Goal rush days for Hakobyan

By Khachik Chakhoyan

The only amazing thing in retrospect is that it took him so long to get started. After four games of the Armenian Premier League season, FC Banants' 23-year-old striker Ara Hakobyan had failed to find the target.

Incredible run
However, 16 games later, Hakobyan is in the middle of a spectacular run of form which has seen him score 34 goals. His six hat-tricks include four goals in a 5-1 defeat of FC Shirak and five in a 9-0 win against FC Dinamo-2000 Yerevan.

Family affair
"We have a great group of players at Banants right now," Hakobyan told uefa.com. "My partner in attack is my brother Aram Hakobyan - our understanding is excellent. Of course, some of the goals were scored all by myself, but still it's an achievement by the whole team."

Armenian success
It is not the first time that Hakobyan has made headlines in Armenia. After making his debut for FC Dvin in 1996, the Yerevan-born player topped the goalscoring charts in 1998 before moving to FC Tsement in 1999. He won the title with his new team under their new name, FC Araks Ararat, in 2000, and was Armenia's top goalscorer again.

Foreign travel
His successes in Armenia brought interest from abroad, and he spent six months on loan with Russia's FC Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz in 1999 and tried his luck at Ukrainian side FC Stal Alchevsk before returning to Araks. However, it was not long before Hakobyan earned a permanent transfer to Ukraine with FC Metalurh Donetsk.

Metalurh problems
Things did not go well, though, as he told uefa.com: "I had a conflict with former Metalurh coach Semen Altman. I am a forward, but Altman put me in other positions, including defence - that's why I lost my place in the squad. I was keen to play, so I asked them to loan me to another team. I will play for Banants until the end of 2003."

Title dream
That is great news for Banants, who are currently second in the Armenian top flight, within reach of leaders FC Pyunik. With nine games remaining, Hakobyan believes they have a chance of taking the title. "We have to win all our games, including our match against Pyunik," he said. "If Pyunik lose any points, then the championship run-in will be very interesting."

International recall
Banants' success and his awesome goalscoring record have meant a recall for Hakobyan to the Armenian national side, and he came off the bench to play in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers against Greece and Northern Ireland. "Any footballer wants to be in his national team, so I am very happy," said Hakobyan. "If I can secure my place, I'll try to score more goals to bring joy to Armenian fans."

Back to Donetsk
However, with Armenia seemingly destined to finish fourth in their EURO 2004™ qualifying group, international concerns are off the agenda for Hakobyan, and he was looking forward to returning to Ukraine. "After my loan period finishes, I'll return to Metalurh and try my best to return to the first team," he said. "I have to play in a stronger tournament than the Armenian championship."

Man in demand
With Metalurh lying third in the Ukrainian Premier League behind FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, they could certainly do with a prolific forward like Hakobyan to boost their title hopes. Then again, if he can continue the striking form that has marked his last 16 games, Hakobyan might not be short of offers come the end of the Armenian season.