Albanian Football Forum

Zemi wrote:How many of you almost committed suicide when mavraj prayed on the field?


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Two of my friends did And i still keep trolling them with his picture

Exactly Plako. To the average Joe (or Ilir) in Albania this is completely weird. It's not so much that people are atheists, but that the promotion of religion has always been personal rather than public. And it's very hard in this case to connect with the message our muslim albanians are trying to send as it's not even in albanian and therefore seems foreign. I consider myself highly tolerant towards faith but I'm afraid I very much struggle to connect in a patriotic manner with Mavraj and co. That's not to say I don't like him or appreciate what he does for our NT. It's just that he makes me uneasy and apart from them 90 min on the field, I wouldn't wanna hear from him. He is a quality person obviosly and loving and spiritual, but if i needed religious guidance I don't expect it from my National football team. Footballers are role models for sport and unfortunately young albanian kids on social media, are not really looking at their idols as reference for sport ethics and discipline that it brings, but rather they find quotes from imams and pictures in mosques. Only my opinion thou and it comes from concern and I will explain this honestly with a personal observation within my family which has hurt me.
I have several young nephews and nieces back in Durres who just don't see them as albanians cos of this.

One thing I've noticed is that Mergim Mavraj now uses more of Zot then Allah when he speaks of God on his Facebook page. I'm sure someone has told him to ease it down when mentioning Allah, especially now that he is becoming an important part of the national identity.

Thought it was an interesting marketing move, not sure if anyone else has noticed.

There is this brilliant saying by Johan Cruyff who said, "I don't believe in God, in Spain all 22 players cross themselves, if it works the game is always going to be a tie.”

Zemi wrote:How many of you almost committed suicide when mavraj prayed on the field?

Nah I consider that the same as a player making the cross so that really doesn't bother me.

At minute 59;05 starts one of the most famous scenes in "Liri a Vdekje" and in Albanian cinematography. An Albanian nationalist linked to Cerciz Topulli is surrounded by the Ottomans and is about to get killed. He keeps killing the Ottomans soldiers climbing the walls of his house and they yell "Allah" while succumbing to their death. THat's a powerful image and we all grew up with that. The communist propaganda was virulently anti-religious and we're all product of that environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6yKA5VI3sE

it's pretty cool that bulku wasn't offended by his teammates worshiping false gods.

AlbanFC wrote:One thing I've noticed is that Mergim Mavraj now uses more of Zot then Allah when he speaks of God on his Facebook page. I'm sure someone has told him to ease it down when mentioning Allah, especially now that he is becoming an important part of the national identity.

Thought it was an interesting marketing move, not sure if anyone else has noticed.

Now that's something I have to tip my hat to Mavraj, He impresses me more and more.

DigBick wrote:

Dragoi wrote:People could not unnotice the fact that his dad was burried with arab flag

Condolences to him but this is just

I never saw a problem with this. Life & death is more on the religious side.

Was it actually an Arab flag? like the Saudi Arabian flag?

Or a "flag" with religious text?

One thing is for sure for the NT. the Christians Albanians have to step their game up. The Muslims are doing all the work.

Shpati wrote:I never saw a problem with this. Life & death is more on the religious side.

Nobody is saying there shouldn't be a religious side, it's just that it should be in Albanian and not Arabic, but to each his own.