Today in a large conference hall of SC “Sheriff” there was the first official press conference of our team in 2010. In the course of the talk with journalists there were summed up results of the training for the spring stage of the season as well as the new players of the nine-fold Champion of Moldova were represented.
SC “Sheriff” manager Gurduza Valery, the head coach Sasnitski Andrei and the new players Baco Nicolic, Marko Djurovic, Milos Adamovic and Zarko Korac took part in the press conference.
At the very beginning SC “Sheriff” manager and head coach told about the results of the training during the winter low season in detail.
Valery Gursuza, SC “Sheriff” manager:
- We’ve got changes in the coach staff. Leonid Kuchuk left the club in connection with the termination of the contract. Having worked by us for 6 years, he’s done an enormous work, that’s what we’re grateful to him for. It was suggested that Leonid Kuchuk’s assistant – Andrei Sasnitski should head the team. Today he is a head coach of the team.
As of the players, goalkeeper Alexandr Melenchuk left the club in connection with the termination of his contract, another goalkeeper Stanislav Namasco has moved to “Kuban” (Russia). Alexandr Suvorov has moved to “Cracovia” (Poland). Sergio da Costa has been loaned to the Brazilian club “Mixto” up to the end of the year. Viktor Truhanov and Andrei Verbecky have been loaned to FC “Tiraspol”.
Our team has gained footballers from Montenegro and Serbia – Nicolic, Djurovic, Adamovic, Korac. We pin our hopes on them and hope the guys will quickly adapt. They have passed the training session together with the team, the guys are well trained, and they’re professionals. A number of our footballers is also being tried out by other clubs, but it’s early to say something about their future. They are Andrei Corneencov, Abdul-Gafar Mamah and Igor Karpovic. We’ll let you know you about this by press as soon as we get any news.
If Tiraspol “Sheriff” has formerly looked for new players all around the world, then why this year only in the Balkans?
- In general we try to work in all regions. Every time we receive some interesting information, we try to go and see. When holding training sessions in winter low season, footballers from countries of Africa and Latin America came to our team. But among all of the reviewed footballers these guys were the most trained. We suppose they’ll help our team. In spite this we continue our work in other regions. The selective work doesn’t stop. At the moment we’re conducting negotiations for the transfer of Bulgarian goalkeeper to our club – a player of “Chernomorec” Vladislav Stoyanov. The question is still not decided. We’ll inform you as soon as we get information.
How much have you spent on the purchase of these players? And how much are you still ready to spend on the transfers in this season?
- Usually we never voice these figures as we see no sense in this. We think that there’s a goal – participation of the club in the European cups. We do whatever is necessary for this. Today we fancy ourselves only there. We’ll strengthen our lineup for this and in case of need, of course, we’ll look for and purchase required players.
Which of the players is being tried out and in what exactly club?
- Karpovic had been tried out in “Krulia Sovetov”, now he’s been invited to “Ventspils”. As of Corneencov, he’s a very good player and has spent a lot of seasons in our club. We’ll be very pleased if he finds himself in “Tobol”. If the clubs come to an agreement, the transfer will be inevitable. Will that be a loss? It’s a normal process, people come, grow and they should go further. We understand that “Sheriff” can’t be compared with leading clubs of Russia. Everyone has his own possibilities. It’s a mutual wish. We adjust to footballers’ wishes, we meet them halfway. If it’s an offer from clubs we are pleased with this and won’t hamper a transfer.
Have the results shown in the European cups last year impacted the selection work?
-Certainly, they have because the participation in the Europa League let us notice our weak sides we hadn’t known before. We tried to organize an advanced work. We’d observed the footballers which have moved to our team for a long time. We knew we had problems in the attack line, it needed strengthening. That’s why we gained the attacking players. We’ve also strengthened the midfielder line. We are working at the defence line now. There’re also problems with goalkeepers. We’ve tried out 3 players. One of them has been left. We’re trying to strengthen all positions by summer and to come to the European cups in a perfect readiness. We won’t stop. If one makes a stop he will drop behind a lot. That’ why, one needs to go with the times.
Andrei Sasnitski, FC “Sheriff” head coach:
- The season finished rather late, it‘s dragged on till the middle of December, so we didn’t rest enough. Due to this we rejected to take part in the Commonwealth’s Cup. The team has started to train for the second part of the Championship and the Cup of Moldova from January, 8th. We have had 47 workdays before the cup game against “Academia” – it’s rather a lot. We’re worried about the fact that the team which is to meet the challenges in the second stage has gathered together only before the start of the season. Nevertheless, I’m glad that we have a group of rather mature and ambitious motivated players. The only disturbing issue is how quickly they will perceive the principles of game of the team, the understanding of what the coach staff wants them to teach, of what we propagate and how quickly will this perception and understanding progress. The faster it will progress, the faster our game will become more stable and more spectacular.
We have played 7 games during this training period – 4 victories and 3 losses. Of course we’re worried about the losses. Twice we lost in the games against Czech clubs and that worries our coach staff most of all. However victories and losses during the training stage are more analyzing in nature. They give sufficient information about weak and strong sides of the game of the team in this stage of training. So the analysis is done, we know our minuses and our pluses. Hopefully, when the official games start, we’ll only increase our success, we have all necessary resources for this. First of all it’s a presence of players which want to show themselves, gain the results and tasks which have been set for them.
I’d like to dwell on our newcomers. They are all players of the attacking line. First of all it’s Marko Djurovic – attacking midfielder, a player of the junior national team of Montenegro. Our staff liked him as he always takes aim at the goal, we lacked this so much. He will strengthen the attacking game of the team with his charisma. Baco Nicolic is our forward. He’s a right-handed person, a strong and aggressive footballer. He likes power play and putting squeeze on the opponent. He can play from both left and right flank. We’ve recently signed a contract with Zarco Korac – central forward. We drew attention to his height, he heads perfectly. He put pretty much pressure on the defence line of the opponent making this as quickly as possible. And, at last, Milos Adamovic – attacking midfielder. I’m glad he’s come to our team. I’ve watched him for a long time. It’s a charismatic, stylemaking player with unpredictable actions. He can diversify our midfield line, give mobility on the field.
Do you wish your offender – team of “Twente” success in the European League? Yes or no?
- Firstly, why exactly “Twente”, secondly, I don’t consider it our offender. We can also offend. This is football. The main thing in football is a result. If they turned out to be higher in the 1/16 of the stage, so they turned out to be stronger. We outplayed them 2:0 and we lost in a rather equal game in Holland. Yesterday they beat “Verder” 1:0.
Can you say how will the question of the goalkeeper line be decided?
- It needs strengthening. We are trying some players out. In this connection Serghei Jurik is being tried out. This issue is still open.
If Gabi Balint invites your footballers to the national team, will you let them off?
- If “Sheriff” gets the invitation to the national team, of course, yes. First of all it’s a prestige for the footballer. And it’s also a plus for the club.
How difficult it was for you to decide to head the club? What makes the difference between your coach concept and Leonid Kuchuk's one?
- This decision wasn’t easy for me. Many people know about my relationship with Leonid Kuchuk. I’ve made this decision after careful consideration. I couldn’t but continue Leonid Kuchuk’s work. I’ll continue this strategic line, but surely with my understanding and concept. I’ll try to change the team game. First of all it’ll be aimed at the attack, this’s what this selection was carried out for.
Who formed the coach staff?
-It’s my assistant Koulish Yuri Petrovich, a goalkeeper coach Ivanov Eugeny, a team manager Oleg Turcanu, a fitness coach Scorpan Alexei, a coach-analyst Knyazuk Vasily, a doctor Vremes Vladimir, masseurs Vyacheslav Alekseev and Sergei Karaman, team administrator Muntean Vladimir.
Do you see anyone as the main opponent in the ND?
- Our task is to beat every opponent. We need to look forward to the victory and to do our best to win all tournaments and championships of Moldova.
To your mind, who is a potential opponent in the struggle for the championship?
- At the present moment the gap to the 2nd place makes up 2 points, that’s why every team we’ll play against is our real opponent. All guys get ready for every match as for the last one.
After answering the journalists’ questions, Valery Konstantinovich and Andrei Alexeevich gave place to the newcomers of the team who shared their impressions about FC “Sheriff”.
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Baco Nicolic, FC “Sheriff” forward:
- I’m glad that I’ve come to “Sheriff”. It pleases me to stay here.
Have you already seen the town of Tiraspol? What can you say about local girls? Everyone notes that they’re very beautiful here…
- Yes, I like your town. And the girls are extraordinary here. They are very beautiful (laughing).
Marko Djurovic, FC “Sheriff” midfielder:
- I’m glad too that I’ve come to this team. There’s a very good organization here.
You have already played against ND teams – “Sfintul Gheorghe” and “Dinamo”. You’ve even scored twice. What do you think of these opponents?
- I scarcely know these teams, but “Sheriff” team is much stronger then those we’ve played against in Tiraspol.
Milos Adamovic, FC “Sheriff” midfielder:
- I’m very glad that I’ve come to “Sheriff”. I’m surprised with the conditions we’ve been offered here. There’s no sign of such conditions in Serbia.
Did you see “Sheriff” game in the Commonwealth’s Cup when you played for “OFK”?
- Yes, I saw their game. “Sheriff” is a very good team.
In Serbia a half of the Serbs support “Partisan”, another half – “Crvena Zvezda”. What team do you support?
- In spite I grew and played most of the time for “OFK”, my heart belongs to “Crvena Zvezda”.
Zarco Korac, FC “Sheriff” forward:
- My transfer to “Sheriff” is a new stage in my career. We’ll do our best to make our fans happy.
The final stage of the press conference was the investiture of the new players FC “Sheriff” with football shirts. Baco Nicolic will play as number 7, Marko Djurovic has chosen number 19, Zarko Korac – number 11 and Milos Adamovic has got number 44.
