Zeqir Ymeri Stadium

The Zeqir Ymeri Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi "Zeqir Ymeri"), is a stadium in Kukes, Albania. It is primarily used for football matches and it is the home ground of Albanian Superliga club FK Kukesi The stadium was built on the site of the pre-existing Perparimi Stadium, located near the centre of Kukes on Rruga Stadiumi (Stadium Road).

History

Ilirjan Thaci

During a friendly game between FK Kukesi U17 and KF Liria U17 on 30 November 2013, 17 year old footballer Ilirjan Thaci collapsed and died on field following a heart attack related to a previously undetected heart problem. Thaci was born in 1995 and he was a defender on the books at FK Kukesi, his hometown club where he was also a lifelong supporter. He collapsed during the 10th minute of the friendly game and he died having suffered a myocardial infarction, despite efforts to resuscitate him. A minutes silence was held before every game in Albania the following weekend in memory of Thaci, and there were also calls for the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium to be renamed after Thaci. A mini tournament was held in his memory consisting of six youth sides from Albania and Kosovo, which was organised by FK Kukesi's president Safet Gjici.