Vorsin: A Slav with a German passport may become national team's coach

President of Hockey Federation Yauhen Vorsin has told Euroradio about the most likely candidate for the position of the national team's coach. He says that the Federation has stopped on the candidature of Latvian specialist Aleh Znarok. He worked with the Latvian national team for the last 5 years, and headed "Dinamo" Moscow last year.

Latvia gained only 13th place at the last world championship, and Aleh Znarok was discharged. For the 5 years that he headed the team, Latvia made it to quarter-finals of the world championship - in 2009. However, in Vorsin's opinion, a coach should not be estimated only for his latest results.

Yauhen Vorsin: “There are certain conditions; there may be contradictions between the coach and the federation, between the coach and the team. Anything might happen. However, a coach does not become un-professional because of this. You speculate from the angle of the latest result, and we - from the angle of his professional qualities during dozens of years”.

Russian coach Uladzimir Krykunou, with whom the federation negotiated before, is unlikely to head the national team as he is busy with "Ak Bars" (Kazan). However, he may work as a coach-consultant.

Yauhen Vorsin: “We are creating a group of people who would contact successfully, around the national team. We'd stopped on Znarok even before we talked to Krykunou. We asked for Krykunou's opinion as we respect him as a specialist. He approved our choice and helps us in negotiations. We are preparing a contract which is to be signed after July 20. The matter is solved; we only need to clarify some details”.

Besides, Aleh Znarok is a citizen of Germany now. However, Yauhen Vorsin thinks he should not be considered a foreigner in Belarus.

Yauhen Vorsin: “He is our native coach, our hockey player. He works in "Dinamo" Moscow at the moment. He is a Slav, we have long-term friendly and professional relations with him. It's not essential which citizenship he takes”.

Yauhen Vorsin promised to answer the question how the national team's play style is going to amend after signing the contract.

Photo: championat.com