Today, the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) presented the new project for the national girls' teams at the "House of Football," closely linked with the launch of the Girls' Football Strategy "Rising Stars 2023-2026," introduced by FSHF in November 2023.
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Present at the unveiling of the new project for the national girls' teams were FSHF Executive Committee member Anila Basha, FSHF Technical Director Fulvio Pea, the coach of the national A girls' team, Armir Grima, as well as presidents and representatives of clubs from the "Abissnet Superiore" girls' league.
Initially, FSHF Technical Director Fulvio Pea presented the changes in the Women's Football Sector at FSHF. The coach of the national A team, Armir Grima, will also serve as the Technical Coordinator of the new project for the national girls' teams. Lucije Gjini will take charge of the U-19 national girls' team, while Cyme Lulaj will lead the U-17 national team. Daniela Kodra will be the coach of the U-15 national team.
This new project involves a unique working method, not only for the players but also for various staff members, who will engage in frequent training sessions and informative practices, with technical, tactical, athletic, and general cultural objectives. The main objective is to enhance quality and discover talents, aiming to achieve this through increased training hours, specific sessions focusing on individual techniques and tactics, and continuous monitoring of activities.
The FSHF Technical Directorate has also established a separate department to support and develop this project, where members of the technical staff of the A national team for boys will contribute. Luca Laurenti and Iris Selimi will be responsible for athletic preparation, Alarico Rossi for video analysis, Gianluca Stesina for sports medicine, and Erion Meta for goalkeepers.
FSHF's main focus will be on projects implemented in our country between FSHF, FIFA, and UEFA, such as the "Football in Schools Program," "Playmakers," and the TDS program, aiming to promote girls' football as much as possible. FSHF will also closely collaborate with all girls' football clubs to achieve the set goal, where, thanks to the new technical project for regional representative girls' teams, new talents will be discovered. FSHF will organize the regional representative girls' teams tournament at the "House of Football" in June and November.
During the meeting, discussions also revolved around the challenges in girls' football, with presidents and representatives of "Abissnet Superiore" girls' clubs offering their insights on improving and developing girls' football.
FSHF Executive Committee member Anila Basha spoke to fshf.org after the meeting, emphasizing that the main objective is to raise the level and standards of girls' football in our country.
"Since the approval of last year's 'Rising Stars 2023-2026' strategy, FSHF has been making every effort to strengthen girls' football in Albania. Today's meeting is the beginning of ongoing work; it's a strategy that is being discussed with all key stakeholders in girls' football. It was very meaningful today to hear not only what was presented by the FSHF Technical Directorate and how we are organizing ourselves to take girls' football to another level and another standard in Albania, but also to receive the suggestions brought by all the clubs present at this meeting. I strongly believe that with the efforts of everyone, not only from FSHF but also from the clubs that are already working and consolidating the structure of girls' football in Albania, we will achieve a very good result soon," said Anila Basha.
Vllaznia President Lazer Matija stated that girls' football is on the right path to reach the levels required by FSHF, FIFA, and UEFA.
"I think this meeting with the presidents and key leaders of girls' football is timely. It's the end of the season, and I think some of the problems in girls' football have been highlighted, along with strategies for future development. I believe that next season, some of these issues will be resolved, and girls' football is on the right path to reach the levels required by FSHF, FIFA, and UEFA," said Lazer Matija.
Apolonia President Koço Kokëdhima expressed his confidence in FSHF's work for the development of girls' football.
"I believe in these ideas, visions, and projects. I will be a dedicated partner of the Federation for as long as it takes me at the helm of Apolonia to support the development of girls' football in Albania," said Koço Kokëdhima.
Representative of the Gramshi club, Blerina Bajko, thanked FSHF for organizing this meeting where the challenges faced by clubs in daily operations were discussed.
"Since the project was presented at the beginning of the season for girls, FSHF's priority has been to strengthen the role of girls in football. All the key points of today's meeting are the issues that clubs face in girls' football. We want to thank FSHF, and these kinds of consultations should be held more frequently," said Blerina Bajko.
National A girls' team coach Armir Grima expressed that valuable insights were given during the meeting for the development of girls' football.
"I believe it was a worthwhile meeting. It was crucial because every project that the Federation has must be harmonized with the clubs. The presidents and representatives present at the meeting were the main factors for discussing the problems in girls' football. Valuable insights were given, which need to be evaluated, and better measures should be taken to further develop girls' football," said Armir Grima.