The Football Association, in cooperation with the Municipality of Gramsh, has begun works on the reconstruction of the “Myslim Koçi” Stadium, another important investment aimed at improving sports infrastructure and developing football throughout the country. This project seeks to create better conditions for sporting activities, especially for local teams and youth categories.
With the official start of the works, the President of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, closely inspected the reconstruction process during a visit to Gramsh, where he was welcomed by the Mayor, Besion Ajazi. During the inspection, President Duka was introduced in detail to the project, which includes the reconstruction of the changing rooms, the construction of a new stand, the modernization of auxiliary facilities, as well as the installation of an artificial turf pitch at the “Myslim Koçi” Stadium, bringing it in line with contemporary standards for matches and training sessions.
In a statement to fshf.org, President Duka praised the Gramsh stadium project, describing it as a modest but modern facility that meets the standards for hosting second-tier national and international matches.
The head of Albanian football governance thanked the Municipality of Gramsh for its cooperation and continued support in the development of football, emphasizing the importance of football’s growth in every city of Albania.
“It is a pleasure for me to be here today in Gramsh together with the Mayor to inspect the construction works of this stadium, modest but modern, beautiful, and one that meets all the requirements for organizing not only matches of the Albanian national championship, but also international matches up to a certain level—therefore, a second-category stadium.
I would like to thank the Mayor for the cooperation in building the stadium, but not only for that—also for all the cooperation in developing football in these areas, because football is not played only in Tirana, Durrës, or the major urban centers, but must be played in every corner of Albania, in every corner of the globe.
It is a pleasure that you have 250 children playing football in the Gramsh area, that you have a girls’ team which is among the most qualitative in the Albanian national championship, and I hope that we will achieve the same success with the boys as well. I am very confident that the new stadium and the additional training field that will be built behind the stadium will serve not only the girls’ team, but also the boys’ team, helping them progress even further.
I hope that we will have as many children as possible playing football not only in the stadium, but also on the other training field we have in Gramsh, and that they will be educated through our game of football. Once again, I thank you, Mr. Mayor, for all the cooperation and support you provide to football. We recognize the difficulties you face in this city, but your passion has led you to support it.
Thank you very much, and I hope we will meet again to inaugurate the stadium in the new football season in September,” said President Duka.
The Mayor of Gramsh, Besion Ajazi, thanked President Duka and the Albanian Football Federation for the support given to the development of football in Gramsh, describing the new stadium as a very important investment for the city, its teams, and youth categories.
He emphasized that the facility will be modern and fully equipped with all necessary spaces, becoming an added value for the community and younger generations.
“Thank you very much, President. Thank you also for the visit and the inspection at this early stage of the works. I would especially like to thank you for the support you have given to Gramsh and to sport here, particularly and exclusively to football.
This is a very important investment for our city, a very important investment for the team, but also for the youth, until we achieve the realization of another project—perhaps a sports training complex. Youth categories will also have the opportunity to use the stadium and the new facilities of our city’s stadium.
I would like to say that this new stadium is exactly as you described it—a small but very modern stadium—and that is how it will be. It is also a jewel added to the crown of investments in our city. It is a very important investment, one that serves generations and children, giving them the opportunity to use it in the healthiest possible way, away from bad habits. This is a stadium that will have all the components: changing rooms, a very modern stand with 1,500 seats, referees’ rooms, anti-doping rooms, medical rooms, and all the facilities envisioned for a fully equipped stadium.
Of course, we will also seek the continued support of the Albanian Football Association and your personal support to proceed with the next project as well, to complete, so to speak, the chain of investment in football for these children and for our city. Thank you once again for the support, and please know that the Albanian Football Federation and you personally hold a very special place in our city,” said the Mayor of Gramsh, Besion Ajazi.
