KF Vëllaznimi
KF Vëllaznimi is a historic association football club from Gjakova, Kosovo, known for its red-and-black identity and nine Kosovo championships.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
KF Vëllaznimi, formally Klubi i Futbollit Vëllaznimi, is an association football club based in Gjakova, Kosovo. The club is one of the oldest and most decorated football institutions in the country and is closely identified with the civic identity of Gjakova. Its name, Vëllaznimi, translates broadly as “brotherhood,” while the club is commonly associated with the nickname and supporter identity “Red and Blacks of Gjakova.” The club traces its origins to 1927, when the first organized football team in Gjakova was formed under the name “Sword of Kosovo.” The organization subsequently operated under names including Pashtriku and Ylli i Kuq before adopting the Vëllaznimi name that it retains today. The beginnings of football in the city are associated with Faik Dushi, who is credited with bringing a proper football from Zagreb to Gjakova around 1924. Before formal pitches were available, football was played in improvised urban locations, including the area known as Fushë të Tyrbës and the grounds of former military barracks. From the 1950s onward, matches were held at the city stadium. Vëllaznimi developed through the football structures of Kosovo and the former Yugoslav system. Its strongest early period came under coach and former player Iljaz Sina. During the 1960s, the club advanced into the then Yugoslav league structure and won four consecutive championships in the relevant regional competition between 1966 and 1970. In 1971, it qualified for the Second League of the former Yugoslavia, representing an important step beyond Kosovo’s local competitions. The club’s historical record also includes nine Kosovo championship titles, making it one of the leading clubs in Kosovo football. Vëllaznimi has served as an important development platform for players who later achieved recognition elsewhere. Former players associated with the club include Zenun Brovina, who later played for Partizan Belgrade; Blerim Mula and Faton Bingazi, who continued their careers in Turkey; and Ardian Kozniku and Besnik Hasi. Kozniku represented Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won a bronze medal, while Hasi later won Belgian league titles and played in the UEFA Champions League. Their careers have helped extend the club’s reputation beyond Gjakova even though Vëllaznimi itself has not appeared in the UEFA Champions League or a comparable major European club competition. The club’s competitive identity is built around local heritage, player development, community support, and the red-and-black colors that it adopted in 1967. Vëllaznimi currently competes in the second tier of Kosovo football, the First Football League of Kosovo. Its principal offering is sporting rather than commercial: league and cup football, youth and player-development activity, match-day experiences, and representation of Gjakova in the national football system. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, listed ownership structure, or current executive roster.
History
Football arrived in Gjakova before the creation of a formally organized club. Around 1924, Faik Dushi is said to have brought a regulation football from Zagreb, replacing the improvised balls previously made from wool and rags. At first, the city had no dedicated football ground, so games were played in open areas and along improvised playing spaces. In 1927, the first organized club was established under the name Sword of Kosovo. The organization later used the names Pashtriku and Ylli i Kuq before becoming known as Vëllaznimi. The club’s early history is associated with several organizers and players from Gjakova, including Faik Dushi, Selim Muhaxhiri, Sokol Dobroshi, Ismet Stavilec, Qazim Damonaga, Sherif Lluhani, Iljaz Berisha, Qamil Zhubi, Bektash Guska, and Nimon Mulaj. In an early promotional match, the team defeated a side from Prizren by two goals to nil. Matches were initially played at Fushë të Tyrbës and later near former military barracks. From the 1950s, the city stadium became the club’s principal home. Although the surrounding political and sporting environment changed repeatedly, football activity in Gjakova continued and gradually expanded. Vëllaznimi became the leading club among several teams that operated in Gjakova during the twentieth century. Other local organizations included K.F. Deva, the club founded within the Emin Duraku technical institution in 1961, and several industrial or village teams. Vëllaznimi nevertheless remained the city’s principal representative and accumulated a reported nine Kosovo championships. The club’s most prominent early competitive rise took place under Iljaz Sina, who served as coach after also playing for the team. In the 1963–64 period, Vëllaznimi advanced into the then integrated Serbian league structure, in which Kosovo clubs competed as part of the Yugoslav football system. Between 1966 and 1970, the club won four consecutive championships in its regional competition, often finishing well clear of its closest rivals. The generation associated with these successes included Bedri Zhubi, the Halilosmani brothers, Luan Vokshi, Fatmir Zhubi, and Fatmir Rraci. Vëllaznimi subsequently qualified for the Second League of Yugoslavia in 1971. The club adopted red-and-black shirts in 1967, a color combination that became central to its identity. Its supporters are widely associated with the “Red and Blacks of Gjakova,” whose backing has helped preserve the club’s public profile through periods of sporting difficulty. Vëllaznimi has also contributed to the wider movement of Kosovo footballers into prominent domestic and foreign competitions. Zenun Brovina became the first player from Kosovo to move to a club outside Kosovo when he joined Partizan Belgrade. Blerim Mula and Faton Bingazi later played for clubs in Turkey. The club’s most internationally visible alumni include Ardian Kozniku and Besnik Hasi. Kozniku represented Croatia at the 1998 World Cup and won a bronze medal, while Hasi won Belgian championships and appeared in the Champions League. These achievements are part of Vëllaznimi’s long-term significance as a source of football talent, even though the club itself has not played in the Champions League or another major UEFA club competition. In the contemporary Kosovo football system, Vëllaznimi competes in the First Football League of Kosovo, the country’s second division. Its continuing role combines senior competition, local representation, supporter culture, and the development of footballers from Gjakova and the surrounding area. Public reference material does not provide a verified current list of club executives, ownership details, financial data, or a complete season-by-season competitive record.
- 1998
Ardian Kozniku reaches the World Cup podium
[1]Former Vëllaznimi player Ardian Kozniku was part of Croatia’s bronze-medal-winning squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
- 1971
Qualification for the Second League of Yugoslavia
[1]Vëllaznimi qualified for the Second League of the former Yugoslavia, marking one of the most significant competitive advances in its historical record.
- 1970
End of four-season regional championship run
[1]The club completed a run of four consecutive championships in its regional competition between 1966 and 1970.
- 1967
Red-and-black colors adopted
[1]Vëllaznimi became the first Kosovar club identified in the reference material as wearing red-and-black jerseys, colors that remain central to its identity.
- 1963
Entry into the Yugoslav league structure
[1]Under coach Iljaz Sina, Vëllaznimi advanced into the then integrated Serbian league structure, which included Kosovo clubs.
- 1927
First organized club established
[1]The first organized predecessor of KF Vëllaznimi was formed under the name Sword of Kosovo.
- 1924
Football equipment reaches Gjakova
[1]Faik Dushi is credited with bringing a regulation football from Zagreb to Gjakova, helping establish the conditions for organized football in the city.
Products and positioning
A historic Gjakova football institution positioned around local pride, Kosovo football tradition, red-and-black colors, supporter culture, and the development of players who can progress to larger domestic or international clubs.
Association football team · 1927
Senior men's football team
The club’s principal sporting asset is its senior association football team, which represents Gjakova in Kosovo’s national league system. The team’s historical record includes nine Kosovo championships and participation in the former Yugoslav league structure. In the contemporary period described by the reference material, the senior side competes in the First Football League of Kosovo, the country’s second tier.
Football development
Youth and player-development activity
Vëllaznimi functions as a local pathway for footballers from Gjakova and the surrounding area. The club’s historical importance is reinforced by former players who progressed to prominent clubs and international football, including Zenun Brovina, Blerim Mula, Faton Bingazi, Ardian Kozniku, and Besnik Hasi. Specific current academy structures are not detailed in the available reference material.
Sports branding · 1967
Club identity and supporter merchandise
The red-and-black shirt colors adopted in 1967 and the Red and Blacks of Gjakova supporter identity are core elements of the club’s public-facing brand. Available sources establish the colors and supporter culture but do not document a complete official merchandise range.
Sources2 sources
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