Vllaznia mourn club president
Monday, June 16, 2003
Article summary
Myftar Çela, the president of Albanian club KS Vllaznia, has been shot dead.
Article body
Myftar Çela, the president of Albanian club KS Vllaznia, was shot dead on Saturday evening in the centre of Tuz in Montenegro.
Gunman surrenders
Çela, a noted businessman, was shot twice in the head while he was walking through the city. The gunman, a former business partner of Çela, surrendered to police 13 hours after the shooting.
Two-time champions
The 46-year-old Çela took over Vllaznia's presidency in 1996. Under his leadership the team from the north of the country were twice crowned champions, in 1998 and 2001, and won the Supercup in 2001.
Stadium work
The late president used his influence in the Albanian government and Football Association to secure the reconstruction of the Loro Boriçi stadium in Shkodër, only one of just two Albanian stadiums approved by UEFA for international matches.
Çela promise
After Vllaznia failed to lift the title last season, Çela promised to build a new team for the coming season that would challenge for major honours, starting his project with the appointment of former Albania national coach Medin Zhega. Now, after his shocking death, the club is shrouded in uncertainty.
