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Soccer: Breadline Budgets Bite In Armenia

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  • Soccer: Breadline Budgets Bite In Armenia

    BREADLINE BUDGETS BITE IN ARMENIA
    by Khachik Chakhoyan

    UEFA, Switzerland
    Nov 29 2006

    Lack of funding and a limited commitment to local talent is conspiring
    to make matters difficult for Armenian footballers.

    Survival issues The 2006 season ended in Armenia with FC Pyunik
    topping the table and FC Banants striker Aram Hakobyan declared top
    scorer on 25 goals.

    However, there is no hiding the fact that even the strongest sides
    in Armenia cannot compete at international level, while the weaker
    ones can barely survive a domestic season. Behind Pyunik, Banants, FC
    MIKA and outsiders FC Ararat occupied the top four places. Pyunik's
    commitment to local players paid off while Banants and MIKA were
    particularly disappointed as their commitment to foreign talent failed
    to pay off.

    Youth disappointed In the end, MIKA's Brazilian star Alex was the
    only foreign import to truly make an impression, and the focus on
    overseas talent saw more local youngsters left in the reserves at the
    big clubs - something that may have been a factor in poor showings
    for the national Under-17 and U19 teams this year. While the Football
    Federation of Armenia is eager to limit clubs' reliance upon foreign
    players, the biggest problem for most of the teams in the league
    is surviving from week to week on very limited finances. Only FC
    Gandzasar Kapan out of this season's bottom four did not experience
    financial problems.

    Makeweight side This season's campaign was due to start with ten
    teams but three pulled out at the last minute, forcing the league
    authorities to found FC Ulis Yerevan at short notice in order to make
    up the numbers. Ulis survived a relegation play-off at the end of the
    season and have promised to be more competitive in 2007, looking to
    sign experienced players who are not getting first-team football at
    the bigger clubs. On an equally encouraging note, FC Kilikia, another
    struggling side, also look likely to bring in Armenian youngsters to
    make a fight of it.

    Funding issues The promotion of FC Lernayin Artsakh has given the hope
    that nine teams might start the new season, but already things are
    looking grim for FC Shirak, who finished second-from-bottom. Whether
    they will have the funding to start the 2007 campaign has to be
    seen. It also remains a fundamental issue for most Armenian clubs. The
    seemingly endless search for sponsors has kept club directors'
    attention away from the pitch.
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