Joni’s touching story with the national team, from chemotherapy to the pitch with Asllani

In a live link-up for Euronews Albania with journalist Esmeralda Mulaj, Burim Gashi told the touching story of his son Joni, who, after a serious health challenge, found strength and motivation in the support of the Albanian national football team.

As Joni is a passionate fan of the national team, Gashi recounted the moment he wrote to the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) to ask for the national team players to meet his son or make contact with him. He stressed that the response from the FSHF was immediate: within three hours, midfielder Kristjan Asllani sent a motivational video.

“We are from Kosovo, we come from Pristina, but I have lived in Germany for 30 years, and Joni was born and raised in Germany. Even before his illness, Joni was a keen fan of our national team. In those very difficult moments when Joni was diagnosed with brain cancer, he had to be hospitalised for an emergency operation. In those hard moments, my second daughter thought of writing to the national team. She said the boy loves them very much, and once he gets through the operation he will be very happy to see Asllani or the others wish him well or speak about Joni.

She wrote to the Albanian Federation, which I thank wholeheartedly, because they have done a wonderful job for me and my family.

Within a few minutes they replied: ‘Of course we will do it!’ Very quickly, Asllani appeared after three hours and sent his video, which made us all emotional.

Joni started crying immediately, he was that emotional. But that is why we made that request to the Federation, because we wanted to make him happy. The Albanian Federation presented itself extraordinarily for us as a family,” he said.

Gashi stressed that the national team players did not end their contact with Joni there, adding that the Federation invited him to attend a match — the fixture against Belarus.

“It was not just that day; they continued to be part of our family throughout the whole journey. They supported us the entire time, asking how Joni is. Meanwhile, we later asked for another video from Asllani to motivate Joni a little more, and they sent us videos from all the players. That was a great joy for us. Joni was extremely happy; it was a very emotional moment.

Suddenly we received a message from the Federation that they wanted to invite Joni to a match. We decided to come for the match against Belarus. I am truly amazed at the respect they showed us. I have no words; I am the happiest man for having had the opportunity to see them up close and to experience that great respect and joy from our Federation.

I cannot repay them, but may God reward them in the best and most beautiful way. They are wonderful lads; they made a humane gesture as if he were their brother, not just a fan. I have no words. May God protect them — only forward, with health and victories,” Joni’s father said.