Kaltrina Fejza, a 21-year-old from Drenas has been intensively playing volleyball for nine years. She started playing in elementary school where she was spotted as a good player. That was when she decided to pursue the sport professionally.
Today, she sees a continual increase of women who pursue careers in sport. She believes that Kosovo will have a bright future, full of new talents.
Sadik Krasniqi, the coach of the volleyball club called “Gryka,” asked Kaltrina to be part of the team seven years ago. Kaltrina says that she never lacked support from her family and friends.
“I will mention my dad who has given me infinite love, motivation and support every step of the way. He has always been there at all my matches, cheering and supporting in victory and in loss. He is my motivation and my strength, he is everything for me,” says Kaltrina.
Shqipe Zogiani started practicing karate when she was 12 years old. She won the golden medal in the World Shotokan Karate Championship in Tokyo in 2000, and was the European champion in Shotokan in 2001.
“Like every child I wanted to become the best, the most successful, the strongest… it lead me towards this sport. Karate offers this opportunity,” she says.
The success that women have shown in the international arena and the change of life tempo in general has certainly inspired more girls in recent years to get into sport activities, be they individual or teamwork.
Zogiani, however believes that there’s a need for more investments in infrastructure as well as in specific projects for women in sports. She says that currently, women are encouraged by the Olympic Committee, the Department of Sport, and different federations, but this is not enough.
“Institutional support to advance professional skills, improving the quality by licensing trainers and other things that countries with advanced sports have are necessary here, especially to create optimal conditions for the respected female sport,” says Zogiani.
The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS) has a policy from 2001 that tries to help develop female sports. To achieve their goal, they are using sport requisites and summer camps. They provide financial support to cover the expenses of getting a license or registering, paying officials, transportation, and getting a representative uniform.
Their main goal is to improve and raise awareness for female sports, in order to increase participation, to support and encourage women to play, administer, and organize sports and to direct clubs and federations.
Although some of MCYS goals are still developing, there have been positive results. However there is still need for additional work, ideas and investments to create favorable infrastructure to encourage girls to participate in individual or team sports.
Zogiani never quit sports: after her full-time job at the MCYS, where she is responsible for combat sports federations (boxing, judo and wrestling), she works as a coach for two karate clubs called “IPPON” and “Vajzat e Dardanisë in Prishtina.
She recalls her beginning years when she gained inspiration to do karate from various films. She adds that the citizens of Kosovo were always interested in sports.
“However, the political circumstances and the severe conditions that Kosovo was in before the war, as well as the unsatisfactory infrastructure, have restricted women from joining sports,” she says.
Zogiani agrees that there are some limitations when it comes to doing sports. The karate club “IPPON” is in very poor condition. It has improved a little with the help of parents.
According to her, in the last 20 years, women’s interest for karate has been increasing.
“The number of women and men in clubs is nearly the same. The difference (with previous years) is enormous because now we are free, and women got a chance to show themselves not only locally but internationally,” says Zogiani.
On the other side, all struggles related to sport can be overcome when there is a strong will.
“Playing sports, especially volleyball, is not easy. However, if you love it, it doesn’t matter what sport it is, be it handball, basketball or volleyball, fight and do not give up because there is nothing in life that you can’t achieve,” is the message of the young sportswoman Kaltrina Fejza.
Puhiza Bekolli
