In an interview with the FSHF (Albanian Football Association), Maran shared details about his daily life and his relationship with Albania.

“Frankly speaking, I feel at home; you have made me feel like a lifelong friend. For me, this is more than just a quality; it is truly something remarkable,” he said.

Maran emphasized that the features he appreciates most in Albanians are the determination and vigor with which they approach things—a characteristic he wants to see in the National Team players, as well.

“This holds tremendous value, and it’s a standard I want to instill in our players the moment they arrive. This is the very DNA of an Albanian footballer—it represents who we are and how we play,” said the Red and Black coach.

Speaking about life beyond football, Maran mentioned that he starts his day early and that the first thing he does is step out into the open air. He mentioned that he really enjoys nature, going for walks and spending time with family and friends, while in winter, he prefers snowy locations and the opportunity to ski.

The Italian coach also singled out *tava e dheut* (Albanian meat and cheese casserole) as one of the Albanian dishes he likes best and noted that among Albanian words, he is particularly fond of the phrase “avash-avash” (slowly) because of the way it sounds.

Maran said he is still getting to know Albania and is striving to learn more and more about the country, its culture, and the local way of life.

“I am making an effort to get closer to you all. Little by little, I am trying to understand things, because there are so many beautiful elements—so many aspects, including the landscape—that have truly sparked my curiosity,” he concluded. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

In his weekly address, Rama, referring to the government’s normative act on the 2026 budget, said the administration remained attentive to citizens protesting over genuine grievances, while drawing a distinction between peaceful demonstrators and those he accused of inciting disorder.

“This was a major development that received little attention, given what Albania’s entire communication and information landscape is currently focused on,” Rama said.

“At the same time, I am paying very close attention, and an entire team is carefully listening to everything that should be heard from the boulevard protest, which has two layers: the ‘flowing water’ of those who took to the streets in good faith, who are genuinely concerned or face real hardships, and the ‘black crust’ of embittered failures from all walks of life, who have created a convulsive atmosphere in which the inevitable incidents of violence have also emerged. When you follow a reckless crowd, sooner or later you end up hitting a wall,” he said.

/m.q/r.e/u.sh/

Semire Dauti is 18 years old and one of the promising athletes on Team Albania for the 2026 Games.

She is recognized as a promising talent in alpine skiing and is part of a small but growing group of Albanian athletes in this discipline.

The official qualification lists for the 2026 Olympic Games show that Semire Dauti is qualified for alpine skiing competitions, with FIS points recorded for downhill, slalom, giant slalom and Super‑G.

Semire is part of Albania’s alpine skiing team for the 2026 Olympic Games, an important step for Albanian winter sports as the country increases the number of its athletes in international competitions. At the Milano Cortina 2026, Albania will be represented by 4 skiers: Lara Colturi, Denni Xhepa, Lisa Brunga and Semire Dauti./p.s./

Through a presentation video, Rama also highlighted the Parliamentary experience of each SP MP belonging to the Tirana region list, writing the respective mandates for each of them.

In the May 11 Parliamentary elections, the Socialist Party received 19 MPs in the Tirana region, 12 of whom ran on the closed list and 7 others competed on an open list.

Tirana region

Closed List

Edi Rama, 4 mandates

Ogerta Manastirliu, 3 mandates

Elisa Spiropali, 3 mandates

Lindita Nikolla, 4 mandates

Taulant Balla, 6 mandates

Adea Pirdeni, 1 mandate

Albana Koçiu, 1 mandate

Igli Hasani, 1 mandate

Delina Ibrahimaj, 1 mandate

Ilva Gjuzi, 1 mandate

Iris Luarasi, 1 mandate

Erjon Malaj, 1 mandate

Open List

Blendi Gonxhja, 1 mandate

Erion Braçe, 9 mandates

Ervin Hoxha 1 mandate

Fatmir Xhafaj, 5 mandates

Ornaldo Rakipi 2 mandates

Anila Denaj 2 mandates

Olta Xhaçka 5 mandates

/m.m//a.f/p.s./

According to this decision, the deputy minister of finance, responsible for taxes and customs is replaced with Florian Semani, Deputy Minister of Finance”, Nina Guga is replaced with Orjana Osmani, Adela Xhemali, Deputy Minister of Finance, negotiator responsible for economic criteria and chapters 32 and 33 is replaced with Erjona Çela, Deputy Minister of Finance, negotiator responsible for economic criteria and chapter 33.

Also, after the last paragraph, there is added the following sentence: Andi Memeti, Deputy Minister of Finance, negotiator responsible for chapter 32.”.

The negotiating group of the Republic of Albania and the institutions are charged with implementation of this decision.

This decision enters into force upon its publication in the “Official Gazette”. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

The team conducted a full one hour and a half training session before heading to Mother Teresa Airport and travel to London.

Fitness concerns for Albania and the Brazilian head coach Sylvinho as Communication Department at the Albanian Football Federation said that defenders Marash Kumbulla and Ardian Ismajli continued individual workouts in the gym. The two footballers will travel with the rest of the team to London and their conditions will be assessed ahead of the game.

As Albania prepare for the biggest test in the qualifiers, Sylvinho must finalize his starting eleven amid injury worries. The Red and Blacks have never won against England in their previous six encounters, but they hope to challenge history and secure a positive result at Wembley.

/u.sh/

Albania is in Group K along with England, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra.

Coach Sylvinho has already selected 26 players for the two matches in March against England and Andorra.

Juljan Shehu of Widzew Lodz and Etnik Brruti of Malisheva have been invited for the first time to join the national team.

Albania’s line-up:

Goalkeepers: Thomas Strakosha, Elhan Kastrati, Alen Sherri and Simon Simoni.

Defenders: Ivan Balliu, Naser Aliji, Marash Kumbulla, Andi Hadroj, Ardian Ismajli, Berat Gjimshiti, Arlind Ajeti and Enea Mihaj.

Midfielders: Ylber Ramadani, Medon Berisha, Qazim Laçi, Kristjan Asllani, Adrion Pajaziti, Etnik Brruti, Juljan Shehu, Nedim Bajrami and Arbër Hoxha.

Forwards: Ernest Muçi, Jasir Asani, Armando Broja, Myrto Uzuni and Rey Manaj.

The official training session starts on Monday, March 17. The national team will play its first match against England at “Wembley” on March 21, at 20:45.

The second match is fixed on March 24 against Andorra at the “Arena Kombëtare” stadium in Tirana, at 20:45. Tickets for this match are still on sale and all fans can buy them at ebileta.al at this link: Match tickets: Albania – Andorra /p.s./

At the beginning of the podcast “Flasim” (Let’s Talk), Rama invited as a guest Minister of State for Youth and Children Bora Muzhaqi, who is a SP candidate on the closed list of the Elbasan region, and Deputy Minister of Interior Romina Kuko, the candidate for MP in the closed list of the Socialist Party for Korça.

“Today, I invite you to an exclusive podcast marathon with those who have joined our national team for the victory of May 11 and who are part of the new effort of the SP to be a new party for Albania in the EU. SP 2030, for Albania in the EU”, said Rama in the presentation of this podcast.

Muzhaqi and Kuko spoke about their experience as well as their journey and commitment in politics.

Furthermore, the Minister of Youth and Children, at the same time the leader of the platform “MP we Want”, said today that 35 candidates of the Socialist Party in the general Parliamentary elections of May 11 come from this platform as well as from the “Political Academy”.

“35 of the candidacies come from the platform. Half of them are women and this is good news”, said Muzhaqi.

According to her, at least 7 of them will be MPs, as they are on the closed list.

“We need all those fantastic people that we have within the platform”, said Muzhaqi.

For his part, the prime minister, also the leader of the Socialist Party Edi Rama, said that the “Deputy We Want” platform and the Political Academy are the two main sources for the new arrivals who massively entered and filled a significant part of the SP lists and will wear the jersey of the SP national team, not simply to win the elections, but also to prepare the “Socialist Party 2030” for “Albania 2030”. /a.gj/ /a.g/p.s./

Albanian national side will take on Czech Republic on November 16 and Ukraine three days later on November 16 at the Air Albania stadium in Tirana.

The list published on the official website of the Albanian Football Federation includes:

Goalkeepers: Thomas Strakosha, Elhan Kastrati, Alen Sherri and Simon Simoni.

Defenders: Ivan Balliu, Elseid Hysaj, Mario Mitaj, Andi Hadroj, Ardian Ismajli, Berat Gjimshiti, Arlind Ajeti, Marash Kumbulla and Enea Mihaj.

Midfielders: Ylber Ramadani, Kristjan Asllani, Amir Abrashi, Qazim Laçi, Feta Fetai, Jasir Asani, Taulant Seferi, Nedim Bajrami, Arbër Hoxha and Keidi Bare.

Forwards: Ernest Muçi, Indrit Tuci, Mirlind Daku, Myrto Uzuni and Rey Manaj.

Albania standings UEFA Nations League, League B Group 1:

1- Czech Republic    7 points

2- Georgia               6 points

3- Albania                6 points

4- Ukraine                4 points

/j.p//u.sh/

In the social media, Rama posted today the photo of the team that represented the country at the second Albania-EU intergovernmental conference held today in Luxembourg, listing the chapters for which the negotiations were opened: the functioning of democratic institutions; reform in public administration; Judiciary and fundamental rights; Justice, freedom and security; economic criteria; public procurement and statistics and financial control.

The head of the government said that, “Perhaps, the content of this group of chapters and the volume of tasks to be performed will enlighten the thread of reason to all those who raised unreasonable accusations against the Special Parliamentary Commission for Good Governance, Rule of Law and Anticorruption”.

Albania was represented at the second intergovernmental conference by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Igli Hasani and Minister of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption Adea Pirdeni. At the table for the Albanian parties there were all the deputy ministers, who represent the sectors according to the negotiation chapters, known as “Fundamentals”. /k.s/p.s./