From the athletics track to the final of the Futsal World Championship, the journey of Kosovar referee Florentina Kallaba is a story of dedication, continuous work, and breaking stereotypes. In a detailed account for KosovaPress about her career, she speaks about her first steps in sport, the transition to football and later futsal, the challenges of being a woman in this profession, and the highlights that have made her a well-known name on the international stage.

Kallaba says her connection with sport began in childhood, initially engaging in athletics from the age of eight, representing Kosovo for eight years. After a break, she continued with women’s football in Gjilan, where she played for five years before obtaining a UEFA B coaching license and starting to work with youth age groups, which gradually led her toward refereeing in futsal.

“My desire for sport has been there since childhood. From the age of eight I started with athletics, where I was an athlete for Kosovo for eight consecutive years. Then I had a break. I continued with football, playing for the women’s team in Gjilan, Intelektualet. I was a player for this team for five years. After five years I obtained a football coaching license, the UEFA B license. Then I started working with the 2 Korriku team, with children, and gradually, after two or three years, I also started working as a futsal referee,” Kallaba initially explains.

Recalling her beginnings as a referee, Kallaba emphasizes that her first futsal match, five years ago, was filled with mixed emotions. She describes that experience as a moment without clear expectations, driven simply by the desire to test herself and see whether the role would suit her.

“Five years ago I started working in futsal. It was my first match five years ago… It was emotional, but at the same time I also felt without emotions. I simply didn’t know what I wanted to do; I just went there to see whether I would like it or not,” Kallaba continues.

In her account, Kallaba admits that prejudices exist in every field, but stresses that how they are handled is decisive. According to her, the respect from teams and the support she has received within futsal have helped her overcome difficulties more easily and focus on professional development.

“I think that in every field there are difficulties and there are prejudices, but it all depends on the person and how they deal with them. For me it was not very difficult because I had very good respect from the teams, and I also had support from futsal, which helped me overcome difficulties much more easily.”

She explains that 2021 was a turning point in her career, when she obtained UEFA and FIFA badges. Initially aiming to contribute within Kosovo, Kallaba says that over time she saw greater opportunities, important matches, and challenges that motivated her to continuously work toward higher levels.

“Four years ago, in 2021, I was awarded the UEFA and FIFA badges. My journey started in 2021 and continues to this day, and I believe it will go on… When I started futsal, I thought only about Kosovo, but then I saw that there is also the badge, there are important matches, and I have always worked toward something higher,” Kallaba emphasizes.

One of her greatest achievements remains the fact that she was the first referee to both open and conclude a Futsal World Championship at the end of 2025. Kallaba views this as the result of uninterrupted work and professional integrity, describing it as a moment of extraordinary personal and national value, as she represented not only herself but also the state of Kosovo.

“My continuous work and dedication, as well as professionalism, made it possible for me to be part of the World Championship final. It is interesting to say that I am the first referee who started the World Championship, was part of the opening match, and then finished the World Championship. This was something very, very valuable for me personally and for Kosovo… More than responsibility, I felt great pride. It was a special feeling, because besides my own name, I also carried the name of the state of Kosovo, where the responsibility was many times greater,” Kallaba added.

Speaking about the World Championship final, she describes an experience filled with adrenaline, responsibility, and maximum focus, where emotions and pressure coexist.

“It was something where you have many emotions, but at the same time many thoughts about how the match will go, what will happen. But when you enter with your goals and your mindset that everything will go well, you overcome it. Simply an adrenaline that cannot be described — a World Championship final and how it will unfold,” Kallaba reveals.

In conclusion, Kallaba emphasized that obtaining the FIFA badge represents an even bigger step in her career, as it opens the door to participation in international competitions and representing Kosovo on the highest stage of world futsal.

KosovaPress