The quarantine disrupted the plans of almost all the children teams – over the last three months no tournaments were held and apart from that there were no practice sessions. Most of the teams resorted to distance training. However, with the first stage of slackening, regular training sessions resumed. The teams could not boast of good shape, though.
The quarantine messed up the holding of two traditional tournaments – the Plarium Ukraine Cup and the Borys Lanevskyy Memorial Cup, devoted to the International Day for Protection of Children. It was decided to hold the latter one, though, in an unusual time – at the height of summer – and with an uncommon and simple title – the Summer Futsal Cup.
The format of the tournament is determined as the event goes. Many teams have neither settled their plans nor had a clear understanding as to whether they should play during the quarantine. For that reason, the organizers have no clear view of what League 2006 will look like: whether it is going to be a standing alone League or the one combined with League 2007. While teams are deciding whether to participate or not – the two that decided to participate have already played a first tour match.
FC Chkalovske is a dark horse. Actually, they are a group of young footballers of Chuhuiv region with the nucleus from urban-type settlement Chkalovske. Only four guests managed to arrive in time for the start of the tournament and when the rest of the supporters came we were leading 3:0. The second four player squad having replaced the first one scored three times. Demyd Yevsiukov, who was among the most active player on the field today, shot a brace and then assisted to Daniil Dudin.
Looking quite indolent under the blazing sun, Phoenix was in full control of the match, steering the game skillfully and monotonously. Rare counter-attacks of Chuhuiv guys were deflected by Eldar Bratchuk with confidence.
In the second half the course of the game would not change: Phoenix was attacking successfully while the guests were fighting off. Phoenix coaches decided not to let the score become humiliating and set the violets up to play the two-touch style and practiced different combinations of the four player squads. Vlad Khrypchuk and Denis Mikhno were up to speed with the rest of the team. The former one had a sheer chance to shine but failed to score into an empty corner of the net from a beneficial position.
The standards turned out to be team’s main issue, as the kick-off match showed. Over the lengthy period of quarantine Phoenix seemed to have forgotten how to use them and the coaches were clearly upset when the standard-induced mistakes occurred. Tactics will probably be the key highlight of the nearest practice sessions.
Phoenix has scored three points and is now expecting to find out who its next competitor will be as well as to clarify about the format of the tournament and the teams that are going to compete in it.