Karpaty Intends Not to Stop at the Bronze

The way to the bronze for Lviv Karpaty was long – 35 years. Back in 1963 the Selmash plant soccer team claimed the privilege of vying in the USSR's second league. It was renamed Karpaty, meaning the Carpathian Mountains, which have the highest peaks in Ukraine.

Time passed, the team had its successes (e.g., USSR Cup in 1969), but only in independent Ukraine did the Lviv team manage to join the lead, reaching another peak, a bronze medal, a nice gift on the team's 35th anniversary. But head coach Myron Markevych says the team will never be satisfied with what it has achieved thus far.

Karpaty attract the largest number of spectators, despite the fact that the Druzhba stadium is not living through its best times.

The Day: Though the gap between previous and new tournaments was short, the transfer period must have been active. Any changes in the team?

Head Coach: We put on transfer a number of players we cannot use in the main line-up. Two of them have already received invitations from Metallurg of Mariupol and Nuremberg of Germany.

Meanwhile we have to attract new good players, because we want better results. We have already invited a few experienced players, but everything depends on funds.

We have played in the Cupholders' Cup tournament twice, but we need a developed infrastructure to vie in Europe. Unfortunately, a modern stadium, training camp, and soccer club are in the formative stage.

In their first game Lviv team showed it was on the right path. But what else does Myron Markevych need to win to be awarded the title of the meritorious coach of Ukraine.