Torch Challenge

Gazprom-Yugra will hold the second round of the Russian Championship in the PARI Super League 21 October in Novy Urengoy. At the site of the DS "Zvezdny" we will meet with the conditionally local "Fakel" - the team, based in Moscow, but playing near the Arctic Circle.

In the off-season "Torch", finished seventh in the last championship, contributed only one, but a very important change: Argentine libero Santiago Danani appeared on the court. His, apparently, recommended by Sergey Grankin, who played with the Argentine for Berlin, and for good reason. Already in the first round, from the list, Danani showed in the match with Ural 62% but scored only seven goals out of 42% excellent. With such fine-tuning, Grankin has room for creativity, and Sergei has someone to create with.

New head coach of Fakel Roman Empolov, worked with club youth for a long time, is betting on it now. Dinekin (Dynamo graduate), Yutsevich, Dikarev, Annes, Morozov, Vyshnikov... From the young Belarusian diagonal Vladislav Babkevich, possessing very extraordinary physical characteristics, in the current “Fakel” they are making a second Yegor Klyuka, that is, an attacking finisher. And if there is still something to work on in the reception, then Babkevich’s attack from the fourth zone is a very formidable weapon.

Nikita Morozov replaced the injured Korney Enns in the first round. The second player - Stanislav Dineykin - entered the top of the league in terms of demonstrated results last season and does not intend to stop. Fakel's middle blockers are also very talented guys.. maybe, The task set for the team to fight for championship medals is slightly premature, but there is definitely potential for it. maybe, the current generation of players will eventually become no less bright, than those previously raised in the “Torch” of Wolves, The gossip, Vlasov, Bogdan, Yakovlev.

Generally, Surgut residents are waiting for a very difficult opponent. After a bad game (and it's not even about the result) in Tula the question arises: due to which we could impose a fight in Novy Urengoy? Sure, we need a reception, we need an aggressive serve to Babkevich, we need a different quality of play, especially in the fourth zone. Well, a question for Vadim Ozhiganov: will he be able to do something to puzzle the opponent’s blockers??

We are waiting for answers and watch the game on the VFW website