Borisov based BATE got into the world’s football elite (photo report of the match)

On 27 August Borisov based football club BATE played draw in at home with Bulgarian club Levski in the third qualifying match of the Champions League and as a result of two games secured their place in the lucrative the group stage of the prestigious competition. Two weeks ago BATE scored 1:0 in Sofia. FC Levski is one of the strongest clubs in Bulgaria.

BATE scored on the 14^th minute of the match. Sergey Sosnovsky scored. On the 38^th minute Vladimir Gadjev from Bulgaria equalized. Borisov BATE was reduced to ten men following the 43rd-minute dismissal of forward Gennadi Bliznyuk by Austrian referee Konrad Plautz with two yellow cards. In the second half-time BATE sustained Bulgarian attacks and from time to time attacked gates of their guests.

This year however the team had a successful start at the initial stage of the Champions League, they won in a match with Island as well as with Belgian Anderlecht, as guests Belarusians scored 2:1, in Borisov they played a draw game, 2:2.
 

International scandal?

On the eve of the first meeting between BATE and Levski two weeks ago in Sofia the owner of Levski Todar Batkov in an interview with Bulgarian Media called BATE a ‘factory team’ as well as expressed doubts that anyone can lose to a team ‘from a made-up country’.

The Chairman of the BPF Party, an interpreter and polyglot Liavon Barshcheuski sent a letter to the Bulgarian Ambassador in Minsk, Petko Ganchev, saying that “In an interview with Standard-News Agency Mr. Batkov allowed himself to say insults with regard to Belarusian people. The Belarusian society became widely aware of the last quote and felt bewilderment at least. Both of our European nations have a dating back thousand years, complicated history of establishment and renaissance of the state order, fighting for its national identity, for such values as freedom and democracy, for mutually benefiting contacts in the field of Christian tradition and culture. Belarusians and Bulgarians do not have common tensions and sympathize one other. This is our common historical heritage that should be preserved, also for the benefit of our European solidarity”.

Mr. Barshcheuski has never received a reply the Ambassador was on leave at the moment. The Diplomatic representation of Belarus in Sofia in their turn, though being offended by the incorrect statements of the owner of Levski, explained that appeals by a private person could not justify grounds for sending a note of protest.

The General Director of the FC BATE Anatoly Kapsky was indignant with regard of such statements of the owner of Levski, “I hope that it was not an opinion of the President of Levski, rather a free interpretation of the Bulgarian press. Our club is not a ‘factory team’, it is named after a factory. Nevertheless, the club is sponsored by many rather respectful organizations with serious turnover. In general we welcome any sponsor, however the name of the club is historical, BATE team existed in Borisov for quite a while therefore our club is named this way as a continuation of the tradition. We played with large clubs and no one said anything of the sort to us. That is also within the rules of fair-play and of the UEFA tradition”.

Anatoly Kapsky: “Our football players participate in European Championships”

The General Director of the FC BATE is proud of his payers: “Aleksandr Gleb played in the forefront of the German Bundesleague in Stuttgart, he also played a rather significant role in the English Arsenal, he played in the finals of the Champions League and now he plays for Barcelona. Vitaly Kutuzov played for Milan, for Lisbon Sporting, for Parma. I am not ashamed for our club, half of the Belarusian national team came out of BATE at the moment”.

Aleksandr Gleb, who comes from Borisov FC BATE will also be playing in the Champions League. The club he is playing for now, Barcelona outscored Polish Wisla as a result of two matches.

The owner of Levski will fine his players for loosing to BATE

The Bulgarian sport portal www.gong.bg announced that Todar Botkov announced his decision to the fans of Levski in Minsk airport.

Furious Bulgarian fans, who paid 550 Euro for their trip to Belarus, demanded to explain the ‘shameful loss’ to BATE.

Todar Botkov said that he will fine every player for weak performance with the amount of their monthly salary and pointed out that football players lost a lot more for not getting into the group state of the Champions League. The principal coach of Levski, Emil Velev, explained the loss of Bulgarians with insufficient number of attacks on the gates. “We played better than BATE, that is 100% sure, however the forwards could not realize the goal moments”, said E. Velev at a press conference after the match. The coach of Levski congratulated his counterpart with the access to the group stage of the Champions League and admitted that at this stage BATE “will be challenged”.

On 28 August in the evening in the UEFA Headquarters took place the draw of the opponents of the group stage of the Champions League.

Liudmila Korsak

info@eurobelarus.info