{{short description|Albanian footballer (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Kamer Qaka |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = <!-- If different--> |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|4|11|df=y}} |birth_place = Peja, FR Yugoslavia |height = 1.70 m |position = Defensive midfielder |currentclub = Partizani Tirana |clubnumber = 92 |youthyears1 = 2006–2010 |youthclubs1 = Brandbu |youthyears2 = 2010–2011 |youthclubs2 = Vålerenga |years1 = 2010–2012 |clubs1 = Vålerenga |caps1 = 10 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2013 |clubs2 = Raufoss |caps2 = 14 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2014 |clubs3 = Hønefoss |caps3 = 12 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2015 |clubs4 = Sarpsborg 08 |caps4 = 12 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2016–2017 |clubs5 = Kristiansund |caps5 = 33 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2017–2018 |clubs6 = Politehnica Iași |caps6 = 28 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 2018 |clubs7 = FCSB |caps7 = 5 |goals7 = 0 |years8 = 2018–2019 |clubs8 = Politehnica Iași |caps8 = 24 |goals8 = 0 |years9 = 2019–2020 |clubs9 = Universitatea Craiova |caps9 = 12 |goals9 = 0 |years10 = 2020–2021 |clubs10 = Kongsvinger |caps10 = 8 |goals10 = 0 |years11 = 2021–2022 |clubs11 = Shkëndija |caps11 = 18 |goals11 = 1 |years12 = 2022–2023 |clubs12 = Mezőkövesd |caps12 = 14 |goals12 = 0 |years13 = 2023–2026 |clubs13 = Shkëndija |caps13 = 75 |goals13 = 0 |years14 = 2026– |clubs14 = Partizani Tirana |caps14 = 13 |goals14 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 2010 |nationalteam1 = Norway U15 |nationalcaps1 = 5 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |nationalyears2 = 2011 |nationalteam2 = Norway U16 |nationalcaps2 = 9 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |nationalyears3 = 2011–2012 |nationalteam3 = Norway U17 |nationalcaps3 = 9 |nationalgoals3 = 0 |nationalyears4 = 2012–2013 |nationalteam4 = Norway U18 |nationalcaps4 = 8 |nationalgoals4 = 0 |nationalyears5 = 2013–2014 |nationalteam5 = Norway U19 |nationalcaps5 = 5 |nationalgoals5 = 0 |nationalyears6 = 2017–2018 |nationalteam6 = Albania |nationalcaps6 = 4 |nationalgoals6 = 0 |club-update = 13 May 2026 |nationalteam-update = }}
'''Kamer Qaka''' (born 11 April 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Albanian club Partizani Tirana. Born in Yugoslavia, and a former Norwegian youth international, he played for the Albania national team.
==Club career== ===Early years / Norway=== Qaka was born in Peja, modern-day Kosovo,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Erjon Halili|title=Qaka: Shqipëria një ëndërr, qava kur mora ftesën|url=http://supersport.al/qaka-shqiperia-nje-enderr-qava-kur-mora-ftesen/|accessdate=10 November 2017|publisher=SuperSport Albania|date=10 November 2017|language=Albanian|quote=Jam nga Peja, por ëndrra ime ka qenë Shqipëria.}}</ref> but when he was two years old his family moved to Norway and settled in Brandbu. In 2010, while still attending lower secondary school, he signed his first professional contract for Norwegian Eliteserien side Vålerenga.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/sportspill/omtale/supertalentet-fra-valerenga-bodde-pa-gata-i-oslo---folk-vet-ikke-hva-jeg-har-vrt-igjennom/3423322968.html|language=Norwegian |title=Supertalentet fra Vålerenga bodde på gata i Oslo |work=nettavisen.no |accessdate=25 July 2017 |date=20 March 2017}}</ref>
In a May 2010 cup game against Oppsal IF, as Qaka made his professional debut, he became Vålerenga's youngest goalscorer ever.<ref name=cup>{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10006354|title=Kamer (15) søvnløs før drømmedebuten|last=Bakkehaug|first=Wegard|date=15 May 2010|work=VG|language=Norwegian|accessdate=25 February 2014}}</ref> He made his league debut in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=246452&tournamentId=1&seasonId=334&teamId=314&useFullUrl=false|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007234012/http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=246452&tournamentId=1&seasonId=334&teamId=314&useFullUrl=false|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 October 2012|language=Norwegian |title=Kamer Qaka |work=altomfotball.no |publisher=TV 2 |accessdate=10 July 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, he signed for fellow Norwegian club Raufoss. He made his debut on 15 April 2013 against Odd 2 as they won the game 2–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oa.no/raufoss-fotball/sport/fotball/kamer-qaka-er-arets-beste-spiller/s/5-35-341668|language=Norwegian |title=Kamer Qaka er årets beste spiller |publisher=www.oa.no |accessdate=10 July 2013}}</ref> In January 2014, he joined Hønefoss BK,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fotballsonen.com/tidligere-valerenga-talent-skal-gjenopplive-karrieren-honefoss/|title=Tidligere Vålerenga-talent skal gjenopplive karrieren i Hønefoss|last=Losnegård|first=Aleksander|date=28 February 2014|publisher=Fotballsonen|accessdate=4 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223254/http://www.fotballsonen.com/tidligere-valerenga-talent-skal-gjenopplive-karrieren-honefoss/|archivedate=4 May 2014}}</ref> and a year later he went on to Sarpsborg 08 FF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarpsborg08.no/news/article/1kyd2rvdnnl2j1tqs7znxxs5lj/title/qaka-signerer-for-sarpsborg-08 |language=Norwegian |title=Qaka får kontrakt med 08 |work=Sarpsborg 08 FF |accessdate=28 January 2015 |date=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202215258/http://www.sarpsborg08.no/news/article/1kyd2rvdnnl2j1tqs7znxxs5lj/title/qaka-signerer-for-sarpsborg-08 |archivedate=2 February 2015 }}</ref>
In 2016 he tried his luck with Kristiansund BK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/iasiul-si-a-adus-pasator-din-norvegia-oficial-kamer-qaka-a-semnat-cu-trupa-moldava-16590440|language=Romanian |title=Kamer Qaka a semnat cu trupa moldavă |work=ProSport |accessdate=25 July 2017 |date=17 July 2017}}</ref> His performances paid off when Qaka helped his team get promoted to the Eliteserien, as well as being awarded the trophy for the best player in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oa.no/raufoss-fotball/sport/fotball/kamer-qaka-er-arets-beste-spiller/s/5-35-341668|title=Kamer Qaka er årets beste spiller|date=31 October 2016|language=Norwegian}}</ref>
===Politehnica Iași=== On 17 July 2017, after terminating his contract with Kristiansund, Qaka put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Romanian team Politehnica Iași.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fanatik.ro/kamer-qaka-inca-un-strain-in-la-csm-politehnica-iasi-972568|language=Romanian |title=Cu cine a semnat CSM Politehnica Iaşi |work=fanatik.ro |accessdate=25 July 2017 |date=17 July 2017}}</ref> A week later, he made his competitive debut in a 0–0 Liga I draw with Gaz Metan Mediaș, coming on as a half-time substitute for Dan Spătaru.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/video-egal-fara-goluri-in-iasi-gaz-metan-ambele-formatii-au-ratat-cate-o-mare-ocazie-de-gol-516648.html|title=Egal fără goluri în Iași - Gaz Metan|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=Romanian|accessdate=25 July 2017 |date=23 July 2017}}</ref> From the following matchday, Qaka established himself as a starter under head coach Flavius Stoican.
In November 2017, after his international debut for Albania, it was reported that fellow league teams FCSB, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Craiova, as well as Portuguese side Braga, were interested in acquiring the player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/exclusiv-concurenta-acerba-pentru-becali-omul-pe-care-a-pus-ochii-finantatorul-fcsb-e-dorit-de-un-club-important-din-portugalia-16825889|title=Concurenţă acerbă pentru Becali|trans-title=Tough competition for Becali|publisher=ProSport|language=Romanian|date=20 November 2017|accessdate=22 November 2017}}</ref>
===Universitatea Craiova=== On 3 June 2019, Qaka signed a four-year contract with Universitatea Craiova.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucv1948.ro/BunVenitKamer--Qaka-intareste-mijlocul-Stiintei|title=#BunVenitKamer / Qaka întărește mijlocul Științei|trans-title=#WelcomeKamer / Qaka strengthens Știința's midfield line|publisher=ucv1948.ro|language=Romanian|date=3 June 2019|accessdate=4 June 2019}}</ref>
===Return to Shkëndija=== On 5 January 2023, Qaka returned to Shkëndija on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Shkëndija|url=https://www.kfshkendija.com/zyrtare-shkendija-rikthen-kamer-qaken/|title=ZYRTARE: SHKËNDIJA RIKTHEN KAMER QAKËN|trans-title=OFFICIAL: KAMER QAKA RETURNS|date=5 January 2023|access-date=15 March 2023|language=sq|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127183334/https://www.kfshkendija.com/zyrtare-shkendija-rikthen-kamer-qaken/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==International career== From 2010 until 2014, Qaka represented Norway at youth international level, was part of the U15 and U19 teams respectively and played 36 matches for these teams.<ref>{{NFF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nga një fshat peshkatarësh te një tjetër, Qaka ndjek historinë e Berishës!|url=http://albsport.al/2017/11/07/nga-nje-fshat-peshkataresh-te-nje-tjeter-qaka-ndjek-historine-e-berishes/|accessdate=7 November 2017|publisher=Albsport.al|date=7 November 2017|language=Albanian|archive-date=8 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035643/http://albsport.al/2017/11/07/nga-nje-fshat-peshkataresh-te-nje-tjeter-qaka-ndjek-historine-e-berishes/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He accepted an invitation from the Albania national team by coach Christian Panucci for the friendly match against Turkey on 13 November 2017 as a replacement for the injured Amir Abrashi.<ref>{{cite news|title=KOMBËTARJA NË TURQI/ABRASHI NUK REKUPERON VIJON TERAPINË, PANUCCI THËRRET KAMER QAKËN!|url=http://www.fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/5881-kombetarja-ne-turqi-abrashi-nuk-rekuperon-vijon-terapine-panuci-therret-kamer-qaken|accessdate=7 November 2017|publisher=FSHF.org|date=6 November 2017|language=Albanian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013209/http://www.fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/5881-kombetarja-ne-turqi-abrashi-nuk-rekuperon-vijon-terapine-panuci-therret-kamer-qaken|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He debuted for Albania against Turkey as a 67th-minute substitute for Odise Roshi in a 2–3 away win for his side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turkey national football team lost to Albania 2:3, 13 November 2017|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=15350|website=eu-football.info|publisher=EU-Football|accessdate=15 November 2017}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|21 December 2020}}<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|kamer-qaka/159845|accessdate=17 December 2017}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Norwegian Cup, Cupa României}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4" valign="center"|Vålerenga |2010 |Eliteserien |0||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||1 |- |2011 |Eliteserien |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- |2012 |Eliteserien |8||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- !colspan="2" valign="center"|Total !10!!0!!2!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!12!!1 |- |Raufoss |2013 |2. divisjon |14||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |Hønefoss |2014 |OBOS-Ligaen |12||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- |Sarpsborg 08 |2015 |Eliteserien |12||0||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||1 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Kristiansund |2016 |OBOS-Ligaen |24||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||0 |- |2017 |Eliteserien |9||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0 |- !colspan="2" valign="center"|Total !33!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!35!!0 |- |Politehnica Iași |2017–18 |Liga I |28||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||0 |- |FCSB |2018–19 |Liga I |5||0||0||0||2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||7||0 |- |Politehnica Iași |2018–19 |Liga I |24||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||0 |- |Universitatea Craiova |2019–20 |Liga I |12||0||2||0||5{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||19||0 |- |Kongsvinger |2020 |OBOS-ligaen |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !158!!0!!17!!2!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!182!!2 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=30064|title=Kamer Qaka|publisher=European Football|accessdate=20 November 2017}}</ref> !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Albania |- |2017||1||0 |- |2018||3||0 |- !colspan=2|Total||4||0 |}
==Honours== ;Shkëndija *Macedonian First Football League: 2024–25
;Sarpsborg 08 *Norwegian Football Cup runner-up: 2015
;Kristiansund *OBOS-ligaen: 2016
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{NFT player}} *{{UEFA player}} *{{RomanianSoccer|4576/kamer-qaka}}
{{KF Tirana squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qaka, Kamer}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Peja Category:Albanian men's footballers Category:21st-century Albanian sportsmen Category:Albania men's international footballers Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in North Macedonia Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary Category:Norwegian men's footballers Category:Norway men's youth international footballers Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in North Macedonia Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary Category:Norwegian people of Kosovan descent Category:Norwegian people of Albanian descent Category:Kosovan men's footballers Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in North Macedonia Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Hungary Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Norwegian Second Division players Category:Norwegian First Division players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Vålerenga Fotball players Category:Raufoss IL players Category:Hønefoss BK players Category:Sarpsborg 08 FF players Category:Kristiansund BK players Category:Kongsvinger IL Toppfotball players Category:Liga I players Category:FC Politehnica Iași (2010) players Category:FCSB players Category:CS Universitatea Craiova players Category:Macedonian First Football League players Category:KF Shkëndija players Category:Mezőkövesdi SE footballers Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I players Category:21st-century Norwegian sportsmen