Big guns fire again in Belarus

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668781309968675794.post-45374107060512573932007-02-09T06:47:00.000-08:002007-02-09T06:47:06.175-08:00Big guns fire again in Belarusuefa.com - Football Europe - News & Features - News Specific Wednesday, 7 February 2007 by Denis Orlov Extra spice has been added to the forthcoming season in Belarus after FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk and FC Darida Zhdanovichi recruited coaches Eduard Malofeev and Anatoly Baidachny – both of whom have previously worked with the national side. National success Malofeev had a successful spell with the national team between 2000 and 2003 before being replaced by Baidachny, who coached the squad until the end of 2005. Malofeev took charge at MTZ-RIPO in December while Baidachny became the coach of FC Darida Zhdanovichi. MTZ-RIPO finished fourth in the league last season while Darida ended in eighth place. Both clubs will be keen to get into the top-three when the league starts again in April with MTZ-RIPO also pushing for a UEFA Cup spot via the Belarus Cup, in which they face FC BATE Borisov in the quarter-finals. Infectious energy The new MTZ-RIPO coach has lost none of his passion for the game despite spending nearly three decades in coaching. Malofeev, 64, said: "I am full of energy now - the same as when I was 36 years old and just finishing coaching school. I will conduct practice sessions with the same energy. As soon as someone stops working hard they should quit work and pick up their pension." Malofeev has even promised to assist fellow coaches if they require his help and with current FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk and FC Dinamo Minsk coaches, Yuri Vergeichik and Petr Kachuro, having both studied under Malafeev, he should be inundated with offers. Increased expectations Meanwhile, 54-year-old Baidachny has high expectations for Darida. He said: "I hope we can build a strong team that will be capable of success. We will look for investment and rich partners, probably from outside Belarus. I think the quality of play and interest in the league will grow." Darida went to Turkey for a training camp at the end of January with MTZ-RIPO set to follow their example soon. Last Friday, Darida played a goalless ‘friendly’ against FC Dinamo Makhachkala – which ended in controversial fashion. The referee showed three red cards, including one to Darida's Sergey Kabelsky, so it appears that Baidachny has already installed an uncompromising attitude into his players prior to the season’s commencement. <a href="http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=504685.html">uefa.com - Football Europe - News & Features - News Specific</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">FC MTZ-RIPO.com feeder</div>Trimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09131619498151346614noreply@blogger.com