Lernayin leave Armenia short-staffed
Thursday, 5 April 2007
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan

For the second season in succession, the Armenian
league has been hit with last minute withdrawals,
while a new side have made a bright start in the cup.

Late withdrawal
Last season’s Armenian league campaign was preceded by
the withdrawals of both Yerevan United FC and FC
Esteghlal-Kotaik, both of whom disbanded. Eight teams
competed in the top division in 2006, and it will be
the same in 2007 after FC Lernayin Artsakh declined to
join the top division.

Financial problems
Lernayin had been due to take their place in a
new-look nine-team Armenian elite but it soon became
clear that the club did not have the finances to
support a top-level campaign, causing a last-minute
readjustment of the fixture list ahead of 14 April’s
big kick-off.

Cup openers
The season began in earnest with the last-16 ties in
the Armenian Cup, with a hitherto untried side – FC
Bentonit Idjevan – winning through 2-1 on aggregate
against FC Gandzasar Kapan to earn a place in the last
eight, where they will take on reigning champions FC
Pyunik.

New club
Formed at the start of the year by former Armenian
international David Davtyan, Bentonit have been
admitted to the cup and the second division. Boasting
players from Brazil, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia
and Mexico, they are led by a German coach,
33-year-old former goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.

Goalkeeper departs
Pyunik and FC Banants look like the favourites for
league honours this season, although the champions
received a major blow with goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov
deciding to move to Iran. Banants are also short of a
reliable goalkeeper and could still use an out-and-out
finisher to spearhead their campaign.

MIKA resolved
A training camp in Antalya, Turkey, has allowed FC
MIKA to have a good look at their options for the
season, and the five-time Armenian Cup winners are set
to rely on foreign talent. Luis Rodrigues, Akleison
and Talles have joined fellow Brazilians Alex and
Kleber at the club along with Serbian midfielder Ivan
Ristiæ.

Ulis arrivals
Having been spared from relegation last season
following a play-off win, FC Ulis Yerevan will hope to
do better in 2007 and have brought in some foreign
talent to help them. Brazilian Oliveira, Georgians
Georgi Khutsishvili and Georgi Sulaberidze and
Lithuanian defender Vadims Javoiss have joined on
one-year deals.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress