Shkupi's players will play their final minutes today in the First Macedonian Football League (PMFL), where they face AP Brera away in Strumica. For everyone who takes to the pitch in Strumica, these will be their final minutes in Macedonia's elite football company, given that the club will compete in the Second League next season.
Head coach Alisa Vishi will give young footballers who have not yet experienced top-flight football a chance in this match. On the other hand, some of the regular first-team players will be given a well-deserved rest so they can be fully prepared for the Junior Cup final, where Shkupi will once again face AP Brera.
„This is our final match in the elite division and we will try to close the season with dignity. I am proud of these boys, who persevered to the very end and fought for the club colours with one goal — to prevent a collapse and relegation to the Fourth League. It is much better to start over from the Second League than from the Fourth League. We now have enough time to mobilise and return our club to where it belongs. Every big club has gone through crises, but has come back even stronger. Football is simply like that — there is no success without difficulties.”
“We will travel to face AP Brera with footballers who did not get much playing time this season. Some of the players will rest because of the excessive intensity and physical burden, as the Cup final awaits them. They deserved a break in this final round, especially after the great success and reaching the Junior Cup final, where another clash with AP Brera awaits us,” Alisa Vishi said, among other things.
In the 33 meetings played so far in domestic competitions, Shkupi have 17 wins, AP Brera have triumphed 9 times (twice this season), while 7 matches ended without a winner.
The match between AP Brera and Shkupi will be played this afternoon at the stadium in Strumica, kicking off at 16:30.
