YOUTH GIVEN A CHANCE IN ARMENIA
by Khachik Chakhoyan

UEFA
Jan 23 2008
Switzerland

Artur Voskanyan has left Armenia for a new challenge abroad (AFP)Ahead
of the 2008 Bardzraguyn Khumb campaign, champions FC Pyunik and
runners-up FC Banants have lost a number of influential players to
the lure of football abroad.

Impressive performances Following Armenia’s respectable performance in
their UEFA EURO 2008~Y qualifiers – including a notable 1-0 victory
over Group A winners Poland – the country’s leading players have
attracted the attention of foreign clubs. It is unlikely that the
latest crop of talent from the Pyunik and Banants academies will make
the grade immediately, meaning Armenia’s premier sides face a tall
order to repeat last season’s one-two.

Internationals lead exodus FC Ararat Yerevan’s national-team
midfielder Artur Voskanyan was first to leave to Belarussian side
FC Vitebsk. His example set a precedent for the league’s leading
players, with international team-mate Aleksandr Tadevosyan following
from Pyunik. The Armenian champions have since lost the services of
central defender Robert Arzumanyan earlier this month on a one-year
loan to Danish club Randers FC, and of midfielder Levon Pachajyan
following a successful trial at Swedish side GAIS Goteborg.

Giving youth a chance With Rafael Nazaryan, Arsen Avetisyan, Tigran
Karabagtsyan and Uruguayan Ignacio Bordat also making an exit, Pyunik
will be without some familiar faces. Coach Armen Gyulbudaghyants
said: "Of course, it’ll be hard for us to repeat our success. However
we’ve already chosen our strategy at Pyunik – we’re betting on youth
football.

Luckily, our academy is already producing new talents. There’s an
opinion in the football world that time can iron out a player’s flaws.

‘Trust the youngsters’ "Our young players will benefit from
intense competition for places while, by playing matches, they will
improve both their knowledge of the game and their skills," added
Gyulbudaghyants. "Last season Artur Yedigaryan, Hamlet Mkhitaryan and
Gevorg Ghazaryan played UEFA Champions League qualifying matches. I’m
sure that this campaign they’ll do even better, and the others will
have a great example to follow. This approach will help the Armenia
national team as well. We have to trust the youngsters."

Spine removed Banants’ transfer policy is no different: experience
is making way for youth. The departures of Samvel Melkonyan, Ararat
Arakelyan, Ara Hakobyan and Karen Simonyan – the spine of last season’s
team – have all moved abroad. However the blow will be cushioned
slightly with the acquisition of several seasoned professionals from
Moldova, Romania and Georgia. The club have signed Bulgarian midfielder
Marko Markov while national-team midfielder Karen Aleksanyan has been
brought back home from Moldova.