KOSOVAPRESS

Volleyball/Nikqi: Serbia always looks for ways to avoid matches with Kosovo

Despite the total lack of conditions to develop the sport of sand volleyball, Kosovo surprised everyone when, in the U22 Balkan Championship that took place in North Macedonia, it was declared champion in the women’s competition and runner-up in the men’s competition.
However, such a success for Kosovo was expected according to the secretary of the Volleyball Federation, Valon Nikqi. He says that the duo Melirona Avdullahu-Yllka Jashari and Ermal Maliqi-Erion Bajrami who represented our country have tremendous potential in this sport.
To reach success, Kosovo advanced two rounds after Serbia refused to play direct challenges. Nikqi tells KosovaPress that Serbia does this in every competition and that their aim is to minimize the results of the Kosovar teams.
While the successes are not lacking, Nikqi expresses his disappointment with the lack of investments in improving the sports infrastructure in Kosovo. He says that the hope remains that something will move in this direction if Kosovo wins the organization of the Mediterranean Games for 2030.
Nikqi says that the organization and engagement in many local and international events is also bringing big expenses to the federation, therefore he is asking for greater financial support from the Ministry of Sports, while he says that it is worrying that the Sponsorship Commission within this ministry is not completing the contracts offered to clubs and federations on time, which is causing major financial problems.
Otherwise, Kosovo is participating in the qualifications for the U22 European Championship in the women’s competition that is taking place in the Czech Republic. The Dardanian girls are in a group with the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Austria.