MercedesBenz240 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:28 pm
Then we would probably have a completely Tirana centralized league, which would not be good
I would take that over a league with Kukesi, Bylis, Laci and Kastrioti in it. Kukesi already trains in Tirana and only plays its matches in Kukes. The only reason they're in Supeliga is because Safet Gjici used it as a vehicle for his political ambitions. Also a centralized league would not necessarily be bad for Albanian football. It reminds me of the Kosovo Judo approach where all of its best judokas come from this one neighborhood:
https://www.france24.com/en/20190824-ko ... stronghold
artan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:00 am
I don't even think Tirana has more than three professional teams anyways. Kamza disbanded and a quick search shows that Shkendija & Spartak Tirana both disbanded too. There should be more than three Tirana teams in the first three divisions and it would help the quality of play in the first division sine realistically there's only like 3-5 competitive teams in the first division. I agree with Plako and that different areas in Tirana should get clubs which will create grassroot teams and better youth development. Just seems like a waste from a talent standpoint.
Shkendija and Spartaku are the cases I would cite of teams that played in the City and have 0 connection to the City. I have known of Shkendija all of my life and I don't think I've ever seen them play. At the time I was growing up they were associated with the Institute of Physical Education "Vojo Kushi". It comes from the top down approach in Abanian football. Most teams post-WWI were formed with orders from the Party and to this day it's Duka who sanctions new teams it seems.
Back in the day there was a state run neighborhood championship between the 10 Tirana neighborhoods and a high school championship in Tirana. I remember as a kid going to a championship final between Petro Nini and Skenderbeg Academy (military high school) played at Selman Stermasi and there might have been close to 2,000 people there. This approach died after 1990 and it never recovered to my knowledge. Now the focus is on private youth academies which are pay for play and have failed miserably.
Tirana must have at least 25-30 middle school and at least 8-10 high schools. There is no reason whatsoever why there shouldn't be a championship between these schools which would generate massive local interest and helps clubs identify talent. It's a system used commonly in the US where a club system like in Europe doesn't exist.