Viareggio Tournament and the growth of Albanian football/ Duka: Work and vision, the secret of the national team

2025-11-25 18:04:00, Sport CNA

Viareggio Tournament and the growth of Albanian football/ Duka: Work and vision,

The President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, conducted an interview with Fulvio Collovati, where he spoke about the Super Viareggio Cup final between Vllaznia and Genoa, and highlighted the reasons for the success of Albanian football, the National Team, the importance of investing in youth and the role that Tirana has taken on as a center for football development.

He commented on the December 4 final between Vllaznia and Genoa, describing it as a celebration of friendship between Albanian and Italian football, and emphasized the work, organization, and support of the fans as the basis for the results achieved.

Below is the full interview with President Duka:

– President, I would like to know the secret of this success of the Albanian National Team and the happiness achieved, of this united group, which has achieved fantastic results.

– I can't say that there is a secret ingredient, but it is just the programmed work, our project to develop football in Albania, the investments in sports fields and in young people, organization, the work of all the players, especially the technical staff and the Federation, the Albanian government, but also the great support from the fans. I can't say that it is a secret, but it is simply work and hunger for success.

It didn't come by chance, the results are the fruit of the work of our players and technical staff, the entire Albanian football community. Also the support from the government and the Albanian fans, because in Albania everyone is a football fan and loves the National Team. This is the most beautiful thing we have at the moment.

– I followed with interest the “Eagle Cup”, a youth football tournament that took place in Tirana a few months ago, while on December 4 in Viareggio two teams, Genoa and Vllaznia, will meet in a Super Cup final. What do these young people represent?

– Yes, on December 4th we will play the Super Cup of this tournament, which we held in Albania this year, which was won by Vllaznia e Shkodra, where football was actually born in Albania. I am happy that this team has won this tournament and will play against Genoa in the final, on December 4th in Italy.

This is not just a football match, but an exchange of football culture, but also of friendship and brotherhood between Albanian and Italian football. We have very good relations with Italy and we want to develop it at a high level for football as well.

This Super Cup is a celebration for the players, for the young people who participate in such activities in Italy. I am happy that these young people play with passion, courage and that they enjoy participating in this tournament, in this final of a cup that has a lot of history in Italy and that we now want to develop in Albania as well.

– Tirana has become the home of football, where numerous international tournaments are constantly organized. How did you get here?

– Yes, Tirana has become the home of football. We have built a real football house in the center of Tirana, where football is played and where we have organized the tournament this year, together with the organizers from Italy.

This center is a welcoming center, where young players not only play football, but also create friendships, share ideas and grow as a player. In modern football, players need technical competence, but also a human development.

Eagle Cup offers exactly this, a safe, professional and stimulating environment, where young people coming from different countries share experiences, learn and represent local football.

That's why I always say that our strength is not only in the organization, but in the climate of hospitality we offer in Albania to all tournament participants.

We organize this important tournament, the “Eagle Cup”, but also many football tournaments, to help the players and to create this friendship. This will happen in the final on December 4, it will be a celebration for all the children, players and participants of this symbolic football match.