Sandringham’s Yllber Zijai is proud young man of several fronts.
Firstly, he’s proud to be what he claims the only Albanian playing in the VFL. It resonates well that he’s representing his country and community.
He is also proud that he's been able to follow in the footsteps of his father Bashkin who played VFA for Dandenong in the 1980s.
And he’s proud to have followed the football talent pathway to be playing for Sandringham.
Zijai’s three brothers, Ahmet, Ymet and Ali all play football. It’s a part of family life.
“My Dad played and my uncles played and we sort of followed them. Dad came from Albania when he was about 10, he just loves his sport,” Ziljai said.
“From a young age, I grew up with footy, I just love it.”
Zijai began playing junior football with North Dandenong then progressed to Endeavour Hills then Noble Park. It was at the latter club that the attracted the attention of TAC Cup team Sandringham Dragons.
He played in the Dragons’ 2011 premiership under now Collingwood VFL coach Dale Tapping as a bottom age player.
While he wasn’t on the radar of AFL clubs, Zijai said he wanted to continue to challenge himself by playing at the best possible level he could when he graduated from the TAC Cup.
“We’ve got a good affiliation with Sandy, it’s a good pathway for Sandringham Dragons players leading on to Sandringham Zebras,” Ziljai said.
Ziljai’s first season in the VFL saw him break into the seniors and play two games, but the year was interrupted by a shoulder injury which erased the back half of the season.
The 20-year-old has rebounded to play 10 out of a possible 13 games so far this year. “I’ve been lucky enough this year to gain an opportunity to play,” Zijai said.
“We’ve been up and down this year, hopefully we can pick up the form we had at the start of the year and come home hard into the finals.”
With Ramadan already underway, Zijai is observing his faith of fasting from sunrise to sunset.
“I don’t do it on game days, it’s too hard,” he said.
Just one other thing, Yllber would like everyone to know there is, in fact, no i in his christian name despite the insistence of seemingly every club where he’s played to insert one into his name.
(note: it has been discovered Frankston recruit Vergim Faik is also from Albanian heritage)
Last Modified on 17/07/2014 15:53