In an interview for KosovaPress, he commented on Leon Avdullahu’s decision to choose Kosovo over Switzerland, expectations for the “Dardans” in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and Drita’s historic success in reaching the group stage of the Europa Conference League.
Speaking about Avdullahu, Gjonbalaj emphasized that the midfielder, with his decision, showed courage and strong character, as it is not easy to turn down Switzerland for Kosovo.
“Of course, this was a joint effort and everyone who negotiated and managed to bring Leoni to our team should be congratulated. But I am absolutely categorical—I have always maintained this stance and I don’t think anyone will change my mind about it—that every Albanian footballer has an obligation to say yes to Kosovo or Albania. I believe they should first and foremost choose our national teams. I think Leoni has shown true bravery above all, and strong character, which also reflects his personal and family upbringing. I believe he made the right choice,” Gjonbalaj said.Speaking about the expectations for Kosovo’s national team, which in September faces its first 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Switzerland and Sweden, Gjonbalaj stressed the importance of head coach Franco Foda selecting the right players to aim for positive results.
“Kosovo is a team around which we all gather, and undoubtedly expectations are always high. Serious work is being done, as far as I can see. There is also an evaluation of young players who could join our team, and our players in big clubs are in good form. Now these matches are approaching, which are very important, and the Kosovo coach must ensure that the starting eleven includes players who are active at their clubs, in top form, and able to give their maximum on the field,” Gjonbalaj said.
He further discussed Kosovo’s qualifying group, describing it as very strong but underlining that the “Dardans” are by no means inferior to their rivals."I think we have very strong teams in the group, I absolutely consider them to be very strong teams tactically and I think it will be very difficult. The start is very important, which is why the first match could be problematic if we’re not disciplined on the field. Nevertheless, the team is more or less the same with small changes. But who makes the starting eleven should depend on their form and playing minutes at their clubs… In my view, the stronger the group and the opponents, the greater our mobilization must be. This doesn’t mean we should fade away or surrender—absolutely not. On the contrary, we are not inferior at all; we are strong as well,” Gjonbalaj said.
Regarding the first challenge against Switzerland on September 5, Gjonbalaj stated that Kosovo knows the Swiss team well and must aim for at least one point.
“Playing against Switzerland in Switzerland, where you may also have many Albanian fans, doesn’t mean the venue itself is an insurmountable barrier. The real challenge is the quality Switzerland has. I agree they may not be in their best form, but they still have a strong team with players who always step up, because even though their league isn’t among the top ones, it is well-organized and of high quality. I think Switzerland has a difficult team. We’ve played against Switzerland before, and surely we can now at least repeat—not necessarily a convincing win—but secure at least a point, which would give us a boost against Sweden at home to achieve even more,” said Gjonbalaj.Gjonbalaj also spoke about Drita’s historic success in the Conference League, calling it an achievement not only for the Gjilan-based club but for all of Kosovar football.
“I think this is the result of years of work by Drita and their consistent efforts to reach where they are today. This serves as proof and an example for other clubs that sometimes give up on their ambitions after just one or two seasons. You cannot easily reach the group stage of the Conference League or perform well in Europe, or become champions in just one year… The results convince us all that Drita has worked very well, and we should congratulate them. Qualifying for the Conference League is not just Drita’s success; it is Kosovo’s success. It means greater perspective for all players, more coefficient points for our league, and bigger transfers from the Kosovo League. It means a lot,” Gjonbalaj said.
In the group stage of the Conference League, Drita will face strong teams such as AZ Alkmaar, Rayo Vallecano, Omonia, Kuopio, Shkëndija, and Shelbourne. Gjonbalaj expressed optimism that the Kosovo champions could be the positive surprise of this group.
