Albania, behind her own impenetrable curtain, was dark enigma at that time. Nothing came out (and nothing came in) – in the sporting aspects: occasional international game was the only glimpse of Albanian sports, including football. Final tables was practically the whole information. Even today the period is dark – few pictures emerged. One thing was known, though: Albanian football was weak. The top league was going to be enlarged for the next season – from 12 to 14 teams – so only one club was relegated in 1977-78 and three clubs were promoted.
Of course, promotion concerned the best three in the Second Division.
Besa (Kavaje) won the second division – champions in their own right.
Besa was joined by Besëlidhja (Lezhë) and Naftëtari Qyteti Stalin. Nothing really to tell about the best of second level football… except the third club with curious and possible only in Albania by the end of the 1970s name: this club was named and renamed.
It hails from the town of Kucove, was quite old by Albanian standards – found in 1926 – and was related to the petrol industry. Still exists, but ‘Stalin’ was dropped years ago.
Four clubs fought the battle for survival in the first division. The battle went to a play-off after the end of the regular season – Traktori Lushnjë and Lokomotiva Durrës escaped unharmed with 19 points each, but Labinoti Elbasan and Skënderbeu Korçë had only 18 . Skenderbeu had better goal-difference, but the Federation decided on play-off. The relegation play-off was dramatic, judging by the results – both legs ended scoreless. Over time changed nothing and penalty shoot-out followed.
Labinoti clinched 6:5 victory, double sweet for it was extracted in Korce, the home of Skenderbeu.
Skenderbeu, one of the oldest Albanian clubs, went down.
At the top of league something else happened – the clubs from Tirana, normally favourites, were out of the race for the title. 17 Nentori was actually 6th.
Partizani finished best – 3rd – yet, they were not contenders with their 25 points. Provincial clubs bested the capital city, something rare.
Luftëtari (Gjirokastër) with a point more than Partizani finished second, but they hardly challenged the champions. Yet, it was a great season for the club.
The most successful and perhaps the only provincial club traditionally rivaling the teams from Tirana won the titles.
VLLAZNIA (SHKODËR) won 10 matches, tied 9, and lost 3. Their goal-difference was 32-19. Best record in the league, naturally, but significantly so: it was difficult to beat squad – Luftetari, Dinamo (Tirana), and Flamurtari (Flore) ended with 6 losses. Partizani lost 8 matches – that is, 1/3 of the total 22 championship games. The defensive record of Vllaznia was best in the league, but strangely shared with the clubs at the very bottom – Labinoti and Skenderbeu also received just 19 goals. As for the attacking record, Vllaznia had no equals – only two clubs scored 30 goals: Partizani, a round 30, and the champions 32. Perhaps not an overwhelming champions, but still Vllaznia finished wit 3 points lead.
This was the 5th title for Vllaznia and 3rd in the 1970s, after 1971-72 ans 1973-74. Strong decade for the club, one of the consistently strong teams.
The Cup finals opposed Dinamo (Tirana), one of the regular favourites, but having relatively weak championship, against Traktori (Lushnjë). Traktori was not among the best Albanian clubs – quite old, founded in 1926, they had been renamed after Albania became Communist in 1945 and not only once. In 1958 they were named Traktori for the second time, but the ‘progressive’ name helped little. When playing in the first division, they were found in the lower half of the table. The club won absolutely nothing, except the Second League championship in 1960. Now they had a chance for a real trophy. And they tried hard – the first leg of the final ended 0-0. A very promising result, for the match was play in Tirana. Unfortunately, in the second leg Dinamo scored a goal and kept their fragile lead to the end. No miracle happened.
Dinamo (Tirana) won their 9th Cup.