AFA signs cooperation agreement with the Sports University of Tirana - FSHF

AFA signs cooperation agreement with the Sports University of Tirana

The Albanian Football Association signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Sports of Tirana. This agreement that bonded two of the most important sport institutions in the country, aims the cooperation between the parties in sports activities and qualifying and training events organized by AFA and UST, contributing with their full capacity in infrastructure, logistics and human resources.

The Albanian Football Association will cooperate with the academic staff for different trainings and qualifications and not only. It will also organize professional practices for the students, based on the proposals of the University. In cooperation with UST, there will be mutual investments is sports environments, displaying the data of the Association and chances for trainings and employment at the football organization.

Present at the ceremony held at the premises of the national stadium ‘’Air Albania’’ were President of AFA, Armand Duka, the Rector of UST, Agron Kasa and representatives of both institutions.
Taking the floor at the beginning of the activity, President Duka declared that this agreement is thanks to the work and initiative of Rector Kasa, talking about the new project that supports of finances the scientific researches of the academic staffs.

‘’This signing ceremony of the agreement is thanks to the work and initiative of the rector himself, which I have to thank for his vision and openness, that will serve to sport and the students. Lately we have initiated a new project, which supports or finances the scientific research of the academic staffs. For this we have launched the project, in search of applications and through this ceremony I invite all the academic staffs, not only from the University of Sports, but all universities, to apply in this project of the Albanian Football Association in cooperation with UEFA, that consist in financing these studies or scientific researches up to 20.000 €. I believe that all this will serve to the development of the society in general and sports in particular’’- declared the head of the football government, underlining the importance of the cooperation between the two institutions and the positive developments in sports.
‘’For us, today is an important day. The signing of this agreement is a product of the work of experts, of discussions, in cooperation and using all the equipments and laboratories of the University of Sports in service to the football teams, football coaches and inducing new matters or curricula at the University of Sports. It will start with a master degree in video analysis and soon will be accompanied with other programs in UST. This agreement foresees a cooperation in improving the infrastructure at the University of Sports, through the funds of the Albanian Football Association and our donors, FIFA and UEFA. It once again would like to thank Rector Kasa, the academic staff for the contribution and cooperation for the great environment crated lately with AFA and sports in general. Wishing success in your work and hoping that this pandemic ends soon, so this ceremony could be held with more people and media, so we can return to normality with the activities and sports’’- declared President of AFA in his speech.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the University of Sports of Tirana stressed in his speech that this is the most important agreement he has signed since the day he was appointed in this position. “Representing the University of Sports, for all participants, but especially for you, I want to tell you that this is the most important agreement we have managed to sign since the day I was appointed Rector. I feel fulfilled because it has been a long-standing commitment, it has been a goal of a long time ago, so that the relationship between the University of Sports and the Albanian Football Association had to go through a process that is not only formalized, but now, is a cooperation, as you cited above the key elements that this agreement will have.
When we held the first meeting at the University, we agreed that at the University of Sports will be have a professional master for athletic coach (physical training coach) and we worked intensively for this. It has become part of this Master and when the time comes to start applying it will be the Football Federation that will be part of giving these lectures, internships, seminars, the way you have thought of it. From this point of view we judge that we have achieved the first success of the agreement and the relationship. This master is not just a master for coaches, but this is also the master who will unite in a joint product all the coaches and specialists of AFA with the academic staff of UST. Those who will come to represent the Football Association will be the Italian coaches you have included in this course, they may be the coaches and specialists you have, it is your right that we are making a cooperation, which in my view, in UST , since 60 years since it was created, it has never happened. This is innovation not only as a concept but also as collaboration. I thank you for all the words you said, for all the commitments you have made, the support you have given us so far because only your presence alongside the process of development and improvement of the University of Sports is a great success for our University. I thank you and wish success to the Association and all the staff that will work for the realization of this process. Thank you! ”, – said the Rector of UST, Agron Kasa in his speech.