Kosovo men's national handball team

Kosovo
Information
Nickname
  • Dardanët (Dardanians)
  • Luanët e Artë (Golden Lions)
AssociationHandball Federation of Kosovo
CoachJesper Östlund
CaptainValon Dedaj
Most capsKastriot Jupa (56)
Most goalsKastriot Jupa (189)
Colours
1st
2nd
Results
IHF Emerging Nations Championship
Appearances2 (First in 2015)
Best result3rd (2015, 2017)
Last updated on 18 June 2017.

The Kosovo national men's handball team is the national handball team of Kosovo, representing the country in international competition. The team is governed by Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competitions in 2014, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953, Handball Federation of Kosovo was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation. In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship. Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Handball Federation of Kosovo began operating independently.

In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.

After a short time Kosovo would hold its first Handball Tournament the 2015 IHF Emerging Nations Championship was held in Prishtina. They impressively would win the bronze medal in their debut participation. Defeating Uruguay for third place with a result of 28–16, the first medal in their young Handball history. Kosovo would follow the same achievement in the following Tournament winning bronze again in Bulgaria 2017 beating Cyprus with 32–25 in the end. Securing them also a spot to the Second phase of qualification for the European Men's Handball Championship 2020.[1]

Kosovo were drawn in Group 1 against Germany, Poland and Israel. The Dardanians were able to get some fair results after beating Israel at home 27-24 their first win in such a stage.[2] They also secure an unlucky last second draw against Poland.[3] Despite not qualifying to the main event Kosovo were able to actually compete with the 32 best European national teams in Handball.[4] In the following Qualification for the 2022 European Men's Handball Championship. Kosovo once more qualified for the Playoffs. In Group 8 they faced Sweden, Montenegro and Romania. After a draw at home Against Romania with 23-23[5] they were able to secure their first-ever away win in this face after beating surprisingly Romania in the following match with 25–30 in full time. [6] Kosovo could not gain another win as they lost to Montenegro once more at home this time with 22–27.[7] Missing out close once more on their first ever European Men's Handball Championship participation, after finishing third in the end. One of the greatest achievements in the Kosovan Handball history.[8]

IHF Emerging Nations Championship

Year Position Pld W D L
Kosovo 2015 6 4 0 2
Bulgaria 2017 6 4 0 2
Total 12 8 0 4

Team

Current squad

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
2 RW Agon Bajqinovci (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 1.86 m 5 2 KH Prishtina
5 PV Kastriot Jupa (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 1.88 m 56 189 LHC Cottbus
11 CB Valon Dedaj (1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 1.75 m 42 164 HSC Kreuzlingen
12 GK Flamur Gërbeshi (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 1.88 m 18 0 IFK Karlskrona
14 RB Drenit Tahirukaj (1998-04-28) 28 April 1998 1.92 m 28 82 HSC Kreuzlingen
18 LW Florian Rexha (2001-11-29) 29 November 2001 1.88 m 2 0 KH Vëllaznimi
21 RB Arbios Mushkolaj (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 1.90 m 7 3 KH Deçani
24 PV Luigj Quni (1996-02-26) 26 February 1996 1.91 m 36 49 GC Amicitia Zürich
25 LB Festim Mustafa (1998-05-22) 22 May 1998 2.02 m 10 2 KH Kastrioti
26 RW Drilon Tahirukaj (1995-08-28) 28 August 1995 1.80 m 41 88 HSC Kreuzlingen
27 LW Lulëzim Shabani (1998-11-09) 9 November 1998 1.89 m 18 18 KH Kastrioti
28 GK Haris Berisha (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 1.99 m 33 1 HSC Kreuzlingen
31 LB Bujar Ramosaj (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 1.99 m 23 11 HSC Kreuzlingen
33 LB Jon Muqolli (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 1.90 m 18 9 KH Besa Famgas
33 CB Leonard Gegaj (2001-10-02) 2 October 2001 1.80 m 13 9 Vinslövs HK
35 PV Rron Ramadani (1996-10-04) 4 October 1996 1.92 m 10 0 KH Prishtina
35 LB Atdhe Basholli (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 1.95 m 2 0 AM Hallo Essen
68 CB Egzon Gjuka (1995-05-17) 17 May 1995 1.92 m 35 105 KH Besa Famgas
77 LW Matej Taçi (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 1.80 m 4 4 GRK Varaždin
91 GK Liridon Zena (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 1.90 m 15 0 RK Rudan Adria Oil
94 CB Shaban Zogaj (2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 1.90 m 6 9 Aalborg Håndbold

Individual all-time records

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^
    Taip Ramadani during 2020 due to COVID-related travel restrictions could not join the team and so Cabanas was named as his replacement for the 2020 matches.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Kosova fiton medaljen e bronztë në hendboll".
  2. ^ "KOSOVA pranë realizimit të ëndrrës europiane, në shtëpi janë ZOTËR". 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Kosovë lëshoi fitoren në sekondat e fundit kundër Polonisë". 12 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Ramadani: Vendin e përfaqësojmë me dinjitet dhe krenari".
  5. ^ "Kosovo 23:23 Romania - Qualification Phase 2 | European Championship". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. ^ Express, Gazeta (14 March 2021). "Kosova me fitore të madhe ndaj Rumanisë në hendboll - Gazeta Express". Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Kosova pëson disfatë nga Mali i Zi në ndeshjen kualifikuese për Kampionatin Evropian në hendboll". Gazeta Online Insajderi. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Standings". ehfeuro.eurohandball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Qerimi shpall listën për ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Slloveninë".
  10. ^ a b Official website (in Albanian)
  11. ^ "Javier Cabanas drejton Kosovën në ndeshjet me Malin e Zi dhe Suedinë" [Javier Cabanas leads Kosovo in matches with Montenegro and Sweden] (in Albanian). Handball Federation of Kosovo. 21 October 2020.
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