Ali Mema

Ali Mema

Personal information
Full name	Ali Mustafa Mema
Date of birth	February 1, 1943
Place of birth	Tiranë, Albania
Playing position	Offensive midfielder
Youth career
1958–1960	17 Nëntori Tirana
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1960–1966	17 Nëntori Tirana
1966–1968	Vllaznia Shkodër
1968–1970	17 Nëntori Tirana
1970–1971	Partizani Tirana
1971–1972	17 Nëntori Tirana
National team
1960–1967	Albania	14	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Ali Mema (born 1 February 1943 in Tiranë) is a former Albanian footballer who played for 17 Nëntori Tirana for the majority of his career as well as the Albanian national team, whom he earned 14 senior caps with. His brother Haxhi and Osman were both also footballers, as well as his nephew and Haxhi's son Sulejman.

Early career

Mema was born in Tiranë and grew up on Shyqyri Bërxolli Road, which is in the centre of the capital, where he lived with his family that included his brothers Haxhi and Osman, who would both also become professional footballers. He attended the Kostandin Kristoforidhi School near his home, where he represented the school's football team before joining his local team 17 Nëntori Tirana which was near to his family. He initially joined the 17 Nëntori Tirana youth team before being promoted to the senior team in 1960 at the age of just 17. He was told by his youth team coach Xhavit Demneri after training to report to the senior side the following day as he had been called up by first team coach Myslym Alla for the derby against Partizani Tirana. Mema featured in the game as a substitute for legendary striker Refik Resmja with ten minutes remaining, and although his side lost the coach Alla was still highly impressed with Mema and he was promoted to the first team on a permanent basis from that moment on.^[1]

References

1. Ali Mema ai që shkëlqeu në të gjithë pozicionet ku luajti