KOSOVO WANT JANUZAJ

10 October 2013

Amidst an English media storm over national team eligibility, the outlaw Kosovo Football Federation has reached out to Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj. Adnan Januzaj announced his arrival at football's top table this past Saturday, with an impressive performance punctuated by a brace of goals at Sunderland's Stadium of Light ground.

Born in Brussels, Belgium but of proud Kosovar-Albanian descent, Januzaj has already turned down a number of approaches from the Belgian national federation perhaps holding out for an opportunity to play for a FIFArecognised Kosovan national select, if and when an official, overground team materialises. The young midfielder has found himself in the eye of a media storm, and also roped into a tug-of-war, as his fluid identity has come to light, through the pages of the English tabloids. Although born in Belgium, Januzaj is eligible to turn out for any of the former Yugoslav nations, through his father, as well as Turkey, through his mother. The youngster could also, in time, become eligible for the English national team, by virtue of residency rules. Discussion around Januzaj's ability and future international prospects is currently at fever pitch online, with sporting heavyweights including Jack Wilshere, Kevin Pieterson and Gary Lineker having all offered their opinions. Wilshere's 'England for the English' newspaper comments have done much to fuel the fire of previously passive England supporters, both of the more right-

wing and left-wing persuasions. Nevertheless, Kosovo is believed to be the first choice of the leggy, raw 18year-old. However, the war-torn territory's status as an independent nation state still remains a matter of international political dispute. Despite many years of campaigning and the recent acceptance of minnows Gibraltar into the FIFA fold, Kosovo still finds itself barred from official FIFA-branded competitions. Regardless, senior ranking Kosovan football officials have now verbally backed the idea of Januzaj representing the nation of his displaced family's origin. In conversation with SportsDirect, Eroll Salihu, the Kosovo Football Federation's general secretary said we would be honoured to have Adnan represent us, but we do not want to put pressure on him . The federation's long-time president Fadil Vokkri confirmed, to the same outlet, that contact with Adnan's family has been made and we hope to speak to him, directly, very soon. The plot thickens. Further Reading: Kosovan football's backstory (via Backpage Football) Adnan Januzaj's performance vs. Sunderland (via Youtube) Follow writer Dave Wood (via Twitter)