Dynamo in disarray over new coach
Most teams prepare for a new season by working on their fitness and fine tuning in friendlies. Ukraine’s most decorated side Dynamo Kiev – 15 times national champions since independence in 1991 – are currently trying a different approach, fomenting their very own backyard civil war.
The spark which ignited the conflict in Kiev was the recent decision of Dynamo owner Ihor Surkis to bring in the veteran Romanian Mircea Lucescu as coach. Nothing wrong with that, you might think; the 75-year-old Lucescu has a brilliant track record as a team leader in his homeland, Italy, Turkey, and Russia, as well as Ukraine itself. Either through naivety or sheer bloody mindedness, it did not seem to register with Surkis that the Lucescu appointment was decidedly unpopular within the Dynamo community. In the eyes of many supporters, it simply wasn’t acceptable to recruit Lucescu, a man who, for 12 seasons (2004-2016) had been in charge of arch-rivals Shakhtar Donetsk.
Soon the perfect storm was brewing. A never-ending flow of critical columns in the local press; angry fans descending on the club’s HQ; hard-core ultra fans threatening the new coach with total hostility. Lucescu tendered his resignation just four days after signing – only to then sensationally retract after being talked around by Surkis. It’s difficult to imagine the Dynamo of 2020-21 prospering in such a toxic atmosphere. Sooner or later, the volcano will erupt again.
In one of the most intriguing aspects of the affair, Dynamo even thought it wise to put all their email exchanges with Lucescu into the public domain. “I’m prepared to overcome the difficulties if I have the support of a person like you,”
Lucescu told Surkis. “I take note of your unbreakable faith in the development of Dynamo Kiev.”
Internal bloodletting was the last thing Dynamo needed. Once a European powerhouse, capable of going toe-to-toe with the continent’s best teams, they have been in the doldrums for quite some time. They have not won the Ukraine Premier League since 2016 and for far too long, have had to play second fiddle to Shakhtar, a role they have grown heartily sick of. Dynamo do have their share of rising stars, notably right-winger Viktor Tsygankov, midfielder Mykola Shaparenko, left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko and central defender Mykyta Burda. The unfortunate truth, though, is that they simply cannot match Shakhtar for squad depth and game-changing performers. Another major problem is the fate of promising young striker Artem Besedin, who was handed a 12-month ban for a doping offence in May.
Shakhtar, top dogs in each of the last four seasons, have too much quality to slip up. The Miners are a country mile ahead of the rest of the top-flight pack. And so they should be with a coach of the calibre of the Portuguese technician Luis Castro, an infinite amount of Champions League experience, and oodles of finesse, speed and firepower in the attacking third.
Their fortunes will be inextricably linked to their large contingent of Brazilian-born talent. Between them, naturalised Ukrainians Junior Moraes and Marlos struck 33 league goals last season, with wingers Taison and Tete next on the club’s list of top scorers, while all-action midfielder Marcos Antonio and attacking right-back Dodo are both set to become key players at the Donbass Arena. Adventurous left-back Ismaily damaged cruciate ligaments this summer and is out until the New Year, so converted winger Marquinhos Cipriano is likely to take up the slack.
They are not short of emerging talent. Elusive Israeli winger Manor Solomon is growing in poise and influence week on week, Ukraine U21 international Vladyslav Vakula is a highly-promising forward, although he will miss the first few months of the new campaign after a shoulder operation. Barring any major injuries to this highly-talented squad, it is likely to be another title for Shakhtar.
All Ukrainian lovers of sporting romance will be keeping their fingers crossed that a few more chapters remain in the Cinderella story of village team Kolos Kovalivka, who in five short years have gone from the domestic amateur ranks to the upper echelons of the Premier League. Only a football entity since 2012, Kolos enjoyed a memorable elite inauguration last term, finishing sixth in the table and winning a play-off to earn Europa League qualification – their first-ever appearance in cross-border competition. Incredible progress, especially when you consider that they come from a hamlet of only 1,500 inhabitants.
A never-ending flow of critical columns in the local press; angry fans descending on the club’s HQ; hard-core ultra fans threatening the new coach with total hostility