Kosovo women's national handball team

The Kosovo women's national handball team represents Kosovo in international women's handball and is controlled by the Handball Federation of Kosovo. The national handball team started competing in international competition in 2015, following Kosovo's full status recognition from the International Handball Federation (IHF).

Kosovo
Information
Nickname	Dardanët
Association	Kosovo Handball Federation (Federata e Hendbollit e Kosovës – FHK)
Coach	Agron Shabani
Captain	Leonora Demaj
Most caps	Aida Stagova (27)
Most goals	Leonora Demaj (121)
Colours
Last updated on 27/04/2022.

History

Handball first arrived in Kosovo in the late 1940s, and by 1948 there were several registered clubs starting to compete in informal domestic competitions. By 1951, indoor handball was introduced. Two years later, in 1953 Kosovo Handball Federation was founded, under the auspices of the Yugoslav Handball Federation.

In 1979, whilst part of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo hosted the 1979 Women's Junior World Handball Championship.

Following the breakdown of Yugoslavia and subsequent independence of Kosovo as a nation, Kosovo Handball Federation began operating independently.

In 2014, six years after Kosovo declared independence, the European Handball Federation (EHF) recognised Kosovo as a full member state and immediately the Kosovo national handball team started competing in international competition.

Team

Current squad

The following players were selected to participate at the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship qualification matches, between 3 and 5 June, 2021.

Matches and goals as of 27 April 2022.

Head coach: Agron Shabani

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club 1 GK Njomëza Kelmendi (1994-03-24) 24 March 1994 170 19 1 KHF Vushtrria 2 LW Alberina Halitaj (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 161 3 0 KHF Istogu 3 RW Areta Istrefi 172 4 3 PSV Recklinghausen 5 LB Elma Kameri (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 178 18 25 KHF Istogu 7 LB Mirela Gjikokaj (1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 180 23 83 Follo HK Damer 8 LB Burneta Rama (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 174 9 29 KHF Vushtrria 10 RW Fitore Aliu (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 173 20 36 SG Kappelwindeck 11 LB Arlinda Hajdari 173 7 22 Ringkøbing Håndbold 12 GK Rinesa Uka (2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 175 7 1 KHF Prishtina 14 LW Pashke Marku 173 11 27 HSC Kreuzlingen 15 LW Albina Rugova (1997-05-30) 30 May 1997 167 22 37 KHF Istogu 17 LW Aida Stagova (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 165 27 20 KHF Prishtina 24 RB Mirjeta Bytyqi 165 4 9 ZRK Mlinotest Adjovscina 27 CB Marigona Hajdari 180 9 24 Ringkøbing Håndbold 28 LB Alma Nivokazi (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 165 3 1 KHF Prishtina 33 GK Blerta Ahmetxhekaj (2001-09-03) 3 September 2001 180 7 0 KHF Istogu 44 PV Suzana Ujkiç (1993-09-16) 16 September 1993 176 9 18 KHF Istogu 45 CB Njoma Zogaj 176 1 7 EH Aalborg 77 PV Meltem Ylberi (2001-08-15) 15 August 2001 177 7 5 Spono Eagles

Coaches

• Florent Beqiri (2014–2018)
• Agron Shabani (2018 - )

Captains

• Leonora Demaj (2017 - )

Individual all-time records

Most matches played

Total number of matches played in official competitions only.

#	Player	Matches	Goals
1	Aida Stagova	27	20
2	Mirela Gjikokaj	23	83
3	Albina Rugova	22	37
4	Fitore Aliu	20	36
5	Njomëza Kelmendi	19	1
6	Elma Kameri	18	25
7	Shkurta Mehmeti	15	17
8	Aurora Shehdadi	15	0
9	Leonora Demaj	13	121
10	Arlinda Krasniqi	13	6

Last updated: 27 April 2022
Source: [1]

Most goals scored

Total number of goals scored in official competitions only.

#	Player	Goals	Matches
1	Leonora Demaj	121	13
2	Mirela Gjikokaj	83	23
3	Albina Rugova	37	22
4	Fitore Aliu	36	20
5	Burneta Rama	29	9
6	Pashke Marku	27	11
7	Elma Kameri	25	18
8	Marigona Hajdari	24	9
9	Albulena Kelmendi	23	5
10	Arlinda Hajdari	22	7

Last updated: 27 April 2022
Source: [2]

Kit suppliers

Since 2019, Kosovo's kits have been supplied by Kempa.

External links

• Official website
• IHF profile