Shakhtar Football Club | Fan website

Shakhtar: the right choice

babetskaGus — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:47:11 GMT

07-02-10 15:07:39

Shakhtar has already made its choice. As our site has informed earlier the Ukrainian part of the team which is staying at the training camp in Marbella, headed off to Malaga to take part in the election of the new president of Ukraine. To make explicit their political will 27 Shakhtar representatives covered 75 km from the hotel to Ukrainian consulate.

Mircea Lucescu gave the opportunity to relax to foreign players who , of course, could not take part in Ukrainian political processes. But Darijo Srna, Igor Duljaj, Mariusz Lewandowski and Tomas Hübschman came out to see the bus with Ukrainians off and instructed them like before the battle. The team captain was specially persuasive. Darijo knows well who he would vote for if he had a n opportunity to. The captain asked hir Ukrainian friends to take the choice seriously.

The bus with Donetsk delegation was parked near Malaga port, from where they had to walk a bit up to Ukrainian consulate, located deep in the yards, far from the highways. Shakhtar proved to arrive right at the rush hour. As the embassy employees informed, the church service had just been over and Ukrainian citizens started to go to elections. Let’s pay tribute to to consulate employees and citizens: everybody understood the situation of the team bound with training schedule and gave Shakhtar the opportunity to poll without standing in a queue of 50-70 people.

As the consulate informed, about 1300 Ukrainians are registered there, moreover, tourists relaxing at the Mediterranean take part as well. During the last round of presidential elections 600people voted in Malaga. Now dynamics was more interesting. By 10.45 250 people had already given their votes.

It’s pleasant that Shakhtar arrival evokes a kind of agitation among our compatriots. There were applauses and love confessions, the footballers were giving autographs and were taking photos with supporters. The football lovers were telling which matches of the Hirnyky they managed to attend and remembered Sevilla, Valencia and Barcelona.
Khmelnytskyy region representatives were determined to get the number of Dmytro Chyhrynskyy to call to his new place of dwelling.

The citizens of western Ukraine who came to work in warm countries were predominating. But there were some people from Donbass who were excited by the fact Shakhtar representatives are making the right choice.

A kind of unique photo with Ukraine consulate employees has been taken. It’s not only about diplomats being with Shakhtar on the photo together. It’s just because Shakhtar is a really multinational team. It must have been for the first time when all Ukrainian representatives could be seen together on one picture.

today Ukraine is experiencing a very important moment in its history. Every vote is of a huge value. Here the Hirnyky could be satisfied and calm as they paid their tribute of citizens and then left for the training camp in Kempinsky hotel in Estepona.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

You were asking Rat? Then watch and hear!

babetskaGus — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:46:27 GMT

07-02-10 07:30:47

A new competition called Tête-à-tête, which has got underway since the beginning of February, gains more and more popularity. The number of supporters who want to communicate with Shakhtar players in person grows every minute. Despite the fact the terms for asking questions to our first participant – Razvan Rat – have passed long ago the post from fans is still coming. Related to this we remind once again: you sgould send your questions before the appointed deadline. The letters that arrive later will not reach the addressee.

The next hero of the competition is getting ready for broadcasting. In the meanwhile, Razvan Rat answers your questions! Watch an exclusive interview from Spain!

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

The first and the only

babetskaGus — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:45:55 GMT

06-02-10 23:09:36

The team of the year – this is the title which Shakhar was awarded according to respectable internet-project UA-Football opinion: http://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/best2009/4b5df854.html.

2 341 poll respondents evaluated Donetsk team success to their merits . According to them, though the Hirnyky didn’t take any trophy at home arena, they made one important breakthrough – won UEFA Cup, which no club in the history of independent Ukraine has ever done. In was not the least supporting to this idea that Shakhtar is the only Ukrainian club to continue its struggle in Europe.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

80 fans will support Club Brugge

babetskaGus — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:43:43 GMT

03-12-09 11:38:58

Recently the meeting, concerning the matchday 5 of the UEFA Europa League group stage, has been over. Both clubs representatives and all services responsible for the clash organization have confirmed the final details of forthcoming match.

The venue and match kick-off remain unchanged – at 20:00 (Kyiv time) on referee’s blow the teams will start playing at Donbas Arena. As for tonight's kit, Donetsk side will appear in conventional orange and black gear and Club Brugge will wear a pure white kit.

The Donbas Arena will be welcoming a 45,000 crowd tonight, with Club Brugge support coming from 80 avid fans, 70 of them came to Donetsk along with the team.

As for the media representatives, 133 journalists got an accreditation for tonight’s match coverage. Among them: 80 Ukrainians and 33 foreign media representatives.

Press Office

Mircea Lucescu: “A coach of the national team must be neutral”

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:29:33 GMT

2-12-09 15:09:54

The pre-match activities on the upcoming Shakhtar v Club Brugge clash of the UEFA Europa League group stage have started from Mircea Lucescu’s press conference.

—It is even hard to explain such a great media’s interest in the press conference, the Miners’ coach noted, seeing a small quantity of media representatives, arrived at today’s meeting. If it were in Romania, perhaps, this conference room would be overcrowded with people, willing to get here.

As for the game, tomorrow it is going to be a hard clash. Of course, our wish to hold first place in the group is quite obvious. Firstly, it is very prestigious; secondly, it helps to enhance the team’s ranking. I am sure tomorrow Brugge will be quite different from it used to be in the first leg, in Belgium. We can assume from the press highlights and the things that are happening in the team at the moment, about five players, who were playing against us in the first leg, will not take part at tomorrow’s match. They will be substituted with other footballers. I guess they did not expect such a game we have shown at their home ground. It was a kind of surprise for them. Now when they have studied us more precisely, it will be harder for us to play this time. Moreover, they usually appear better in away matches, than at home. In the away match they drew against Toulouse and beat Partizan both away and home. That is why one of the most important factors that could help us at this match is a capacity crowd that will put pressure on our players, inspire them to take the lead. We should do our best to decide a question of the first place tomorrow. Taking about the team itself, we have got some problems with Fernandinho after the last game. Plus Oleksandr Kucher got an injury at the match against Greece’s national team. But he is already ok now. So, he is training along with everybody and is getting ready for the upcoming match.

—Will Kucher and Fernandinho be playing tomorrow?
—Yes, they are preparing for the game.

— Are you going to choose tomorrow’s line-up, considering the forthcoming match against Kryvbas?
—All games are very important for us. The most important thing is to hold the first place in the group and then, to prepare for other matches quietly. We will have two days more to recover and to be ready for Kryvbas and other matches till the end of the year. Shakhtar has become a machine that needs to gain the positive results in all tournaments. We are always punished, when we are not focused on the game.

—A question to Jadson: — What is your source of motivation for upcoming match?
—Jadson: My greetings to all, who are present here today. Despite we have already secured the Euro Cup spring, there is going to be very important tournament for us. Each of us will be trying to get ready for upcoming match in his own way, being motivated apparently by the head coach. We have to prove our level in this tournament.

—Mister Lucescu, can we ask you a question not concerning the match against Brugge? Yesterday Rinat Akhmetov told that he did not have anything against your negotiation with Grygoriy Surkis about the coaching of Ukraine’s national team. Could, please, comment on it?
—The problem is I have to answer media representatives’ question… As a matter of fact, I was not made any offers personally. As for my appearance in the national team of Ukraine, I suppose there are too many assumptions about that have arisen. I followed discussions on the Internet and among media representatives with a great interest. I would like to answer this question clearly. The most important thing is that I have gained the results in all countries I have been working. There is much talks about some sort of contract that I could be offered. And perhaps, it may excite certain envy.

—What principle changes have been made in Club Brugge?
—As for tomorrow’s clash against Brugge, I think there will not be any significant tactical changes. Our team shows very spectacular and efficient football in the Europa League. We will try to dictate terms in the game. We have studied Brugge perfectly. This team is physically fitted. While attacking on flanks at least four midfielders usually come up from the deep of the pitch into the penalty area. We will try to block flanks and change the defensive position into attacks fast. Do not forget that Brugge’s defenders are very strong and tall, but still not so quick and flexible.

—Mister, you have told there is no peace for you yet. We have not asked for long about your health. How are you?
—I am here, in front of you. It means everything is ok. And if we go on winning, there will not any problems at all. If my men follow my instructions, I suppose, it will be much easier for me.

FC Shakhtar

Press Office

In front of TV by 20:00

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:27:49 GMT

2-12-09 12:24:00

The fifth matchday of the UEFA Europa League between Shakhtar and Club Brugge (Belgium) the TV viewers will have a chance to watch live. Such an opportunity is provided by three TV channels: Pershyy Natsionalnyy(First National), Sport 1 and NTV+ Nash Football. The broadcast from Donbas Arena kicks off at 19:50, on 3 December.

And Shakhtar v Club Brugge clash rerun watch on Sunday, 4 December, on NTV+ Football at 02:50.

FC Shakhtar

Press Office

Rinat Akhmetov: “We all want to play according to equal rules”

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:26:17 GMT

01-12-09 21:34:06

The elections of Premier-league president being finished, FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov told about some details of this procedure.

— Discussion, which I think to have been constructive, went on for a long time – we have elected Premier-league president. We were speaking about football sincerely, and, I guess, it was beneficial for Ukrainian football. Vitaliy Danilov was elected premier-league president.

— Is it true that only clubs owners remained? What were you talking about and what mood was the talk going in?
— We were speaking in a friendly way, we are one football family and everybody thinks how to make our football competitive.

— How were the votes subdivided?
— there were 11 people who voted for Danilov, 4 against and one abstained.

— Who was against?
— I don’t know, you should ask the leaders of the meeting.

— Was it open or close vote?
— it was an open one.

— Who raised their hands?
— I don’t remember.

— What did you like more about Danilov’s program?
—We have known about it for long: equal rules of the game for all participants, everything that League earns should be subdivided between its members in equal shares. It means we all want to play according to equal rules.

— What was Kharchenko offering?
— I liked this guy as well, he made a good impression. His candidature may be reviewed later on, he does have some good ideas.

— Could you tell that soap opera entitled "Presidential elections” has been over?
— Today we have gathered together, had a talk, expressed our opinions on some points to each other. I repeat, it was really constructive discussion that will be beneficial to our football.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

Who will coach the national representative team

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:25:15 GMT

01-12-09 17:56:33

Our site has already informed about FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov communication with the press after club heads meeting in Kyiv on December, 1^st. Mass media representatives couldn’t help asking question about reaction to Grygoriy Surkis announcement about Mircea Lucescu to be the candidate to the position of the head coach for Ukraine representative team. Rinat Leonidovych answer was as follows:

— I was not surprised at the fact that Mister Lucescu is viewed as the candidate to the representative team head coach position. I was surprised at how this offer was made. I would say, it wasn’t made professionally. It’s not a way to make job offer.

I was having negotiations with a lot of foreign specialists. The best coaches are usually busy… No self-respecting specialist will ever come to us if he is invited like this. Grygoriy Mykhailovych Surkis, who will coach our representative team then?

The best of the best must work for national team! The goal of Grygoriy Mykhailovych must be not to create the illusion of work but invite top class coach who will come and lead our team to a new quality level.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

Rinat Akhmetov: “The conscience of Surkis should have phoned him”

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:24:01 GMT

On December, 1^st the meeting of Ukrainian Premier-league clubs heads took place in Kyiv. Shakhtar was represented there by its president Rinat Akhmetov. When he meeting was over the journalists asked Rinat Leonidovych several questions. In particular, the notorious topic of ticket prices for Ukraine-Greece match was touched upon. Rinat Akhmetov answered the following:

— Ukraine Football Federation sets prices for tickets. Before the decision had been made we made our point of view explicit hundred times. We were not heard, though. After FFU having made decision Grygoriy Mykhailovych regards such issues must be solved by phone or in a closed room …

But here the interests of supporters were touched upon! They have the right to know how the issue is being solved! Therefore I am for open, transparent and public discussion of the issue .

Mister Surkis says if I had called him the problem would have been solved in one minute. It’s not me who should have called him. It’s his conscience that should have called! The issue would have been solved in a moment then. But it didn’t happen…

Grygoriy Mykhailovych and I have different philosophy. He considers supporters to be important but not crucial factor . I believe football can do without Akhmetov or Surkis but it can’t do without supporters.

Grygoriy Mykhailovych Surkis showed red card to supporters for 4 million 600 thousand dollars and didn’t allow them to go to the stadium in the most important game! And World Cup-2010 showed red card to Ukraine. We won’t be there…

FC Shakhtar
Press Office

Online in the media’s style

babetskaGus — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:23:00 GMT

01-12-09 17:31:36

Dear fans! Note that each of you has a splendid opportunity to load the Shakhtar official magazine online. The autumn issues are awaiting you!

To become an online-subscriber, you have to send a text message with a word shakhtar to a short number 10633. The cost of a text message is UAH 3. After that you will get an access code for loading the official club magazine from the official website. As only you insert it, a chosen issue will be available in pdf-format.

Load on-line magazine here.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office