This match forAlbania was the first match in 1993 after they were mathematically eliminated from1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, but it was also a pre-preparation before the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification match againstNorthern Ireland,[1] where were tested players who were expected to play or make their debut in the match against Northern Ireland asArtan Bano,Ilir Shulku,Xhevahir Kapllani and several other players, while for Kosovo, this match was the first match in 1993 after 18 years since the last match thatKosovo had played againstMacedonia in 1975 Brotherhood and Unity Tournament Final, which Kosovo won as group leader.
This match was scheduled to take place on 26 or 27 December 1992, but due to the non-participation of the general director of theAlbanian Football Association, Eduard Dervishi, who was on an official trip, the date of the match was not decided. Meanwhile, on 19 January 1993, a delegation of theFootball Federation of Kosovo composed of the head coachAjet Shosholli, Enver Nuredini and Sejdi Merkoja met with the leaders of the Albanian Football Federation in a meeting that lasted until 20 January, when in same day a cooperation protocol was signed, where it was agreed that on 14 February there will be afriendly match betweenAlbania andKosovo which would take place at theSelman Stërmasi Stadium in theAlbania's capital,Tirana.[2]
Problems with organizing of Kosovo national team's trip
The organized departure of the expedition by Kosovo was unachievable, because the bus would be stopped at the border bySerbian Police and would turn back and the match would fail. It was decided that each member of the expedition, individually, would travel toSkopje from where the collective departure toAlbania would take place. Thus, the bus that was going to transport Kosovo crossed the Macedonian border and arrived in Skopje empty, but even though all this was done in secret, twoSDB agents were at the Kosovo national team's meeting place which was in the Grand Hotel in Skopje, but fortunately pass without incident.[2]
