«When I grow up I would like to be a professional footballer and wear the Inter shirt. My legend? the black and blue midfielder Kristjan Asllani.” He has clear ideas Matia Koci16 years old in September, central defender in the Novara youth team and a footballer who has already had the opportunity to wear the shirt of the Albanian national team.
Vittoria Maria Passera interviewed him for the Corriere di Novara
The beginnings
«Maybe I started dribbling before walking – jokes Matia -. I owe everything to my dad ZabitI hope he is proud of me and I hope I can give him a lot of satisfaction.”
Stimulated to reflect aloud on his footballing beginnings, Koci says he started kicking the ball from an early age, like many children. Then passion, and opportunities, did the rest. He made his debut at the age of 4 in the Pulcini del Cameri, then at 9 he wore the Pro Vercelli shirt in the Professional category. However, some disappointment led him to wink at other destinations and, despite taking a “step back”, at 11 years old he wore the Suno shirt which played in the Amateur category.
«I met mister Andrea Fortina and it changed my life – says the young champion – our characters often clashed, but in him I always saw a guide, a correct man and a great professional. So I knew that every note or advice was only for my own good. In me he saw a person and a footballer to bet on, so I owe him a lot.”
The call-up to the national team
So he follows him to Sparta where he found the best environment to which he could aspire and refocus his dreams of glory. From 2022 he then moved to Novara where he played first in the Under 15s and then in the Under 16s and in the meantime – after signing his first card with the Italian team – he was called up by the Albanian Under 15 national team which was followed by the emotion of the call for the C series of the Italian national team. «They were great emotions – admits Matia Koci – and I must say that I felt very good in both national teams, I felt good in both formations and the teams always put me at ease. Italian in Italy and Albanian in Albania.”
Despite being born in Novara, however, a big Albanian heart beats in Koci and when he wore the national team shirt the emotion was uncontainable. «When I heard the Albanian anthem I immediately thought of my family – he admits – and for me it was as if they, in that instant, had returned home. I thought above all of my dad who always follows me everywhere, he also supported me in Malta, in Slovenia and in my numerous trips abroad too.”
There is no shortage of dreams, but his feet are firmly planted on the ground and while he plays there is no shortage of observers who have already called him up for Spal, in Turin, Empoli and Bologna. «I am committed and I try to do my duty as best as I can – admits Matia Koci – then time will lead me by the hand towards my destiny. I train, I put passion and heart into it, I also study Administration and Finance-Marketing in Novara, so I’m very busy.” And it will be precisely passion, commitment and dedication that will take him far. Until you wear your dream shirt. Whatever it is.
