Porterfield unable to assist Armenia
Tuesday 4 September 2007
by Khachik Chakhoyan
Improving Armenia will have to do without coach Ian
Porterfield for their friendly matches against Cyprus
on Saturday and against Malta next Wednesday.
Cancer treatment
The 61-year-old Porterfield, whose side have beaten
Kazakhstan, defeated Poland and drawn with Portugal in
their last three UEFA EURO 2008′ qualifiers, has been
readmitted to a London hospital where he is undergoing
treatment for colon cancer. He will be replaced by
assistant coaches Tom Jones and Vardan Minasyan. The
Scot, who scored the winning goal for Sunderland AFC
in the 1973 FA Cup final, was in the dugout for
Armenia’s 1-1 draw with Portugal on 22 August.
Squad reshuffle
Goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky, striker Robert Zebelyan
and midfielder Hamlet Mkhitaryan will also be absent
for the team’s two matches. FC Ulis Yerevan custodian
Mayis Azizyan has been brought in to provide cover,
with forwards Ara Hakobyan and Arsen Avetisyan also
recalled. FC Banants defender Hovhannes Grigoryan,
meanwhile, has received his first call-up. Players
eligible for Under-21 duty have been overlooked.
Armenia squad
Goalkeepers: Feliks Hakobyan (FC MIKA), Mayis Azizyan
(FC Ulis Yerevan).
Defenders: Robert Arzumanyan (FC Pyunik), Karen
Dokhoyan (FC Pyunik), Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik),
Aleksandr Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Egishe Melikyan (FC
Banants), Vahagn Minasyan (FC Ararat Yerevan), Ararat
Arakelyan (FC Banants), Hovhannes Grigoryan (FC
Banants).
Midfielders: Agvan Lazarian (FC Pyunik), Romik
Khachatryan (FC Universitatea Cluj), Artavazd Karamyan
(FC Politehnica 1921 Stiinta Timiºoara), Levon
Pachajyan (FC Pyunik), Artur Minasyan (FC Ararat
Yerevan), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants), Artur
Voskanyan (FC Ararat Yerevan).
Forwards: Arman Karamyan (FC Politehnica 1921 Stiinta
Timiºoara), Arsen Avetisyan (FC Pyunik), Ara Hakobyan
(FC Zimbru Chisinau).
©uefa.com
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
