Hearts star left bursting with emotion after international honour as he sets target
The Hearts winger has earned international recognition.
Hearts winger Sabah Kerjota has been left filled with emotion and pride after his first call-up to the Albanian national team.
The winger has impressed under new Tynecastle head coach Wouter Vrancken and his impact has earned him a spot in national team gaffer Rolando Maran’s Nations League squad for matches versus San Marino, Finland and Belarus. Albania face the latter on Saturday and Kerjota will hope to make his debut.
It marks a special moment in the career of a star who was playing lower league Italian football as recently as 2025 before joining Hearts. He has been left emotional when making a media appearance in his homeland ahead of the Belarus clash this Saturday and is keen to prove his worth for those who’ll watch the matches in-person, but also further afield.
Sabah Kerjota on Albania call-up
Kerjota said: "It has been a long journey—I started playing football quite a while ago—so this feels like a significant milestone and a reward for my hard work. Now the goal is to win every upcoming match. It is an emotional experience because representing Albania with the national team is the pinnacle of a sporting career.
“It is deeply moving to wear the Albanian jersey before a match begins, but it also serves as a huge source of motivation to give my absolute best for the Albanian people—both those in the stands and the many watching on television. I am truly filled with emotion at the prospect of representing the country."
29-year-old striker Taulant Seferi is one of the experienced stars Kerjota will learn from in the final third over the couple of weeks prior to an October 10 return to domestic action with Hearts against St Mirren. He’s now in Turkey at Kayserispor after 27 caps to date. Seferi reckons Kerjota and co have all the tools to come out on top in Nations League Group C1.
Albania on Nations League test
He explained: “Our goal is first place, we must focus on every match. There should be no underestimation of the rival. We have a lot of confidence, because we have a good group, and we will succeed. Undoubtedly, first place is our objective. We have to take each match in turn.
“There are no easy challenges anymore. We have to give our maximum. I hope that in the end we will achieve the objective, we have to work hard. Coach Maran will play more with the ball so we will be more offensive. These days we have been working more with the ball, on how we will get ahead. I hope that what we are working on with Maran will also come true in the game. We all like coach Maran's system, I hope we will succeed.
“The coach gives appreciation to all the players. I respect the coach's decision. I believe that Maran liked my performance in the two previous friendly matches, as well as with the team in Turkey. I appreciate every decision of the coach. We are pleased to be in the national team. The group brings you success and victories.”
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