Altin Gjokaj: Kosovo’s future – Scouting report by Drin Gashi
Name: Gjokaj
First Name: Altin
Age: 18 (11.11.2005)
Height: 1,85 cm
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: FC Prishtina
Nationality: Kosovo
Preferred foot: Right
Market Value: 175k€
Player Comparison: Yann Sommer
Introduction:
Altin Gjokaj, a lifelong KF Drenica player and currently a U21 Kosovar national player, is a prominently discussed name in the Kosovar media. After trying a new adventure for one year, Gjokaj decided to return to his boyhood club and make his first-team debut where he first began playing football. He was the starting goalkeeper for KF Drenica, who are playing in the second tier after facing relegation this summer. Additionally, he is the starting goalkeeper for the U21 team of Kosovo. His exceptional performances have earned him a transfer to the biggest club in Kosovo, FC Prishtina, this winter.
Key Strengths:
– Close – range shot – stopping ability (Very strong)
– Good speed and timing when rushing out of the goal to anticipate opponents and clear the ball (Very strong)
– Saving one-on-ones (Very Strong)
– Passing (Very strong)
– Reflexes (Very strong)
– Football IQ (Very Strong)
– Footwork, technique and distribution (Strong)
– Throwing (Strong)
– Commanding in defense (strong)
– Composure (Strong)
Weaknesses:
– Height
– Sometimes struggling to catch or punch away the ball
Improvements:
– Being more engaged in the play when the team has the ball, e.g., Ederson or Manuel Riemann, since he has the technical qualities to do so
Style of play:
A right-footed goalkeeper who already exudes strong confidence at the young age of 18 years.
Gjokaj brings calmness, security, and a high football IQ, which allows him to make important saves and precise passes to quickly initiate the counterplay. The youngster doesn’t hesitate to make his voice resonate through the entire 90 minutes, fearlessly taking charge and commanding his defense.
To add to his many qualities, his passing is very reliable. Whether short or long, by foot or by hand, Gjokaj’s passes are very precise and well-chosen. To top off his passing game, the young prospect from Kosovo has an impressive throwing range.
Taking a closer look at his movements on the line, Altin Gjokaj’s outstanding reflexes allow him to make great saves on the line as well as in one-on-one situations.
His strongest asset is his rushing out to anticipate opponents and clear the ball. His way of closing the gap by sprinting out and securing the ball is of high-class. He is not afraid of storming out of the 16-meter box to kick out the ball, clear the danger and stop the attack.
Unfortunately, due to his height, he sometimes struggles to properly catch or punch the ball when it comes flying in (cross, corner kick, free kick).
Conclusion + Personal opinion:
In conclusion, Altin Gjokaj is a highly talented goalkeeper who is definitely worth watching. His attributes and qualities make him a valuable asset for the team at such a young age. He undoubtedly has the potential to become one of the best, if not the best goalkeeper in Kosovo. However, staying in Kosovo for his entire career would be a waste of talent. While his height might pose some challenges, goalkeepers like Ederson, Yann Sommer an have shown that shorter goalkeepers can still have a spectacular career.
At this young age, it is difficult to foresee what will happen in the future. He undeniably has the potential to play professionally in the top 10 leagues of Europe. The question, however, remains where he will ultimately end up.
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