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First League. Changes near the bench of Buzhanska "Niva", "Bukovina" and "Karpaty" strengthen coaching staffs
If the teams of the elite division are already conducting friendly matches as part of their preparation for the spring portion of the season, then football players from the majority of PFL clubs are still on vacation, as the second stage of the first league begins later — at the end of March.
Roman Loktionov became the head coach of Buzyvskiy "Niva". Photo FC Kremenchuk
If the elite division teams are already conducting friendly matches as part of their preparation for the spring season, then most players from clubs in the PFL are still on vacation, since the second stage of the first league starts later — at the end of March.
Therefore, on January 21st, when the Buzhanska 'Niva' resumes training, they will be introduced to their new manager — Roman Loktionov, who led 'Kremenchuk' last fall. Since significant personnel changes are expected in Buzhanka, a dozen potential newcomers will undergo trials over ten friendly matches. The first one, against the youth squad of 'Zorya', is scheduled for January 30th.
Changes have also occurred on the coaching staff at 'Bukovyna'. Andriy Melnyk's assistant will be Serhiy Solovyov, who previously managed 'VPK-Agro', Vitaliy Komarnitskyi and Ihor Bilan, responsible for goalkeeper training. Last year, the latter two were coaches of 'LNZ'. The new sports director at FC 'Bukovyna' is Hryhoriy Churilov.
After the autumn part of the season, eight players left 'Bukovyna'. The first winter signing was experienced defender Ihor Soldat, who previously played for 'Mykolaiv'. Three former Buzhanska 'Niva' players have also joined 'Bukovyna' — Danylo Knysh, Yegor Shalfyev and Ivan Budnya.
As many as 12 friendlies are planned for 'Left Bank', the first one against academy graduates (January 20). Kyivans Oleh Vakulenko, Yuri Repeta, Oleh Yanovskyi and Denis Golub will no longer play for them. The first winter signing is Brazilian defender Sidney, who previously played for Lviv's 'Rukh'.
'Prykarpattia' will conduct all stages of their preparation in Ivano-Frankivsk, traveling to neighboring regions only for friendly matches. Goalkeeper Ivan Pitsan and left back Mykhailo Pysko have left Prykarpattia's squad. Experienced stopper Valeriy Boldenkov from 'Podillya' has expressed a desire to help the Ivano-Frankivsk team.
As for the leaders of the 'championship' group, 'Karpaty' will play their first friendly match on February 6th against an amateur squad from Lviv region. Kyrylo Matviyev will no longer play for the green and whites. One of head coach Myron Markevych's assistants is Volodymyr Yezerskyi, who last fall was a coach at 'Oleksandria', while ex-scout of Shakhtar and Dnipro-1 Hryhoriy Kornienko will also work with Karpaty.
And the main pursuer of 'Karpaty', 'Ingulets', has started winter training. Former captain of Petrovets, Yevhen Zaporozhtsev, will continue his career at 'Obolon', and he will be replaced in half-back by Serhiy Panasenko from 'Mykolaiv'.
