KF Tërbuni Pukë

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KF Tërbuni Pukë
KF Terbuni Pukë logo
Full name Klubi i Futbollit Tërbuni Pukë
Nickname(s) Shqiponjat e Veriut
Founded 1936; 88 years ago (1936)
Ground Ismail Xhemali Stadium
Pukë, Albania
Ground Capacity 3,000
President Grand Frroku
Coach Samuel Nikaj
League Albanian Superliga
2014–15 First Division Group A, 1st (promoted)

Klubi i Futbollit Tërbuni Pukë is an Albanian football club based in the city of Pukë. The club's home ground is the Ismail Xhemali Stadium and they currently compete in the Albanian Superliga.[1]

History

Early history

The club was founded in 1936 but were not active until the 1940s, and it"s still not active. Where they first competed in a national championship in 1949, where they took part in the second tier championship. In their premier campaign they competed in group 3 of 13, which featured Kopliku, Lezha and the Shkodër agricultural enterprise, where the club competed under the name Puka. During the 1949 campaign they did not go past the first round of the competition as Kopliku and Lezha progressed to the second round, with Lezha finishing as joint champions alongside Spartaku Pogradec. The following year, the club competed in the second tier championship once again, this time being eliminated in the first round by Kopliku, who defeated them 5–3 on aggregate following a 4–3 and 1–0 victory. In 1950, the ruling Communist dictatorship forced sports clubs in Albania to change their name to Puna, which literally translates to work, and in 1951 the club competed in group of the second tier under the name Puna Pukë alongside Dinamo Shkodër, Puna Kukës, Puna Lezhë and Spartaku Lezhë, where Puna Lezhë finished as the group and progressed to the next round of the competition. They would not play another competitive game until 1954, where they were in group 1 once again in the second tier, this time alongside Dinamo Kukës, Dinamo Shkodër, Puna Lezhë, Spartaku Shkodër, and the Vasil Shanto tobacco plant, where Dinamo Shkodër won the group.

The club were resigned to compete in amateur and lower league competitions for the rest of the 50s and early 60s, but they were promoted back to the second tier in 1964 as they finished runners up in the Albanian Second Division, to reach the new western league format of the Albanian First Division under the new name of Tërbuni Pukë. Their first season back to footballing mainstream in Albania was not fruitful as they finished bottom of the league following just one victory in their 18 games. No teams were relegated during the 1964–65 campaign, meaning Tërbuni kept their place in the league, where they finished second from bottom the following season and avoided relegation after winning 3 and drawing 8 games out of 22. They once again finished second from bottom the following season and remained in the league, as they won just once but managed 13 draws. The following season was played in 1968 between May and December, and Tërbuni achieved their best ever result in the league, as they finished in 9th place out of 12 team, with 3 wins, 11 draws to reach a total of 17 points. The Albanian Football Association reverted back to the western league format the following season but divided the teams into 2 groups, with a northern and southern division featuring 25 teams in total. Tërbuni were placed in Group A, and they finished in 10th place out of 12 teams to avoid relegation once again. They would finish in 8th place of Group A in the 1970–71 campaign, which beat their 9th league position in the 1968 competition. The club had become a regular relegation candidate but had managed to remain in the league following their promotion in 1964, and they finished in 10th place 1972, before finishing 7th in 1973. They finished in 6th place in the 1973–74 campaign, but as there were only 10 teams competing in Group A, the previous season's 7th place finish out of 14 teams remained their best result. Their 10 year spell in the Albanian First Division came to an end in 1975, as they finished 9th out of 10 teams and were relegated to the Albanian Second Division with 5 wins and 4 draws yielding a total of 14 points, 3 points behind 8th placed Erzeni Shijak.

Syla years

Former Tërbuni player and wealthy businessman Petrit Syla, who owned Albania's largest scaffolding firm Skela Syla, became the club's president in 2007 and immediately invested heavily in the club in order to return improve the club and achieve promotion to the Albanian First Division.[2] In 2011 he once again took over as the club's president, where he remained in office until November 2012, and Arben Frroku took over as president.[3][4]

Frroku years

The club defeated Partizani Tirana 3–1 to be win the Albanian Second Division in 2012, which was the club's highest honour in its history. They were promoted to the second tie, the Albanian First Division, and finished in third place in their first season at the level since the 2008–09 campaign.

Fans

The Ultras group of Tërbuni are known as the 'Shqiponjat E Veriut' which means 'Eagles of the North'. They are one of the most developed ultras groups in Albania and turn up to all matches which Tërbuni plays. They have their own logo, which makes it easier for them to be recognised by the opposition and by their own fans. Pukjan football fans have always welcomed fans of the opposing team into Puka where the stadium is located and have shown their respect by applauding the opposition, no matter what the score was.

Stadium

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Ismail Xhemali Stadium during the 2014–15 season

The club's home ground is the a multi-use Ismail Xhemali Stadium, which is located in Pukë, Albania and has a seated capacity of 1,950 people.[5][6][7][8]

Following Tërbuni Pukë's promotion to the Albanian Superliga for the first time in 2015, the Ismail Xhemali Stadium was inspected by the Albanian Football Association and it was deemed unfit to host top flight football games,[9] and it required reconstruction to meet the minimum requirements of standards set by the Albanian Football Association ahead of the 2015–16 season. Renovations were required on the changing rooms for both players and officials, and seats needed to be installed for the first time in the stadium, rather than benches.[10][11]

Honours

Albanian First Division

  • Runners-up (1): 2014–15

Albanian Second Division

  • Winners (1): 2011–12
  • Runners-up (3): 1963–64, 1979–80, 2007–08

Albanian Third Division

  • Winners (1): 2003–04

Current squad

As of 9 November 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Albania GK Egland Haxho
2 Albania DF Flavio Prendi
3 Serbia DF Borko Milenković
4 Albania DF Sadush Danaj
5 Albania DF Julian Brahja
6 Albania MF Allush Gavazaj (on loan from KF Tirana)
7 Albania DF Arbër Mone (captain)
8 Albania MF Gerald Tusha
9 Albania MF Artan Karapici
12 Albania GK Eduin Ujka
13 Albania DF Vilson Lila
No. Position Player
14 Albania FW Jurgen Vatnikaj (on loan from Partizani)
15 Montenegro DF Adrijan Rudovic
17 Albania MF Herald Marku
18 Albania FW Taulant Marku
20 Albania MF Julian Gerxho
21 Albania FW Mergent Sulmataj
33 Albania DF Ervin Rexha
99 Albania FW Abaz Karakaci
Liberia MF Abel Gebor
Albania DF Klodian Sulollari

Presidents

Name Period Honours
Albania Petrit Syla 2007–2010
Albania Petrit Syla 2011–2012
Albania Arben Frroku 2012–2013
Albania Grand Frroku 2013–

References