Per Ravn Omdal, former deputy president of UEFA and the Norwegian Football Federation, visited today the premises of Albanian Football Association in the framework of a campaign undertaken by the Norwegian Government and its football federation for increasing the number of female players in the Balkan Region. This interesting project will be extended even in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Montenegro.
Mr. Omdal was received in this meeting by the General Secretary of AFA, Ilir Shulku, the member of the Executive Committee, Vasil Bici and other officials of the Albanian Football Association. The interlocutors discussed regarding the project for training 120 coaches for women’s football during the period 2019-2021.
After the meeting and the presentation of the joint project with AFA, Mr. Omdal spoke for FSHF.TV.
‘’I have to say that I feel fantastic coming again in Albania. It is fantastic to witness the progress that the country has made. I came for the first time in Albania in 1992 and I returned in 1997, when Albanian played Norway for the qualifiers of World Cup. I remember the situation that Albania was going through and now I am thrilled that how much the things have changed in this country, and I feel the same for the Albanians and the Albanian football. I thing we have a mutual interest. Maybe Norway is a couple of years ahead of Albania regarding Women’s football because we have invested long before for its development. But now we are partners with the Albanian Football Association and we are trying to especially develop women’s football. For the moment, the Norwegian Government is investing of a development program for Albania and 5 other countries of Western Balkan. I thing that this is a great investment because it is proved that when women play football, the benefits are visible in the social, familiar and sports aspect. It is an inclusive movement for developing not only football but even the society. This is the beauty of football’’.
