Torcida Mitrovicë
Torcida Mitrovicë, also known as Torcida 1984, is an ultras group in Mitrovica, Kosovo. Torcida are one of the major sports fan groups in Kosovo and one of the largest in Southeast Europe. Founded in 1984, they are the oldest Albanian ultra group.
History
The beginnings of the supporters group can be traced back to the 1970s when KF Trepça played in the Yugoslav First League. Torcida first appeared on stage in 1981 with its banners Armata e Minatoreve, Vëllëzërit Shqiptarë Torcida in the handball match Trepca-Vardari in a great atmosphere where Trepca won this important match. After the match, the two leaders, Qeti and Xhelali, were imprisoned because of the banners with the inscription "Torcida". After being released from prison, the banners with the name Torcida did not appear on stage for a long time. On 20 March 1984, Shefqet Begu, also known as Qeti, officially founded Torcida Mitrovicë. His inspiration came from Torcida Split, the oldest European ultras, of which he was a member.After the start of the cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population, Torcida Mitrovicë also started to support other Kosovan sports teams and contributed to the independent sports leagues. Many members later joined the Kosovo Liberation Army. One of them was Besim Nuka who was killed in action against the Serbian forces in the Battle of Koshare and was posthumously declared a Hero of Kosovo.
After the War, Torcida Mitrovicë regularly supported the Trepça clubs and even the Albanian national team against England in 2001 being the first supporters group from Kosovo to do so.