The Albanian best football players for 2023 were awarded honors during a gala evening hosted by the Albanian Football Federation on the eve of the year-end holidays, an event attended by the Prime Minister Edi Rama, President of the Republic Bajram Begaj, as well as distinguished sport personalities, football players, coaches, and sport admirers.
During the gala evening, PM Rama and President of the Republic handed over the presidential decree granting the Albanian citizenship to the national squad’s Brazilian manager Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior.
“Tradition has it that I deliver a long speech, whereas President of the Football Federation speaks briefly. This is not the case tonight. I understand the President of the Federation that as a businessman he loves the idea of money and profit, but I am not here to discuss money. Instead, I am here after being granted the privilege to say just two words and these two words I would like to say are about the need to again wholeheartedly congratulate all of those who helped to deliver on Albania’s incredible success and thank them, too. And I would like to start by congratulating Gianni De Biasi, the man showing us first that no dream is impossible. I would like to go on with Edy Reja, who took over our national team, becoming someway the bridge between the two successes, and I would like to conclude with Sylvio and stop here for a second. Today, together and thanks to the President, we would like to declare you an Albanian citizen,” Prime Minister Edi Rama, reading then the presidential decree granting the Albanian citizenship to the Brazilian coach of the national side.
The Premier also handed over to Albania’s captain Elseid Hysaj the diplomatic passports to all players of the national team.
“When our national team was qualified for the European championship eight years ago, we provided diplomatic passports to all players and trainers. However, they failed to qualify again four years later and their passports expired. It is now time to set a longer expiry date for the diplomatic passports and many other players, first time passport-holders would benefit from such a decision as ambassadors of the Albanian state. They are dignified ambassadors of whom we are very proud and I called the team’s captain, because he was reluctant till last minute that he would receive the passport today. This is certainly because he thinks I am like everyone else, that I don’t keep my word. Let him also know that I do what I say I’m going to do. Here is your passport. These are the passports of the whole team, but President will take them so that they are in safe hands, because you may lose while being joyful for receiving your passport,” the Premier Rama said.
