When Ismet Munishi becomes part of the Superliga, the elite football league of Kosovo gains more flair, adrenaline, emotion, and rivalry.
The charismatic coach is known for the charm and flavor he brings to the Superliga, and this is something many people say.
Munishi decided to return to coaching last summer after a break, and his “hand” was quickly felt.
The former well-known Kosovo footballer brought excitement to the town of Klinë when his name was revealed as the new manager of Dukagjini a few months ago.
And he continues to excite the town every day with the attacking and winning mentality he has instilled in the team.
“El Profesore,” as some call him, has found his “magic wand” in recent rounds after a slow start to the season.
In the last five matches, Dukagjini, the team he leads, has been one of the best-performing sides in the league with three wins and two draws.
Munishi’s “Lions” are taking on anything that comes their way.
They showed their fighting spirit even last weekend, securing a dramatic and memorable win against Feronikeli ’74, despite being two men down on the field.
This series of performances has increased expectations in Klinë.
In an interview with Gazeta Express, Munishi didn’t hide his shared goal with the club’s leadership and players: to bring the team back to Europe from the “18 Qershori” stadium.
“We didn’t have a clear objective at the start of the season, but honestly, my desire and that of the players is to fight for European competitions. We will fight with great passion until the end,” said Munishi.
However, he doesn’t forget the difficult period Dukagjini went through before seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Patience and calmness were the “unlocking codes” for the green-and-white team.
“It’s true that we didn’t have a good start. Not that we didn’t deserve more, but we simply made a few individual mistakes, which we’ve gradually improved and, over time, these have been successful. As a club, we are in a great state of calm. Even when we weren’t getting results, we remained calm. I had the support of the entire city at every moment, and I had the backing of the club’s management,” he emphasized.
Now, everyone has put that difficult period behind them and is enjoying the present moment together.
“I’m happy with how the team has reacted in the most fantastic way in the recent matches, and we’ve shown our true face. I believe we can do even more.”
Although many see him as the “magician” of Dukagjini, Munishi always praises his players, giving them the credit they deserve for this positive streak.
“We deserved more points in previous rounds, but things turned out the way they did. It’s great that we’ve made a fantastic comeback. I can say I have a fantastic group of players. They also have very strong character, and in critical moments, they’ve shown remarkable character, especially in the last match, which we won with eight players. We’re expecting very good results in the future.”
Along with the players, he doesn’t forget the club’s leadership, which has always stood behind him, through thick and thin, with complete trust and without ever considering a premature separation.
“The atmosphere in the team is fantastic. I have a president with the most experience of all the presidents in the Superliga, who understands the circumstances very well. I have a sporting director, Korab Desku, who is an encyclopedia of football and knows the game in the best possible way. We work very well together, and I believe we will do great things in the future, all of us together.”
When it comes to talent, “Munishi’s Hand” has always been noticeable.
He had promised on the “Favorit” show on T7 that he would bring out players who would play for the national team.
And it seems he is on the right path again this time.
Just take a look at the latest sensation in the Superliga, Hekuran Berisha, who, based on what he’s showing, has the potential to become a great player.
Munishi is confident that this will happen.
“You in the sports editorial office of T7 and as journalists from Express are invited to do an exclusive report on Hekuran Berisha. It will be something historic because he will be a player who will reach the heights of European football, and he has extraordinary potential. Up to this point, he’s been the most deserving for these positive results. He has shown remarkable character, talent, and strength from a young age, and now, at 19, he’s been a huge help in achieving our goals.”
But super-talent Berisha isn’t the only one, as Munishi has spotted talent and “raw material” in several other players on his team.
“We’ve managed to bring out very young and talented players. In addition to Hekuran Berisha, there are also Dardan Morina and Erlis Xhemaili, who have had a lot of playing time in the starting lineup.”
For the second half of the season, Munishi doesn’t plan to make many changes.
He will welcome back players from injury with open arms while continuing to enrich the team with new “diamonds.”
“We are looking, and in January we will exclusively sign young talents with great potential because the core and backbone of the team are ready, especially when players like Besir Iseni, Met Millaku, and Egzon Sinani return, who will be a huge boost for us.”
While the Superliga takes a two-week break for national team matches, Munishi won’t stop.
He will work tirelessly to unlock the formula for defeating upcoming opponents, with the goal of resting easy during the winter break and preparing for a strong spring with “the Lions”…
