PRETENDERS TO CHAMPION’S TITLE HAVE INCREASED

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04 April, 2008

The Armenian Football Championship-2008 kicks off on Sunday, April
6. The championship features eight clubs of a higher group.

"Pyunik," Yerevan

Armenia’s champion of the past seven years has held a few elimination
matches this year which testify that Pyunik will encounter difficulties
to hold the champion’s title. A number of key footballers have left
the team, among them Levon Pachajian, Robert Arzumanian, Aghvan
Mkrtchian, Alexandre Tadevosian, Arsen Avetisian, Rafael Nazarian
and Tigran Kharabakhtsian.

"Banants," Yerevan

The chief coach of the team, Nikolay Kostov, left Banants for
"Metalurg," Donetsk, just on the eve of the championship. Besides,
leading footballers Ararat Arakelian and Samvel Melkonian, as well as
goal-keepers Nenad Radach and Aram Hakobian have quited the club. The
bronze-medal holder of the previous two championships has signed
a contract with a few legionnaires and footballers of the Armenian
football team Karen Alexanian and Romik Khachatrian.

"Mika," Ashtarak

Arkady Andreasian began training the club in the middle of the
previous championship when the team was already suffering great
losses. No serious changes have been made in the team, except for
David Grigorian’s return to the club.

"Ararat," Yerevan

At the head of Varujan Sukiasian Ararat took the lead in the
championship of 2007 just from the very start.

Although today Varujan Sukiasian is back to the club, the latter has
lost a number of leading footballers, among them Arthur Voskanian
who has been transferred to "Vitebsk."

"Gandzasar," Kapan

The team is considered to be "international" since it features 14
foreign footballers at a time. The team made a deep impression during
the trainings, and specialists think Gandzasar can compete for the
first place. Armenia’s best striker Arsen Avetisian plays in Gandzasar.

"Shirak," Gyumri

Unlike the other clubs, Shirak hasn’t held trainings abroad. Andranik
Adamian has returned to the club.

Owing to Adamian’s hard work Shirak had great achievements in the 90s.

"Ulysses," Yerevan

At the head of Suren Barseghian the team became a serious contender
for the leaders, especially after a decisive victory over "Ararat."

"Kilikia," Yerevan

The outsider of the previous championship is expected to play better
as the team has showed positive results during the trainings at the
head of new coach Erwand Krbashian.