A soccer team “revitalizes” the small town of Maliq
Maliq is a small town near Korça, in southeast Albania. It is a plain landscape. During the winter the smell of burning wood fills the air as families trie to combat the cold. The area was once known for the famous industrial sugar plant, it was forgotten many years ago, following the fall of communism.
Today, the town has new life. That life comes not from the sweetness of the sugar, but instead from the enthusiasm of sports. It is a hospitable time where residents call visitors “friends”. Although it is small, you can find a Cultural Centre and a football stadium, like in every larger city in Albania. The latter, has become the pride of the town over the last two years after having been forgotten for a number of years.
But, when you go to Maliq now, it’s hard to believe that the grass once grew as tall as the stadium seats. For the last six years, the Albanian language and literature teacher Egli, has become very dear to the children and everyone knows his passion for football. No one was surprised when they found out that the literature teacher is also a licensed football coach by the Albanian Football Federation. The boys in the school became his little friends and his students respect and appreciate him.
When Egli arrived, the town offered no opportunity for the youth to take part in any sport or recreational activities. “It was [the youth] who continually insisted that we created a soccer team,” explains Egli.
The team that was eventually formed became a big family and a source of pride for locals. The idea for a soccer team was an idea put forth by the youth, supported by their teacher and backed by World Vision. Today, the Maliq soccer team is a reality. World Vision supplied them with soccer balls, goal nets, cones, medical supplies, etc. The school where most of the boys on the team study is a school where World Vision has been working for a number of years and where most of the schoolchildren are registered in the sponsorship project.
There is a sparkle in their eyes as the boys talk about their team. “I can’t wait for class to be over so I can train with my friends,” says Igli, 14 years old. The team trains six times a week and, according to their coach, they never miss a session.
Together, they have achieved some big successes. The programme started with 15 athletes. Today, there are 60 players divided into three age-specific groups: 13 and 14; 15 and 16 and those 17 years old. Last year the 17-year-old team won first place in the regional competition, where dozens of teams were present. They players see their trophy as a celebration for their teamwork. “All of this transcends the boundaries of a football team,” says Egli. “This experience is teaching them what it means to work together for a common goal, how important it is to have a leader and how big of a responsibility it is to represent hundreds of people with your work,” says Egli.
Kosta, 14, is among the boys who brought life and enthusiasm to this small town. “He used to come home and stay alone, almost silent,” remembers Rovena, Kosta’s mother. “Now, he comes home very happy, telling us about his day and he won’t stop [talking],” she says, smiling.
Rovena is the team’s most committed fan. Her happiness is visible as she recalls how her son’s life changed since he joined the soccer team two years ago. “He stayed by himself in school, and played with younger children in the neighbourhood,” she remembers, explaining that her son had problems relating to his peers and expressing himself. Now, he has his friends in his class and on the team,” says Kostas mother.
His best friend in class is Kevi. He helps Kosta when he falls behind in the lesson or has trouble understanding his homework. He is the friend Kosta trusts the most. Among his teammates, Kristian is his best friend. “We are all friends, we play together, but Kristian is my best friend,” says Kosta, pointing at him. Kosta has trouble expressing himself, but not when you ask him what his dream is, he is quick to respond. “I want to become a football player,” he says, noting that his idol is Cristiano Ronaldo.
(Kosta and Egli, during the workout)
Kosta is only one of the many children who benefit from World Vision’s support for Korça. “With the contribution of our sponsors in Hong Kong, we have had an opportunity to continually support the team with the necessary supplies. Recently, we bought Kosta a sport costume with Ronaldo’s name and a pair of cleats,” says Stefan, Word Vision employee in Korça.