Kosovo awaits green light on players days before historic game

By Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA ( Reuters) - Kosovo will make their international debut on Monday in the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition but still need confirmation from FIFA whether nine of their players can switch their national teams and play for the country.

Despite fierce resistance from Serbia, which Kosovo declared independence from in 2008, they were accepted as a member of European football's governing body UEFA in May. World body FIFA welcomed Kosovo the following week.

However, during the fight for recognition, many sportspeople from the small Balkan country had to leave their home towns to play under another country's flag to further their careers - leaving Kosovo now scrambling to finalise the paperwork before their historic tie with Finland.

"We have two or three days to receive confirmation for nine more players but we are prepared for every situation, we know we will get positive confirmation but we have to wait their reply," Kosovo's coach Albert Bunjaki told Reuters.

Kosovo also took part in the Olympics for the first time in Rio, fielding eight competitors. Majlinda Kelmendi was given a hero's welcome in Pristina after winning judo gold.

Their soccer coach has ambitions that are just as big.

"I am convinced that within four years we will be qualified for Euro 2020," Bunjaki said.

"Kosovo has a very good future in football but patience is needed. I know we are in a tough group for World Cup qualifiers and five games will be played away."

Kosovo's opener will be away in the Finnish city of Turku. They have been drawn in the same group as Croatia, Turkey, Iceland and Ukraine. Only the winners of each of the nine groups winners are guaranteed qualification.

"I expect a very difficult game with Finland but we will give our maximum," Bunjaki said.

He said on Wednesday he got confirmation that Albert Bunjaku can play for Kosovo after previously representing Switzerland at the 2010 World Cup. Several others Swiss players of Kosovo origin declined calls to play.

Following Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, U.N. administration in Kosovo and the uncertainties after independence the country has invested little or nothing into sport infrastructure.

This year the government is investing 4 million euros in the Pristina Stadium, a condition by international sporting organisations of hosting international games.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Alison Williams)