Kosovo women's national handball team

National handball team
Kosovo
Information
NicknameDardanët
AssociationKosovo Handball Federation (Federata e Hendbollit e Kosovës – FHK)
CoachAgron Shabani
CaptainLeonora Demaj
Most capsAida Stagova (27)
Most goalsLeonora Demaj (121)
Colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
1st
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
2nd
Last updated on 27/04/2022.

The Kosovo women's national handball team represents Kosovo in international women's handball and is controlled by the Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competition in 2015, 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 Kosovo Handball Federation 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, Kosovo Handball Federation 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.

Team

Current squad

The following players were selected to participate at the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship qualification matches, between 3 and 5 June, 2021.[1]

Matches and goals as of 27 April 2022.

Head coach: Agron Shabani

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
1 GK Njomëza Kelmendi (1994-03-24) 24 March 1994 (age 30) 170 19 1 Kosovo KHF Vushtrria
2 LW Alberina Halitaj (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 (age 24) 161 3 0 Kosovo KHF Istogu
3 RW Areta Istrefi 172 4 3 Germany PSV Recklinghausen
5 LB Elma Kameri (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 (age 27) 178 18 25 Kosovo KHF Istogu
7 LB Mirela Gjikokaj (1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 (age 25) 180 23 83 Norway Follo HK Damer
8 LB Burneta Rama (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 (age 34) 174 9 29 Kosovo KHF Vushtrria
10 RW Fitore Aliu (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 24) 173 20 36 Germany SG Kappelwindeck
11 LB Arlinda Hajdari 173 7 22 Denmark Ringkøbing Håndbold
12 GK Rinesa Uka (2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 (age 23) 175 7 1 Kosovo KHF Prishtina
14 LW Pashke Marku 173 11 27 Switzerland HSC Kreuzlingen
15 LW Albina Rugova (1997-05-30) 30 May 1997 (age 26) 167 22 37 Kosovo KHF Istogu
17 LW Aida Stagova (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 (age 29) 165 27 20 Kosovo KHF Prishtina
24 RB Mirjeta Bytyqi 165 4 9 Slovenia ZRK Mlinotest Adjovscina
27 CB Marigona Hajdari 180 9 24 Denmark Ringkøbing Håndbold
28 LB Alma Nivokazi (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22) 165 3 1 Kosovo KHF Prishtina
33 GK Blerta Ahmetxhekaj (2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 (age 22) 180 7 0 Kosovo KHF Istogu
44 PV Suzana Ujkiç (1993-09-16) 16 September 1993 (age 30) 176 9 18 Kosovo KHF Istogu
45 CB Njoma Zogaj 176 1 7 Denmark EH Aalborg
77 PV Meltem Ylberi (2001-08-15) 15 August 2001 (age 22) 177 7 5 Switzerland Spono Eagles

Coaches

  • Kosovo Florent Beqiri (2014–2018)
  • Luxembourg Agron Shabani (2018 - )

Captains

  • Leonora Demaj (2017 - )

Individual all-time records

Most matches played

Total number of matches played in official competitions only.

# Player Matches Goals
1 Aida Stagova 27 20
2 Mirela Gjikokaj 23 83
3 Albina Rugova 22 37
4 Fitore Aliu 20 36
5 Njomëza Kelmendi 19 1
6 Elma Kameri 18 25
7 Shkurta Mehmeti 15 17
8 Aurora Shehdadi 15 0
9 Leonora Demaj 13 121
10 Arlinda Krasniqi 13 6

Last updated: 27 April 2022
Source: [1]


Most goals scored

Total number of goals scored in official competitions only.

# Player Goals Matches
1 Leonora Demaj 121 13
2 Mirela Gjikokaj 83 23
3 Albina Rugova 37 22
4 Fitore Aliu 36 20
5 Burneta Rama 29 9
6 Pashke Marku 27 11
7 Elma Kameri 25 18
8 Marigona Hajdari 24 9
9 Albulena Kelmendi 23 5
10 Arlinda Hajdari 22 7

Last updated: 27 April 2022
Source: [2]

Kit suppliers

Since 2019, Kosovo's kits have been supplied by Kempa.

References

  1. ^ "Selektori Shabani shpall listën për ndeshjet kualifikuese",Kosovo Handball Federation, 24 May 2021.

External links

  • Official website
  • IHF profile