For Yugra and Surgut
With the end of the Russian Championship in the Youth Volleyball League, we can finally sum up the results of the season. The MVL Cup is still ahead, but we’re unlikely to make any noise there this season.
At all, YUKIOR's entry into the Final Six of the MVL Championship can be regarded in the current circumstances as a success. Yes, last season there was silver, but after that the team was significantly bled dry, almost half of the main cast. But the remaining guys showed character, and the leaders - Daniil Golovanov and Fidan Gusamov - not only made their mark in games for Gazprom-Yugra in the Super League, and fully integrated into adult volleyball.
Probably, this is the main measure of the youth team’s work. But what kind of youth would not grow up in a subsidiary structure, she still needs to be given a chance to show herself at a higher level. Gazprom-Yugra generously provides such chances, what to be famous for. At the end of the season there were three of our own students on the court at the same time, Surgut resident – Kirillov, Golovanov, Gusamov. Just have to wait, when will this combination begin to pay visible dividends?.
In the meantime, Surgut is revealing other talents. Slavi Kostadinov received the first full season - and everyone saw, what is he capable of?. In addition to the title of the best pitcher in the Super League, Slavi has acquired a reputation as a potentially very interesting setter, versatile, loving and able to escalate the game. Slavi still needs to gain strategic and tactical wisdom, stabilize transmission quality. All this will inevitably come with experience and after a couple of years of hard work the Super League will see a cut diamond, the basis for cutting was laid in Surgut.
Brother Slavi Alexander proved to everyone in Surgut, and to myself, and Plamen Konstantinov, and specialists, and fans, which is a full-fledged combat unit in the scarce role of an attacking finisher with a technique. Now he returns to his native Novosibirsk matured and ready for a serious challenge.
And Kirill Nikiforov? Who knew this diagonal before joining Gazprom-Yugra?? Only narrow specialists, watching the major league "A". But knowing is not enough, you had to believe in the player, let him spread his wings. And Kirill straightened it out - if not for an unfortunate injury, could become one of the best diagonal in the Super League. And the team with him - who knows?? – would rise even higher. But one of the pleasant discoveries of the season is Kirill, undoubtedly, became.
Well, further down the list. Kirillov, Moiseev, Demakov, Shevlyakov, Tkachev, Andreev, Nagaec, unfading Rodichev, Pavel Kuklinsky, who came to the aid during the season - everyone gave something to Surgut and Surgut gave something to everyone. Someone stays with us, someone is leaving, but all, who was on this team this season, increased in skill, even veterans. Probably, this is the main result and a special merit of the coaching staff.
"Gazprom-Ugra" 30 has been nurturing talent for years and remains at the top of Ugra professional sports. Today we can say this with complete confidence, looking at the results, for progress, on the atmosphere. Tomorrow there will be a new team, there will be new games and new achievements. For now, let's stop for a second and just enjoy it, what we managed to do in 30 years for Surgut and Ugra.
