Partizani, trained by Mark Iuliano, remains the only team in the Superior League not to score a goal in the first two matches, as it was defeated 2-0 at home from Laৠand tied with Kukà«s (0-0). One has to dig deep in the team’s archives to find a similar start of the season. It only happened 18 years ago that Partizan started off this way, receiving two points in the first two matches. The referred year is season 1999-2000, when for the first time the team downgraded from the Superior League. Even that starting of the season was better, as the team at least scored a goal, whereas the present team is yet to score. During that season, Partizan achieved its first victory on the third week, when they defeated Apolonia 3-1, with one goal scored by Alban Rexha and one by Shtrepi. It is yet to be seen what Partizan of Mark Iuliano will achieve on its third week. If the reds don’t win against Skenderbeu, Partizan’s worst start in the club’s history at the Superior League will be confirmed. Despite the downpours in Tirana the past days, the team has continued preparing for the meeting with Skenderbeu next Saturday. What has been noticed in the training areas of the Kamzà« facility is trainer’s Mark Iuliano absence, who is sourced to be down with the common flu.
The team is down with the flu
Central midfielder Gezim Krasniqi has a similar problem with trainer Mark Iuliano, as he was present in the field but did not train with the rest of the team. At the absence of Iuliano, the team has been training with substitute trainer Klevis Dalipi and the other part of the staff. The footballers who played in the match against Kukà«s have been doing light training, with only few athletic exercises. Meanwhile, the rest of the team has gone through a ‘control’ game among them. More information on the formation of players that will appear on the field during the match in Korà§à« will be provided as soon as trainer Iuliano returns to practice. The latter said he was satisfied with his team’s performance on the field, despite the fact they could not be victorious, which means there will not be many changes in the formation that will play against Kukà«s.
