© EuroFootball.com
The Russian newspaper "Sport-ekspress" published an interview with the new board member of the Vilnius "Vėtra" club Anton Treušnikov, who is the president of the Russian holding company "Gorodec". According to him, the capital team has set the highest, practically maximum goals for the next season.
What prompted Russian businessmen to invest in a modest Lithuanian club? "We are partners of the Moscow "Lokomotiv" club and have long wanted to test our capabilities in football. However, Russian football is expensive, while Lithuanian football is much cheaper. By the way, in Lithuania we are implementing several business projects. I have long been acquainted with the founder and president of 'Vėtra' Romas Stašauskas. Our business and football interests coincided," Treušnikov told the Russian newspaper.
- However, "Vėtra" is not as well-known as "Kaunas" or "Žalgiris"...
- The club is young, but has already made a name for itself in Europe. In the 2003 - 2004 season, "Vėtra" defeated Scotland's "Hibernian" and advanced to the third stage of the "Intertoto" tournament. Next year, the team will play in the "Intertoto" tournament again.
- What are the goals of the club for the 2006 season?
- To compete for 1-2 places in the Lithuanian championship, win the LFF Cup, and advance to the UEFA Cup through the "Intertoto" tournament.
- How are you preparing to solve the team selection problem?
- It cannot be said that this problem is very acute. The team is selected to play best in 2006 or 2007. Currently, "Vėtra" has two members of the Lithuanian national team, three youth national team players, and two junior national team players. The most famous footballer is Aidas Preikšaitis, and the young striker Edvinas Blažys is already called the second Robertas Poškus.
We want to invite a couple of well-known Russian footballers, as well as several young and talented compatriots. We are helping a few young Russian players, as we know how difficult it is for them to break into a higher league.
- Now even "Žalgiris" has few fans, not to mention "Vėtra"...
- This is a big problem. Even the final of the LFF Cup tournament did not attract a thousand spectators. We will try to adapt the experience of working with fans gained in Russia to Lithuania.
