Florian Kamberi’s hat-trick on Thursday night against NSI Runavik has virtually guaranteed Hibs a place in the second qualifying round for this year’s Europa League.
Barring an epic disaster Hibs will face Greek side Asteras Tripolis, but Kamberi has his sights on reaching the group stages although he accepts it will be a difficult task.
The Swiss striker already has European experience having played at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul two years ago and he believes that Hibs’ trip to Greece will be just as difficult.
Kamberi has already hit the ground running following his transfer from Grasshoppers and is hoping to continue the form that has already made him a firm favourite amongst the Hibees’ faithful.
His popularity has earned him how own song which was belted out from the ‘Singing section’ in the Famous Five Upper after each goal.
After the game Kamberi said: “When I was in Europe with Grasshoppers, they played four European qualification games and then in the play-offs we got Fenerbahce, a huge team.
“We lost and that just goes to show how difficult it can be to reach the group stage.
“It’s tough, so we have to be ready for anything. Istanbul was a nice stadium and a great atmosphere.
“It’s a fantastic experience to play somewhere like that and that will hopefully help me be ready for Greece in the next round.
“It would be amazing for the club to reach the group stage, but it’s such a hard task.
“Thursday night was Runavik and if you want to go to the group stage you have to play much bigger teams, but anything is possible.
“We need to focus on ourselves, play our football and see what happens.We are not a team who just try to play long balls or get headers. I think we play very nice football. We showed that last season.
“When we play in Europe it is different, with tougher opponents.
“I think we’ll have a real chance if we play like we did last season.
“We can’t think the Runavik tie is over, we need to be focused for the second game. But Thursday was the perfect start for us.
“Every striker likes to score hat-tricks, but the most important thing was it was the first game and a first win.I scored a hat-trick for Hibs against Hamilton last season and I’d like to score one every week, but it’s not that easy, sadly.The important thing was winning my first European game with the club.
“I had some pain in my knee at half-time and the coach wanted to take me off, but I told him I wanted to play for another ten minutes because I wanted my hat-trick. When I got that third goal, I was happy to come off.
“I have nowhere to put the match balls yet. I need to score many more hat-tricks, then I will organise somewhere to put them.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
