Tirana is going through a difficult period, as it aims to save the season. Amidst many troubles and problems, the white and blue team are looking to find solutions in order to get back on track. From the past to the future, from transfer market desires to goals, Tirana's sports director, Omer Bunjaku, invited to Sport News on News 24, revealed almost everything.

Omer, what does Tirana, the capital of Albania, look like to you? What is it like to live in Tirana? Have you adapted?

So far everything is fine. Tirana is a beautiful city, it is a city that fulfills me.

From Skopje to Tirana, where is it more beautiful, where do you feel most comfortable?

Home is home. I see it as a second home here, as I have many friends and I'm having a great time.

How were you received by the environment, by the club, by the fans, is it difficult to be a manager in Tirana?

Tirana is a big club, it's a pressure maybe even bigger than I expected. The fans want a win, they won't accept any other result. I came with full ambition, I was a Tirana fan myself, I believe we will succeed.

 

The fact is that you found Tirana at a very delicate moment, did you expect such a start?

I knew there would be difficulties. I didn't imagine it would be at that point. As for the rest, everything has been correct. Maybe better than in other clubs I've been to. I have had the support of the directors and the president at every moment. There were problems before, I see the way they took all those players as very wrong. It has been difficult, as some players also had long-term contracts. We have tried not to damage the club.

What is really happening, why this situation, have you done an analysis on this?

Like it or not, every success or failure belongs to them. Without overlooking the management and technical staff that was there. I think it was a wrong assessment of the players.

What does President Halili think, besides opening the "bag" again? Have you spoken to him, what does he think about this situation the club is in?

I have known Halil, but not as much as I do now. I have seen that he is a crazy fan of Tirana. He is doing everything to get the club back where it belongs and in these moments, we have not lacked his support. In the end, everyone will be satisfied.

At the end of 2025, in December, about 9 players were released en masse, make no mistake, you have a lot of experience in club management, does that seem normal?

It's true. We watch football, everyone, in the January transfer window, not many approaches can be made. Here in Albania there is not even a preparatory phase, we have had a difficult time. I am seeing a lot of positive things these days. We have played three games, we have won 2. We will only go in for a win because the situation is like this, we only need wins.

You have started this winter transfer window with great enthusiasm, what stands out is the fact that you have brought in expensive players, the latest being Xhixha, what is your plan?

We have completed the team, we have acquired the players we need. If we have a "boom" along the way, we will not forgive. The President is ready for anything.

I'm curious, how do you convince Xixha?

Xhixha? From the first phone call, I knew he would come to Tirana. At the moment I invited him, it was sometime in October, he told me like this, director, it's hard for me to say no to Tirana, but it's even harder for me to say no to the Halili family. I told him that Xhixha would be our player and that's what happened.

Coach Nuhiu said that we will continue to strengthen the team, where do you plan to intervene?

The coach has said in several interviews that he needs two or three players. We have brought him two, the two center backs he requested, one is Diari from Prishtina and the other is Ante from Cluj, I also thank the management there as we have a very good relationship after they gave him to us on loan for 6 months. I believe that they will help us a lot during this period.

It's almost impossible to find quality players in January, I'm talking 2-3, not to mention changing almost half of the team. Do you really believe you can change the fate of the season?

If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't be here. I said it's difficult in January for players to leave clubs. I think we've brought in quality players, although it's still too early to talk about that. I know they'll do us a lot of work.

You started the year with two wins and a draw, including the Cup, the question that all white and blue fans are asking is, will Tirana survive this season, or more precisely, what is your objective this season, because I know you're going to tell me that we don't discuss survival...

This season we want to survive. Our ambitions are those, we want to survive. Let's see what the road will bring. I believe we will succeed. I see a very good atmosphere in the group, I see that there is a winning mentality there.

But the Cup, does it become the main objective under these conditions, will you focus your efforts there to save this season?

We have work to do in the championship, in the cup, simply by watching and doing. I would not like Tirana to be relegated from the Category and win the Cup, as has happened in the past.

A photo of you with Orges Shehin, the last coach who brought the title to Tirana, caused quite a stir a while ago. Have you spoken to him yet? What is his opinion on the situation in Tirana?

Maybe it's exclusive, at the moment I had an offer from Tirana or from other teams, with Shehi we worked at Balkan, that period we worked I think I consider as one of the best. To come to Tirana, I call Gesi, more or less he knew. In any case, it's Tirana. Gesi loves Tirana, he is still under contract at Balkan, he has his problems with the club. My opinion about him is that he is very great.

Tirana and Skopje have been very closely connected to each other.

You had a kind of love for Tirana, it didn't take you long to decide.
For this decision, I had offers from other clubs. My wife, knowing my relationship with Fanatics, knowing how many friends we have, knowing how much we follow Tirana, told me that you will leave. It has been very easy to come here. After Skopje, there is always Tirana

If you get an offer from Partizan...

My answer is very simple, I can't tell my son that I'm going to Partizan. Unimaginable. He knows that I would never have worked at two clubs, Partizan and Vardar.

Another former Tirana celebrity, Rezart Dabulla, said that Tirana is fallen, there is no escape, etc., there are many critical voices, do you have an answer for everyone?

I remember Dabulla as a Tirana player, every former player or former director is sacred. I respect and understand them, because no one will see Tirana here. We must be more positive and all together, send Tirana where it belongs.

What is your personal desire, your personal objective, where does Bunjaku want to reach in Albania?

I don't hide it. I won trophies in Macedonia and Kosovo, I miss Albania. I would be happy if I had it with Tirana too.

How would you evaluate football in Albania, what grade would you give it?

There's no question that it's a very strong championship, everything is there. This is a very strong championship at the moment.