Vilnius Žalgiris started preparations for the new season

2024-01-08 14:02 © Elvio Zaldario

On January 8th, the Vilnius team "Žalgiris" began preparations for the new football season.

The first team training was held on Monday afternoon at the "Sportima" football arena in the capital, with almost thirty players participating. Many young players joined the team along with those who represented the team last year.

Last year's main team players who started preparing with the team from the very first day include Joelis Bopesu, Martynas Šetkus, Ovidijus Verbickas, Jurijus Kendyšas, Yukiyoshi Karashima, Adama Fofana, Abdoulas Doumbia, Arvydas Novikovas, Paulius Golubickas, Romualdas Jansonas, Motiejus Burba and Meinardas Mikulėnas who returned to Vilnius after a year on loan to the teams "Džiugas" and "Sūduva" in Telšiai, and Giedrius Matulevičius who transferred from "Hegelmann" in Kaunas district.

In the coming days, Edvinas Gertmonas, Nicolas Gorobsovas, and the arrival of new legionnaire Joris Moutachy are expected to join the team, while Liviu Antalis, who is recovering from last year's injury, will arrive later.

A group of "Žalgiris" academy graduates are also preparing with the main team: Joris Aliukonis, Kajus Andraikėnas, Džiugas Jeruševičius, Tomas Bakšys, Patrikas Matyžonokas, Ugnius Simonavičius, Patrikas Žvinys, Arminas Soja, Gustas Mikelaitis, Titas Stakėnas, Augustas Zavackas, who represented "Riteriai" last year, and Vytis Pavilonis, Tadas Adakauskas, Adomas Buikus, Julius Plančiūnas, Vilius Kondrotas, Vakaris Berenta, who played in the C or youth teams.

Kajus Bička and Dariušas Stankevičius will enter the second consecutive season of playing practice in other teams under lease agreements.

After the end of last season, Tomislavas Duka, Mario Paveličius, Nassimas Hnidas, Stipe Vučuras, Leonardo Vaca, Marko Miličkovičius, Mathias Oyewusi, Matas Vareika, and Saulius Mikoliūnas ended their professional careers as free agents or by mutual agreement with the team.

Over the next few weeks, "Žalgiris" plans to play seven friendly matches in Vilnius, with the first one scheduled for January 20th.

The start of the A league season is planned for the beginning of March.