LERNAYIN LEAVE ARMENIA SHORT-STAFFED
by Khachik Chakhoyan from Yerevan

uefa.com, Switzerland
April 5 2007

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.

Gevorg Kasparov has left Pyunik to move to Iran (©Getty Images).

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