# Gjilan City Stadium

The Gjilan City Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi i Qytetit të Gjilanit) is a football stadium in Gjilan, Kosovo. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of SC Gjilani and FC Drita of the Football Superleague of Kosovo. The stadium was completed in 1967 but since 2017 is in renovation project. The stadium is expected to have a capacity of 9,500 people after the renovation.

## History

The Gjilan City Stadium, located in the city of Gjilan, Kosovo, has a rich history closely tied to local football culture. The stadium has been home to two of the most prominent football teams in Kosovo, KF Drita and SC Gjilani, both of which compete in the Kosovo Super League.
The stadium, originally built during the Yugoslav era, has served as a key venue for football in the region. However, over time, it became evident that the stadium's infrastructure was inadequate for modern football standards, prompting calls for renovation.
Plans for its renovation have been ongoing since 2017, when an initial project was signed under the leadership of the then-mayor, Lutfi Haziri. The project has been plagued by delays, primarily due to issues with the tendering process, suspensions, and procurement irregularities. Several rounds of tenders were either canceled or re-evaluated due to legal and procedural challenges.
Despite these setbacks, in 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, in cooperation with the Gjilan Municipality, allocated €15 million for the stadium's renovation, hoping to upgrade it to meet UEFA Category IV standards. However, delays continued into 2024 due to procurement complications. The community and football fans are eagerly waiting for the completion of the project, which is expected to boost local sports significantly.
Once completed, the new stadium will not only serve as a sports venue but also as a landmark for the city's vibrant football tradition.

## Name

Fans of the two clubs of the city of Gjilan. The Intellectuals of FC Drita and Skifterat of SC Gjilani, have named the stadium of the city according to their wishes. Intellectuals have stressed that the stadium has the name of Selami Osmani - Bezi, while Skifterat named Agim Ramadani. But officially the stadium is called "Gjilan City Stadium".

## Delays

The delays in the renovation of the Gjilan City Stadium are largely due to issues related to the procurement process. The project, which has been ongoing for several years, faced several setbacks. Initially, a tender was opened by the Municipality of Gjilan in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, allocating €15 million for the renovation. However, the process was halted due to irregularities found by the Procurement Review Body (OSHP), which led to the cancellation of the original tender.
Further complications arose when a company involved in the bidding process filed complaints, leading to the suspension of the procurement activity in early 2024. The Ministry of Culture has since taken over the project after the municipality's failure to finalize the contract. Despite these challenges, officials are hopeful that the project will resume soon.
The ongoing delays have significantly impacted local football, with fans and teams like Drita and Gjilani eagerly awaiting the stadium's completion.

## Renovation

The Gjilan City Stadium in Kosovo is currently undergoing significant renovations. Originally completed in 1967, the stadium has been in a state of reconstruction since 2017. The renovations are expected to bring the stadium up to modern standards with a new capacity of 9,500 seats. Improvements include upgraded facilities such as new tribunes, covered stands, reflectors, and an LED scoreboard. The reconstruction aims to meet UEFA's fourth category requirements, enhancing the venue for both local teams, SC Gjilani and FC Drita.