Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dorozhnik take realistic view

Wednesday, 29 November 2006

by Denis Orlov

from Minsk

With the Elite round of the UEFA Futsal Cup getting under way from next Monday, uefa.com is taking a closer look at each of the 16 sides involved. Today we profile Group D contenders FC Dorozhnik Minsk, who go to Budapest to play hosts Futsal Club Gödöllö, Spanish champions El Pozo Murcia FS, and 2005/06 semi-finalists Kairat Almaty.

Belarussian dominance
Dorozhnik have been the dominant force in Belarus over recent years - and as a result are in their fifth consecutive UEFA Futsal Cup, having only missed the inaugural 2001/02 edition, a season in which they began their run of five consecutive titles to add to their first triumph in 1998/99, when they completed the double as they have done again in the last three campaigns. They were founded in 1994, but only moved to Minsk a decade later having previously been based 25km away in Fanipol.

European campaigns
However, it seems their dominance could end this year as FC MAPID Minsk have won all their ten games - while Dorozhnik lie sixth, 15 points behind having lost four times in nine league matches. Still, Dorozhnik have European futsal to look forward to and their history in continental competition has been one of steady improvement. In their first two entries they departed in the first qualifying round, though each time they won twice only to then lose to 2002/03 winners Playas de Castellón FS and then MNK Split.

Rematches
In 2004/05 they progressed unbeaten, drawing 4-4 with Split and then defeating Kairat 5-4 to oust the Croatian team. Dorozhnik began the second qualifying round with an 8-0 reverse against Murcia, but improved to only lose 10-6 to MFK Dinamo Moskva and 4-3 to FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Last season they again met Kairat at the first stage, losing 4-1, and although they had beaten ACS Odorheiu Secuiesc 5-3 they then lost 3-1 to FC Raba. This term, however, they cruised through the Main round with comfortable wins against FK Nafta Mazeikiai, Iberia 2003 Tbilisi and CC LKW Jistebnik to set up rematches with Kairat and Murcia.

Successful coach
Their coach Valery Dosko, 43, may never have played professional football or futsal, but he has dominated the small-sided game in Belarus in a managerial role. He has won eight of the 14 league titles since independence since taking charge of FC Stroyzakaz Minsk (later renamed Akademia) in 1992, winning the championship that year and again in 1996/97, before moving on to oversee Dorozhnik's successes. Overall he has only finished outside the top three twice and won six of his nine cup finals. Since 2002 he has also coached the national team, coming close to qualification for the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship and losing in the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup play-offs to Ukraine. He has an all-Belarussian squad at Dorozhnik including key internationals Sergei Kouznetsov, Viktar Ivaniutsin and Vadzim Lushkouski, all former football players.

'Very slight chance'
Dosko admits they have a tough task in Budapest, however. "We were unlucky with the draw," he said. "We did not want to play a Spanish team - and we were drawn against their champions Murcia who scored eight goals against us in Moscow and are number one in European futsal. It is also always hard to play against the hosts, and Kairat were the strongest club from the third seeding pot. I would not call our group 'the group of death' but if we face the truth we have only a very slight chance."



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com