Valerija Valjak Nedelkovska elected president of Footballers' Union of North Macedonia

Valerija Valjak Nedelkovska, a former national team player and captain of ŽFK Borec, has become the first woman from North Macedonia and the wider region to lead the Footballers' Union of North Macedonia. Her election marks a historic shift in an organization that represents the rights and working conditions of professional players.

From the pitch to union leadership

Nedelkovska built her reputation on the field: as captain of ŽFK Borec she led the team to a domestic double — winning both the championship and the national cup — and played in Champions League qualifying matches, including a fixture against Everton in which she was named player of the match. In 2011 she received the "Sportsman of the City of Veles" award.

Speaking about the origin of her love for the game, Valerija said that football attracted her from an early age: "My love for football started when I was very small, at five or six years old. While other girls played elastic-band and other children's games, I was drawn to the sound of the ball being kicked by the boys when they played football. At that moment I would leave everything and go to play with them. Simply put, the ball pulled me to the pitch from an early age. Then I did not think whether football was a men's or women's sport. I only knew that I loved it and wanted to play. Thus, from a child's game was born a love that over the years became much more than a sport — it became part of my life, my identity and my path."

On the challenges facing women's football, she reflected: "When I look back on my football career, I can say that the love of the game and belief in myself were my greatest strength. Women's football does not always receive the support it deserves, and female players often have to prove their worth through their work, dedication and results. For me it was most important to speak through the game and the results. I never wanted someone to judge me because I was a woman, but by my qualities, fighting spirit and what I gave on the pitch. Football taught me that respect is not only demanded with words — it is built with effort, character and persistence."

Her path has not been without hardship. Nedelkovska recalled a deeply personal loss at a young age: "The hardest period of my life began when, at only 23, I lost my father. That was a huge blow and a loss that left an emptiness in my life." She described how responsibility toward her family and the need to keep playing and working helped her continue: "I had to be strong even when I was inwardly weakest. Football was my love, my strength and something that helped me move forward. I believed I had to fight for myself and for the people I love."

As union president, she said the role is both an honor and a mission: "For me, this position is a great honor, but at the same time my mission and dream. To be at the head of the Footballers' Union of North Macedonia means to have the opportunity to fight for something I sincerely believe in — the rights, dignity and better conditions for footballers and female footballers." Nedelkovska stressed that her experience as a player informs her agenda: "I come from the pitch. I know what it means to train, to sacrifice, to put in time and energy, and sometimes to face conditions that are not at the level an athlete deserves. That is why this position is not just a title for me."

Her election is seen by colleagues and players as a sign that former athletes can bring practical experience and resolve to negotiations over contracts, health and training conditions. Nedelkovska said she intends to use her mandate to push for more respect, better support for women’s football and tangible improvements in players' day-to-day lives.

Photo: Privatna arhiva na Valerija Valjak Nedelkovska