The other day the draw of the sixteenth competition of CIS and Baltic States Champions Cup has been held. The competition will take place in Saint-Petersburg in the period of January 19-27, 2008, at SC “Pererburgskiy” and Sports Games Palace “Zenit”.
The transfer of the competition to the City on Neva-river is officially explained by the fact that in January in Moscow the World Championship for Russian hockey is taking place and Sports Complex “Olympiyskiy” will be busy. However, the certain policy is detected in that – if “Zenit” wins the Championship of Russia, the interest in the tournament, which has become boring for the capital, would be high enough especially if the Club from Saint-Petersburg puts forward its strongest line-up. And not accidentally it is rumored that in case of winning champion's title by “Spartak”, “Zenit” will be sent to the competition since red-whites shall hardly put forward their first team and the spectators’ interest in the tournament then would be minimum.
All participants of the Commonwealth Cup are divided into four groups. Not all National Championships of CIS have come to the end yet and States, not clubs, take part in the draw. At first, teams conduct one-leg tournaments in groups. The matches will be played on January 19, 20, 22. Then play-off system comes into force. Two best teams from each group reach the quarterfinal. On January 23, at this stage the following matches will be played: A1-B2, D1-C2, B1-A2, C1-D2. On January 25, winners of pairs A1/B2 - D1/C2, B1/A2 – C1/D2 will play in the semifinal. The final match will be played on January 27.
Group A
As a result of the draw, the opponents of the Champion of Russia in group A are teams from those countries that CSKA didn’t meet with in the past competition. The most serious rival in the group stage is FC “Sheriff”, the Champion of Moldova, which constantly takes part in the Commonwealth Cup competition since 2002, twice reached the semifinal and even won the main trophy in 2003. One more quite interesting opponent – Estonian “Levadia”, which will certainly come to the tournament as the Champion of Estonia (two legs are remained to the end of the championship). So, the Champion of Russia is expected to meet with Borman – Valery Ovchinnikov occupies the position of the Vice-President in the Estonian Club. And finally, the third opponent of the Premier League winner is the holder of gold medals of the Championship of Turkmenistan. The period of decisive matches is coming in the local championship now and three teams at the same time are fighting for the “gold” – the last year’s outsider of Commonwealth Cup group D “MTTU”, “Nebitchi” and “Ashkhabad”.
Group B
There are not evident favorites in group B, but all teams are ambitious enough. At the tournament Kazakhstan will be presented probably by “Aktobe” which three legs before the end of the National Championship passes ahead of “Tobol” for six points and is going to play all remained games at home where it has not been beaten during the third season. Two more participants of the group are known – “Kaunas” which has become the Champion of Lithuania ahead of time and “Khazar-Lyankyaran”, the Champion of Azerbaijan. Interestingly, coach of the Azerbaijan team Agasalim Mirdjavadov already has the experience in winning the tournament, but with “Neftchi” in 2006. In the final his team just defeated “Kaunas”. And the fourth participant of the group will probably be Tajik “Regar-TadAZ” leading in its National Championship.
Group C
The invited team-guest – Serbian “OFK” has come into group C. In the past competition representatives of Balkan Mountains reached the semifinal where in the penalty shoot-out they went out to the next winner of the tournament. As a year ago, Serbians have come into the one group together with the Champion of Georgia. At this time it is the debutant of the Commonwealth Cup – Rustavian “Olympi”. The third participant of the group is Latvian “Ventspils” which defeated CSKA in the semifinal last year but was beaten in the penalty shoot-out in the final. Most likely that “Dordoy-Dinamo” may keep company to the Serbians, Georgians and Latvians. In the Championship of Kyrgyzstan this Club is taking first place, leading by five points and having three games in reserve.
Group D
Quite powerful teams form group D where Ukraine will be presented by “Dinamo” from Kiev that became the holder of the Commonwealth Cup four times. Though, by tradition they shall hardly send the strongest line-up to the tournament. Moreover, the other nearest neighbor of Russia is presented in group D – Belorussia. Its representative is already known as well – this is “BATE” which was knocked out in the quarterfinal stage last year. The company to the Belorussians and Ukrainians is kept by the Champion of Uzbekistan and, to all appearance, once again it will be “Pakhtakor” from Tashkent, one of the old residents of the Commonwealth Cup and, in addition, the acting holder of the trophy. In January, 2007, this Uzbek club reached the final where in the penalty shoot-out it defeated “Ventspils”. And the last participant in this company is the Champion of Armenia. “Pyunik” and “Banants” keep competing for the first place there, but after the scandal at the Commonwealth Cup-2006, when the club from Erevan refused to go into the field in the semifinal match against “Neftchi” referring to the fact that Russian Football Association didn’t provide the guarantee of safety in written form, “Pyunik” has no more been invited to the tournament. So, the honor of Armenia, to all appearance, once again will be defended by “Banants” which failed to qualify in the group last winter when also competing both with the Ukrainian and Uzbek champions.
