Kosovo: Pride, Patriotism, and the Power of Football

Gregorio Gastaldi in conversation with Valmir Berisha

For a nation still shaping its identity after war, every kick of the ball carries meaning far beyond the pitch. The Dardans — Kosovo’s passionate supporters — embody that spirit. Their voices, their colours, and their unwavering belief have become a reflection of what it means to be Kosovan: proud, resilient, and endlessly hopeful. Valmir Berisha talks to Gregoria Gastaldi about what his country means to him.

“Kosova, for me, is more than a country — it is my homeland, my pride, and the pride of everyone who feels Albanian.” Valmir Berisha

For those who call Kosovo home, football is more than a game. It is a declaration of existence, a symbol of resilience, and a way of telling the world: we are here. Every match, every banner, every chant carries with it the weight of history, the echo of struggle, and the unbreakable pride of a people who have fought for recognition.

Kosova, for me, is more than a country — it is my homeland, my pride, and the pride of everyone who feels Albanian. Kosova is the only country I will belong to until I die. Kosova is my strength, but nevertheless, it is also my weakness.

Seeing Kosovo play in international matches fills me with pride. I will never forget Kosovo’s first match against Haiti in Mitrovica. Many ordinary people and public figures laughed at us, saying that Kosovo would never succeed. Since that day, we have only gone higher and higher, making our entire Albanian nation proud — and not only ours.

“Since that day we have only gone higher and higher, making our entire Albanian nation proud.”

]Having contact with many foreigners who come to or plan to visit Kosovo, I am often asked whether Kosovo is a safe place. The answer I always give remains the same: “Kosovo is not an undeveloped country, as our northern enemies portray it.” Kosova has always been — and will always be — one of the friendliest countries in the world. That’s not just what I say; it’s what everyone who has stayed even a single day in Kosovo says.

Even 26 years after the war, Kosovo still faces many challenges — just like many other countries — including political, financial, and ethnic crises, particularly in the north of the country. Every year, Kosovo continues to improve in these areas. Ethnic problems are being prevented by the Kosovo Forces. Compared to wartime, the only thing that remains are the Serbian nationalist remnants, who continue trying to cause problems and portray themselves as victims.

The biggest dream for my country, like that of every citizen who lives here, is national unification with Albania and all our ethnic lands — though we know that, for now, it is impossible. We still hope that one day it will happen. As for the National Team, our dream is to qualify for European and World competitions to show everyone our culture and patriotism for this country.

“Our dream is to qualify for European and World competitions to show everyone our culture and patriotism for this country.”

The Dardans are named after our ancestors, who have lived in these lands since the Stone Age. We have proudly carried this name since 2003, when we were founded as a group. Under the name of the Dardans, all the ultra groups in Kosovo come together, even though publicly many are against the Kosovo National Team. Within the Dardans, you can find ultras from all fan groups across Kosovo and beyond.

The Dardans are led by a committee made up of one representative from each city in Kosovo. For every idea or event, we gather different opinions and discuss them to bring the plans to life. Before each match, a small group of us works to make sure those plans are carried out in the best possible way.

All our banners have different meanings. Two of them, dedicated to our beloved members who passed away this year, are especially close to my heart. Ylber Trolli and Korab Vllasa were two of the most positive people in our group. Even though they battled illness (cancer) for many years, they always made sure to be present and to help us however they could. Korab always ensured that everything related to painting or design looked beautiful — his drawings were always the most special.

As for the Guinness World Record, it refers to our northern enemies, who often display flags with the words “When the army returns to Kosovo,” pretending they can scare and terrorise us. The last time they tried to cause trouble in Kosovo, in Banjë of Zveqan, they fled like rabbits running from a hunter — and for that, they deserved recognition from the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest army retreat in history. Although they are our enemies, we must admit — they were very fast in their escape.

“They fled like rabbits running from a hunter — and for that, they deserved recognition from the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest army retreat in history.”

As I mentioned before, we are a young and still-developing country. We often face waves of prejudice about what Kosovo is like or what might happen if you visit. Recently, however, I’ve seen great interest from people wanting to visit and learn more about Kosovo — to see for themselves that it is one of the most hospitable countries in the region. For us, this is a new but beautiful feeling.

We love our friends from all over the world (excluding our Slavic enemies), and we try to teach them about our country and culture in the best way possible. We welcome them warmly and show them the real Kosovo — not the one people talk about. We hope to have you with us at future national matches, as well as at games of local teams in other sports.

“We welcome them warmly and show them the real Kosova — not the one people talk about.”

Kosova is not just a nation — it is a feeling, a heartbeat, and a collective hope. Through football, the Dardans remind the world that identity, pride, and unity are things no one can take away.