Showing posts with label Kosovo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kosovo. Show all posts
Friday, March 7, 2014
Video: Kosovo vs Haiti Soccer Highlights (March 5, 2014)
Haiti men's national soccer team face Kosovo in a international friendly match at Olympic Stadium Adem Jashari on March 5, 2014.
Haiti, Kosovo play to 0-0 draw in friendly
Six years after declaring independence, Kosovo's footballers have played their first match at international level, drawing 0-0 with Haiti in a friendly.
The match, approved by football's world governing body Fifa, took place in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica.
Kosovo is not recognised by Serbia or Russia and is not a member of Fifa.
But Serbia's football association has agreed that Kosovo can play friendly internationals provided no flags are displayed and no anthems played.
The Caribbean state of Haiti, 79th in the Fifa rankings, may be a surprise choice of opposition for Kosovo's international debut, but the game fulfils a major ambition for the Balkan territory.
Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj tweeted as the match got under way: "The first friendly international game between #Kosovo and #Haiti has just started. Great day for Kosovo's sport."
Selecting the 22-man squad has been difficult. All but one of them plays football abroad.
Three of the country's best players now represent Switzerland, while Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, whose heritage makes him eligible for Kosovo, declined an invitation to take part.
The match, approved by football's world governing body Fifa, took place in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica.
Kosovo is not recognised by Serbia or Russia and is not a member of Fifa.
But Serbia's football association has agreed that Kosovo can play friendly internationals provided no flags are displayed and no anthems played.
The Caribbean state of Haiti, 79th in the Fifa rankings, may be a surprise choice of opposition for Kosovo's international debut, but the game fulfils a major ambition for the Balkan territory.
Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj tweeted as the match got under way: "The first friendly international game between #Kosovo and #Haiti has just started. Great day for Kosovo's sport."
Selecting the 22-man squad has been difficult. All but one of them plays football abroad.
Three of the country's best players now represent Switzerland, while Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, whose heritage makes him eligible for Kosovo, declined an invitation to take part.
Mechack Jerome joins Haiti for friendly against Kosovo
Sporting Kansas City defender Mechack Jerome departed today to join the Haiti Men's National Team for an international friendly against Kosovo at 8 a.m. CT on Wednesday at Stadium Olimpik Adem Jashari in Kosovska Mitrovica.
Jerome debuted for the Haiti Men's National Team in 2008 and most recently represented his country in September during an exhibition against Korea Republic. He also started all three of Haiti's group stage matches in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 23-year-old right back appeared in 10 MLS matches for Sporting Kansas City in 2013, his first with the club, and also started three games across U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League competition.
Haiti, ranked No. 79 in the latest FIFA rankings, will play their first game under new head coach Marc Collat on Wednesday's official FIFA match date. The friendly will be the first FIFA-sanctioned game for Kosovo in its six-year history as an independent state.
Jerome debuted for the Haiti Men's National Team in 2008 and most recently represented his country in September during an exhibition against Korea Republic. He also started all three of Haiti's group stage matches in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 23-year-old right back appeared in 10 MLS matches for Sporting Kansas City in 2013, his first with the club, and also started three games across U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League competition.
Haiti, ranked No. 79 in the latest FIFA rankings, will play their first game under new head coach Marc Collat on Wednesday's official FIFA match date. The friendly will be the first FIFA-sanctioned game for Kosovo in its six-year history as an independent state.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Haiti, Kosovo to make history on Wednesday
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Two very distant and distinct countries will unite under the banner of football for an historic international friendly that is sure to capture the attention of the world.
On Wednesday, Kosovo will play its first FIFA-approved match, when it welcomes Haiti to Mitrovica.
The former Yugoslavia territory is bidding to become an affiliate of UEFA and FIFA, hoping that the game against the CONCACAF side can assist in its push for membership.
Following a unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo has been recognized by 23 members of the European Union and 108 members of the United Nations. It remains, however, unrecognized as a sovereign nation.
On Wednesday, Kosovo will play its first FIFA-approved match, when it welcomes Haiti to Mitrovica.
The former Yugoslavia territory is bidding to become an affiliate of UEFA and FIFA, hoping that the game against the CONCACAF side can assist in its push for membership.
Following a unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo has been recognized by 23 members of the European Union and 108 members of the United Nations. It remains, however, unrecognized as a sovereign nation.