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The Tirana match between Albania and Serbia was within the bounds of a normal football match and incidents were minor, according to Al Jazeera's Serbian journalist Milan Boskovic, who reported live from Tirana on Saturday.
In an exclusive interview for "Report TV", the journalist says that the 2014 situation between the two countries has now been left behind, while guaranteeing that he does not expect any incidents in Serbia in the October match. Regarding the gesture of kissing the fan while reporting for "Air Albania", he says that it was a very beautiful message.
Andi Kapxhiu: How many days did you stay in Tirana and how did you feel in our capital?
Milan Boskovic: Good question but I have to do the math, maybe 24 hours after I arrived in Tirana on the day of the match around 1 pm and left the next day around 3 pm so that's 26 hours exactly. My first time coming to Tirana I felt pretty good and I like this city.
Andi Kapxhiu: What can you tell me about the atmosphere created by the fans in the city, outside the stadium?
Milan Boskovic: Different feelings, the situation seen in two scenes, as the two main streets from the center to the stadium were filled with fans and the situation was electrifying and it was not that it was very pleasant to see the messages that the fans conveyed. But two streets further you could see and feel the real Tirana, how people live in everyday life and it was a big contrast but for journalists and the press. The most interesting is the first half which was something I expected. There was nothing extraordinary about this also because of the tensions, because of what has happened in the past between the two countries, but for me the most important thing was that the players had a good time and that the match ended without major incidents.
Andi Kapxhiu: What was the atmosphere like on the steps of the stadium?
Milan Boskovic: Even in the stadium it was more or less the same situation as in the city streets. You could hear chants against the Serbian team, you could hear fans singing songs against Serbia, but all this is part of the vocabulary of the fans. All this is something that we have heard in our region that puts politics before sports. But as I said it was a very good thing that there were no major incidents, we had a few bottles on the field but to some extent within the norms.
Andi Kapxhiu: What can you tell me about the match played, the result, and who now has more chances to go to the World Cup, Serbia or Albania?
Milan Boskovic: Just like the Serbian coach said, the point taken in Tirana was a sweet spot for us because now the direct matches will be decided in Belgrade or Leskovac, depending on where the match will take place. England is the favorite to win the group and Albania and Serbia will fight for second place. However, England also did not play well against Andorra a few days ago, so Albania and Serbia also have their chances against the English. It is a very open group. Even in Saturday's match, Albania had a penalty and Serbia had chances. I predict more or less the same match in Serbia when the teams play again.
Andi Kapxhiu: Now that 11 years have passed, how do you remember the match and the events in Belgrade?
Milan Boskovic: I remember very well what happened in Belgrade. A match that definitely brings back emotions. People from both sides are asking. “what is it, what is the purpose of this”. Starting from the drone that flew over the stadium and continuing with the reaction of the Serbian fans and everything else. I think that at the same time a lot of things have changed. Tensions are much lower now and I don't expect anything to happen, no incidents when Albania comes for the return match.
Andi Kapxhiu: And finally, during your report you had a surprise when an Albanian fan approached you and kissed you. How did you feel and is this symbolism that Albanians and Serbs should convey?
Milan Boskovic: That kiss should serve as a message that we can move forward without any problems. Nowadays there are a lot of tensions not only here in the Balkans. The day after the match I moved to Tirana and it was a completely ordinary day, people were drinking coffee and going to the beach because the weather was good and this should be everyone's life. Okay, we all talk a little about politics but at the end of the day we are human beings who should have a normal life without major tensions. That guy who kissed me, at first I still haven't understood whether he knew or not that I was a Serbian journalist.
Andi Kapxhiu: He knew and he did the kiss specifically:
Milan Boskovic: I'm not sure, I say it again, but if he knew that kiss, it's a great, pleasant message that's not happening to me for the first time. I greet you from Belgrade and as I said, I felt quite good in your city. Before the match, there were also many fans in the city who weren't there to watch football but for political appeals, but I still felt quite good in Tirana.
Andi Kapxhiu: Milan, thank you and have a good day.
Milan Boskovic: Thank you too for the call.
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