The “House of Football” welcomed today the President of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Shevchenko, on an official visit. Invited by the President of the AFA, Armand Duka, the global football legend arrived in Tirana at around 11:00 and then toured the facilities of the “House of Football.”
Accompanied by AFA Secretary General Ilir Shulku, Administrative Director Aldi Topçiu, and Executive Committee Member Envi Hicka, the head of the Ukrainian Association had the opportunity to learn more about the history and achievements of Albanian football over the years.
During his visit, Andriy Shevchenko inspected the national team’s training center, the “House of Football” facilities, the museum, and the AFA administrative offices.
Both parties exchanged views on the further development of football, shared experiences, and discussed various projects and infrastructure investments.
In a statement for fshf.org, Andriy Shevchenko expressed his pleasure in visiting Tirana and thanked President Duka and the AFA for the invitation and warm hospitality. He praised the development of football in Albania and its impact on the country’s growth.
“Thank you, I am very pleased to be here. I want to thank President Armand Duka, a friend, for this wonderful opportunity and for the warm hospitality. I am very impressed with the work that has been done. I have been visiting Albania for a long time, and I can see how much the country is growing. The entire country is developing, but I believe that the greatest progress also comes from football, which is growing significantly,” -said Shevchenko, which also appreciated the sports infrastructure of the AFA.
“This beautiful sports center, with offices, training fields, and facilities designed to host top-level teams, providing them with all the opportunities to better prepare for training. I have visited many sports centers, and I am impressed because the organization and the idea behind building such an important project, a project that is tailored for everyone involved in the Federation, is remarkable. We see both women’s and men’s football, the appropriate structures for hosting events, structures suitable for football events, for children, for adults, and above all for national teams. The center also has a very beautiful museum, which was very interesting. I learned many things today that I didn’t know,” -said Shevchenko.
At the end of his statement, he wished success to Albanian football, the AFA, and the National Team in the World Cup qualifiers.
“I wish your football, all of you, to continue on this upward path and qualify for something important. I know you have a tough group, but football is played equally when the match starts, so it is important to have confidence,”-concluded Shevchenko.
Afterward, Shevchenko was received by President Duka, and together they watched the UEFA Nations League match for women between Albania and Ukraine at the “Niko Dovana” stadium.
