Montenegrin Sports Academy Honors Driton Kuka for Extraordinary Achievements in Judo
The award will be presented on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the National Judo Center in Peja, Kosovo, starting at 11:00 a.m.
AN EXPERIENCED COACH WHO HAS WON EVERYTHING THERE IS TO WIN
Former SFR Yugoslavia national team member and one of the most successful judo coaches in the world, Driton Kuka, has been awarded the highest recognition of the Montenegrin Sports Academy for achieving more than 30 World and European Championship medals as a national team coach.
At the 24th International Conference of the Montenegrin Sports Academy held in Budva, the Academy awarded the GOLDEN PLAQUE – Montenegrin Sports Academy Awards to Driton Kuka, Head Coach of the Kosovo National Judo Team.
The award was presented in recognition of:
- Outstanding achievements at the international level
- Promotion of sport
- Excellence in coaching and professional sports work
🇽🇰 Achievements Under His Leadership as National Team Coach
Under the coaching leadership of Driton Kuka, Kosovo has achieved:
- 🥇 3 Olympic gold medals
- 🥈 1 Olympic silver medal
- 🥉 1 Olympic bronze medal
- 🌍 2 World Championship gold medals
- 🌍 Multiple World Championship silver and bronze medals
- 🇪🇺 More than 10 European Championship medals, including several gold titles
🥋 Driton Kuka’s Competitive Career
As a representative of SFR Yugoslavia, he won:
- 🥉 Bronze medal at the European Championships in 1990
- 🏆 Medal at the World Cup in Hungary in 1991
- 🏆 Multiple medals at international club competitions
Through his coaching work, Driton Kuka has built one of the most successful judo systems in Europe, while also enjoying a distinguished international career as an athlete. His greatest contribution to sport is reflected in the achievements of his athletes at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.
At the previous conference, held in Cavtat near the historic city of Dubrovnik, the same recognition – GOLDEN PLAQUE – was awarded to Zlatko Dalić, Head Coach of the Croatian National Football Team.
Under his leadership, Croatia achieved:
- 🥈 Silver medal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
- 🥉 Bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
- 🥈 Silver medal in the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals
In the meantime, the GOLDEN PLAQUE was also awarded to Dragan Adžić, Head Coach of the Slovenian Women’s National Handball Team, with whom he secured qualification for the country’s first-ever Olympic Games appearance in women’s team sports.
The award will be officially presented during the International Scientific Conference taking place in Podgorica from September 24–27, 2026.
🇲🇪 Achievements Under His Leadership as Head Coach of the Montenegro Women’s National Handball Team
- 🥈 Silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London
- 🥇 Gold medal at the 2012 European Championship held in Serbia
Achievements as Head Coach of ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica
- 🏆 EHF Women’s Champions League Winners in 2012
- 🏆 EHF Women’s Champions League Winners in 2015
“Considering that at the time of the conference in Budva, Coach Kuka was officially engaged at the European Judo Championships, where he once again won a gold medal with his athletes, this award will be presented to him on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the National Judo Center in Peja, starting at 11:00 a.m.
We will continue to support the most successful professionals who promote sport and achieve extraordinary accomplishments in international sports. We view this as a synergy of knowledge, experience, hard work, and science, with a clear objective of building an international bridge of excellence,” stated the President of the Montenegrin Sports Academy, Prof. Dr. Duško Bjelica.
