Yerevan rivals on UEFA Cup quest
Monday 7 July 2008by Khachik Chakhoyan from Yerevan

Capital rivals FC Ararat Yerevan and FC Banants will represent Armenia
in the UEFA Cup this season and will hope to improve on their nation’s
recent showing in the competition.

Disappointing record
Banants, runners-up behind FC Pyunik in 2007, will be in the
competition for the sixth consecutive season but only once have
progressed beyond the initial qualifying round, when they defeated
Georgia’s FC Lokomotivi Tblisi three years ago, and on 15 and 29 July
have among the hardest possible opposition in FC Salzburg. Meanwhile
Ararat are back in the competition for the first time since 2001/02,
and face Swiss opponents in AC Bellinzona. Indeed, no Armenian club
has ever got beyond the second qualifying round.

Changes
While Ararat lead the way in the Armenian league, Banants are fourth
having made some changes to their squad under coach Nedelcho Matushev,
appointed in winter. Striker Aram Hakobyan, midfielder Romeo Djenebyan
and defender Andrej Cherevko have all left while Armenian
international Karen Aleksanyan’s contract was allowed to expire. Other
players have been injured while although the likes of Aram Baregamyan,
Arsen Balabekyan and Norajr Gjozalyan have potential, the club board
is worried at the lack of experience ahead of the Salzburg tie.

Salzburg test
Club president Sargis Israelyan said: "Our opponents are really
strong. Salzburg are one of the strongest sides at this stage of the
tournament. However our players are ready to show their best. It’s
very important to be ready mentally. We need to show our team
spirit. I hope that would bring us some luck."

Ararat form
Since losing twice to Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC on their last UEFA Cup entry,
Ararat had been out of Europe until a UEFA Intertoto Cup first-round
loss to FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk last year, when a 4-1 defeat in Belarus
meant a 2-0 home win a week later was in vain. However, their fine
form in 2008, when they started the season with seven straight
victories, has increased optimism although they are looking to
strength their attack and buy a new goalkeeper. However, Ararat’s
South American-infused team have been performing well, not least
Brazilian Renato Moraes and compatriot Markos Pizzeli, who scored two
minutes from time to secure a 2-1 Armenian Cup final win against
Banants in May. The victory took the club into the UEFA Cup and a tie
against European debutants Bellinzona.

Swiss challenge
Coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan said: "We don’t know our opponents too well
at the moment but we already know they will be playing in the Swiss
top flight this season. Bellinzona are buying seven new players and
that is an indication of their serious approach to the UEFA Cup. We
have to be well prepared in order to have our say on the European
stage after a rather long break."

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