Pyunik to get Latin lesson

Oscar López has been charged with leading FC Pyunik into the UEFA Champions League after he was named the new coach of the Armenian champions.

Coaching staff
The Argentinian, who has brought fellow countrymen Ruben Flota, as assistant coach, and physio Ruben Britez to the Nairi stadium, becomes the first South American to coach in the the Armenian Premier League.

Fine pedigree
López has a fine pedigree in his homeland, having coached Club Atlético Banfield and Deportivo Espanyol. He also lifted the Argentinian championship with Quilmes Atlético in 1978 and repeated that feat, in 1989/90, with Peruvian club Sporting Cristàl.

Established names
The 63-year-old arrives at Pyunyik from Racing Club, where he was the club's sports manager. A number of players who López nurtured as youngsters are now established names in Europe, with Javier Zanetti of Internazionale FC being the best known of these.

Assess the squad
He is also familiar with two Pyunik players, defender Jose André Bilibio and midfield player Miguel Sistera are both from Argentina, but is determined to assess the rest of the squad ahead of the new season on 13 April.

Tasks understood
"Pyunik are not a bad team but I still have a lot of work to do," López told uefa.com. "The most important thing for me now is to get to know the players. I understand my tasks - to win the Armenian title and perform well in the Champions League."

Champions League date
Norayr Nakis, president of Argentinian side Deportivo Armenio, and himself of Armenian origin, brokered the deal after establishing contact with Ruben Hayrapetyan, the ambitious owner of Pyunik. The club will enter the 2002/03 Champions League at the first qualifying stage.