The stadium “Elbasan Arena” was inaugurated today evening in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Minister of Education and Sports Lindita Nikolla, President of the Albanian Football Federation Armando Duka and other sports personalities in the country.
The Prime Minister along with other officials greeted the players of the national team and coach Gianni De Biasi and talked about the just-completed stadium, as well as about the Government’s commitment to further invest in football and sport in general. “I am very happy that we managed to complete this investment and give the stadium a proper shape, according to FIFA and UEFA standards. Actually, within such little time we risked to play games abroad. You know it better and therefore, I would very humbly ask you a round applause for Trebicka, former player of the National Basketball team who was in charge of the investment here, with his company to build “Elbasan Arena”. We will do our best to support football as much as we can and with a better quality. Of course, after this investment, the contrast with other stadiums will become even bigger, even more problematic. There are no opportunities to do the same thing with all the stadiums, but certainly there are opportunities to improve infrastructure step by step. I don’t deny that my final objective is to build a national stadium with at least 20 thousand seats, to meet all needs and to have a stadium with all standards. We are discussing with the Federation and are looking at every opportunity. I cannot make any promises, but I assure you that we want this to become a reality as much as you football players and football people. It is not easy because it is a significant investment from a financial standpoint, but it’s not impossible and I am very confident. In addition, we will do our best so that our national team will have the moral support but also the necessary financial support” – the Prime Minister said.
Wishing the team luck for the match with Denmark on 11 October, the Prime Minister recalled the match with Portugal. “Even if you play here the same as you played with Portugal, whatever the outcome, all of you will be honoured. It is better to keep feet on ground, give our soul on the field and then score will come from the field. Once again, all the best and good luck with the game”- the Prime Minister said.
In addition, Prime Minister Rama took the opportunity to thank the national team coach De Biasi. “It a great pleasure to be here today, and a special honour to be next to a person that I admire a lot. Not simply because he is our national team coach, but I also appreciate him very much for what he has said of Albania, following the victory over Portugal and has made us all together a great honour since he has conveyed the image of a country that is different from the one described often by the media in Italy “- the Prime Minister said.
The Albanian national team captain, Lorik Cana thanked the Prime Minister for his words of appreciation and ensured that the team tries to make the nation be proud of them every time they are on the field. “We try to honour our country every time we play. Let’s hope for a victory and a bright future for the Albanian sport “- Cana said.
The Prime Minister donated to the museum of the stadium a painting made on a letter of the Albanian Football Federation. “The spirit of the football battle – the Prime Minister said – to the museum, on the letter of the Albanian Football Federation”.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the stadium, the national team played a match against the U-19 of Elbasan. The “Elbasan Arena” stadium has a capacity of 12 thousand seats and its reconstruction, an investment worth 5.5 million Euros, is a joint investment of government and the Albanian Football Federation.
