In the Kosovo Football Federation, there seems to be growing discontent over the choices made by some Kosovar Albanian footballers who are opting to play for Albania. This issue has resurfaced periodically and has even drawn a response from the head of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka. Despite Kosovo’s Federation expressing its desire for Albania not to recruit any players from Kosovo, Duka has been clear that Albania will approach and call any Albanian player, whether born in Kosovo, Macedonia, or elsewhere.
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Recently, Bajram Shala, the manager of Kosovo’s National Team, was a guest on the *Arena e Yjeve* podcast, where he was asked about Nazmi Gripshi and why he has not been called up by Kosovo, while other players from Kosovo are playing for Albania. Gripshi has made a notable impact in Kosovar football, being a crucial part of Ballkani’s success, playing twice in the Conference League group stages, and now representing Astana. However, Shala’s response left a distinctly negative impression.
“No, I won’t even let you finish the question, no. We don’t contact Gripshi because he is a player for Albania. Players for Albania should play for Albania, players for Kosovo should play for Kosovo—I believe this strongly. Players from Italy should play for Italy, players from Germany should play for Germany, players from Greece should play for Greece, players from England should play for England,” Shala stated firmly.
Essentially, Nazmi Gripshi cannot play for Kosovo simply because he was born in Durrës, which disqualifies him from donning the Kosovo jersey. This raises the question: “Then, Bajram Shala, why do you call up players born in Lucerne, Berlin, or Brussels but not one born in Durrës or Elbasan?”
If we follow Shala’s logic that a player born in Switzerland should play for Switzerland, and one born in Albania should play for Albania, it would logically mean he should not be calling up any players born in Switzerland or Germany—something that clearly hasn’t happened. It’s hard to believe that a high-ranking official in the Kosovo Football Federation would think that an Albanian player born in Switzerland is “more Albanian” than one born in Albania. Or to put it more accurately, Shala’s reasoning implies a belief in two distinct nationalities: a Kosovar nation and an Albanian nation. Although the concept of a Kosovar nationality is largely seen as imaginary, it does have its proponents—including, evidently, Shala himself.
It’s unsettling to see such a stance from a senior figure in the Kosovo Football Federation. Nevertheless, it seems clear that Nazmi Gripshi isn’t playing for Kosovo primarily because members of its Federation view Albania as a “thief” poised to “steal” Kosovar Albanian players, suggesting that the “shame” in this situation lies with Albania for recruiting these players. Fortunately, this viewpoint doesn’t reflect the majority of Kosovo Albanians. It would be tragic if it did.