THE BALTIC PREMIER LEAGUE IS A FACT!

During the Baltic Cup 2004 in futsal, meeting of representative’s futsal leagues of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus has taken place. Creating a Baltic Premier League was a main subject which was discussed.

As General Secretary of Baltic Premier League – Head of Belarus Futsal Federation Sergey Kunitza has told us: "The idea of creation of Baltic Premier League was born for a long time ago. And only now we get going: tournament is not only registered, but also is ready to start!.."

Sergey Kunitsa (General Secretary of Baltic Futsal League)

"...At the first participants meeting we agreed about terms, conditions and the rules of Baltic Premier League. Six commands will take part in the first draw. Until now confirmed participation 2 the strongest teams this year from Latvia – RABA(Riga) and LAROCCA(Riga), 2 teams from Belarus – MAPID Minsk and BELAGROMBANK Minsk. Three first teams were taken part in Baltic Cup 2004, and chefs of BELAGROMBANK were taking part as a visitors. In Baltic Premier League will participate also 2 teams from Lithuania, but who exactly – we should know in the middle of December. If someone from the Lithuanian teams will refuse, that is a possibility, that they will be replaced with the Polish or Finnish club. Finnish clubs are so desperate to play in Baltic Premier League, they are ready to play even only away games. Already before the first season, we see that in next year we have to increase number of participants.

Dates of games of the Baltic Premier League are agreed also. The first round will take place in Minsk(Belarus) at the end of January, the second round – in Lithuania at the end of February and final in Riga – at the end of March. Participants will play 2 circles(10 games each team). In each round, each of team will play 3 games. Between each round teams from one country will play among themselves. In each round the best player will be defined. Winners of Baltic Premier League will receive medals and a cup...".

Anatoly Romanyuk (President of the Baltic Premier League)

"...all problems and organizational questions we solve together: me, mr. Kunitsa and Sergey Sliva from Lithuania (General Director of the Lithuanian Premier League). As a warm up tournament we made the Baltic Cup 2004. It was quite difficult to organize everything, but tournament was on a good level.
It was marked also by visitors from Lithuania and Belarus. As to Baltic Premier League I can’t say that RABA is a main favourite (Team who won Baltic Cup 2004). Of course we have team with great players, but they still need time to play together. Also our main players only are coming to form after injuries: Rudzonis and Slepov, and Alekseyev still are injured. The main favourites for the first place, I think will be BELAGROPROMBANK and MAPID..."

Joseph Hushensky (the chief of Minsk command MAPID)

"...I’m very grateful organizers of the Baltic Cup 2004 for the invitation. Such tournaments are very necessary for teams from Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus. The more often we shall meet and play, the better for futsal in our region. Tournament has shown, that forces of our teams are approximately equal. In one day one team more preferably looked, in another – others. I hope that BALTIC CUP and BALTIC PREMIER LEAGUE will be more and more popular, and actually will be great if in BALTIC Championship we can have teams from Finland, Poland, Scandinavia and Russia.

- Did MAPID played in BALTIC CUP 2004 with the strongest team?

"...we were missing 2 main players in our team: goalkeeper of national Belarus team Vacheslav Nigatin and forward Dimitry Ageychik. In Mapid also we have another candidates to national Belarus team: Skadorva, Komarov and Yeliseev. As to Lagutko – long time player of national team- nobody write him off it, but football player has decided to concentrate on performances for club..."

- How your team is playing this year in Belarus Premier League?

"...in last season MAPID didn’t have a good finish and was only fourth. It was a competition to the end with difference of one point, and big unlucky stopped us from to get medals. The champion became DOROZHNIK and second came BELAGROPROMBANKA. Anyway last year we won Cup and Super Cup of our Country. This year after nine rounds we take second place with only one draw and one loose to a leader DOROZHNIK...".