Balkans trip overview

The Sports Director Mr. Shay Shtriks and the Marketing and International Relations Manager Lubomira Shtriks were on a trip around the Balkans, visiting Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia.

As already announced, on Monday they met with KB Bashkimi in Prizren which officially requested to be accepted in BIBL from season 2015-2016. After carefully checking the conditions and receiving the confirmation the team will have respectable for international competition budget by the Municipality Mayor himself and the President of the club, BIBL took decision to approve their request and give green light to proceed with the registration and papers.
Then, the meetings in Kosovo continued with the Sports Director of KB Sigal Prishtina Mr. Florian Miftari with whom it was settled that the League will wait for their final decision of the club in the next week as they were also nominated by KBF to participate in the newly-created FIBA competition but they need some time to check all the pros and cons. However, KB Sigal Prishtina have secure place in BIBL season 2015-16.

The third club Mr. Shtriks met is KB Peja represented by its President Mr. Art Gashi. It was carefully and clearly explained to him that both BIBL and KBF are staying in a very unpleasant and even bad situation right now due to problem during the 3 game in the final play-off of Kosovo Super League. Mr. Shtriks was affirmative such attitude shall not be tolerated at all as it harms the image and credibility of both Federation and BIBL in front of sponsors, partners, media and fans. And Mr. Gashi who accepts and respects the decision of their Federation re-assured Mr. Shtriks something like this would never happen anymore. After going through the small details and having it confirmed KB Peja will have budget and team good enough to play, the conclusion is that the Balkan League will be happy to have KB Peja in season 2015-2016 with the support of Kosovo Basketball Federation for the benefit of the Kosovo international basketball.

In Albania the Sports Director met Mr. Avni Ponari – the President of the Albanian Basketball Federation and the management of KS Vllaznia. They seemed quite positive and ambitious to continue playing in BIBL, but due to the fact there were local elections in Albania 2 weeks ago, some formalities around the club still have to be settled with the new Mayor and Municipality before being able to confirm anything to anybody as a sports organization. During the meeting came a question about SK Tirana joining BIBL competition. As it has to be yet developed and discussed, BIBL will be waiting for more news from the Albanian Basketball Federation in the following few days.

The last meeting, a friendly one though, took place yesterday in Kumanovo with the Mayor Mr. Zoran Damjanovski and the management of KK Kumanovo 2009. The vice-champion of Macedonia confirmed their desire also to continue playing in the next season. On Tuesday – 14.07.2015 – an official meeting with Macedonian Basketball Federation President Mr. Petar Naumoski and Sports Director Mr. Zare Markovski has been scheduled where the above-written will be one of the topics along with the other Macedonian representative/s and the mutual cooperation between the 2 structures.