dua kombëtaren". Sport Ekspres. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  24. ↑ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/bekim-balaj/transfers/spieler_99137_903369.html Bekim Balaj - Player changes, player transfers - transfermarkt.co.uk
  25. ↑ England U-19 3–0 Albania U-19
  26. ↑ Albania U-19 1–2 Northern Ireland U-19
  27. ↑ Erjon Saliu Sportekspres: Bala, rrjeta e parë: Nuk e mendoja një nisje kaq të mbarë 13/8/2012
  28. ↑ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/albania-cameroon/index/spielbericht_2280730.html Albania - Cameroon 0-0 Friendly Match REPORT
  29. ↑ "Bala: Dua t’i ngjaj Sinanit" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
Jagiellonia Białystok – current squad
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