Ukraine looking close to home

By Igor Linnyk

Ukrainian football will never be the same again. That is the belief of national coach Oleh Blokhin as the new season begins this Saturday with title-holders FC Shakhtar Donetsk and cup winners FC Dynamo Kyiv contesting the Super Cup.

Homegrown talent
A year ago the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) executive committee decided to introduce certain limitations to the Premier League rules for 2005/06, preventing local clubs from fielding more than eight foreigners. The idea, backed by Blokhin and his predecessor Leonid Buriak, is designed to help the development of Ukrainian players. Not surprisingly, the change has had a significant impact on the transfer market with homegrown players now the most valuable currency.

Young guns
FFU president Grigoriy Surkis supported the proposal made by Blokhin who felt the influx of foreigners was harming the development of young Ukrainian talent. "From my first day with the national team, I was asking for at least some sort of limit on the use of foreign players," said Blokhin. "This step will help our own players. Ukraine has a lot of talented footballers, but they simply weren't getting a chance. The clubs paid big money for foreign recruits and the coaches had to play them at the expense of homegrown players."

Rapid rise
Last term the number of imports went into overdrive with the likes of Shakhtar and Dynamo fielding nine or ten players from abroad in some games. After a few early grumbles, however, the initial signs are that this move is very positive with a rapid rise in the demand for Ukrainian youth internationals from big clubs.

Defensive recruits
Shakhtar, for example, have brought in two local-born youngsters - Vyacheslav Sviderskiy and Vyacheslav Shevchuk. Until recently, the defenders plied their trade in Russia but thanks to the new system they have returned to their homeland. Young Oleg Karamushka has also been recruited from relegated FC Borysfen Boryspil, while Adrian Pukanych and Yevgen Bredun have been recalled from loan spells at FC Illychivets Mariupil and FC Metalurh Zaporizhya respectively.

Rebrov return
Dynamo have also made significant signings, with Ukrainian international playmaker Ruslan Rotan from FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk arguably the biggest of the summer. In addition, they welcome back Serhiy Rebrov after a five-year spell in England and Turkey, while coach Buriak will be looking to Artem Milevskyy and Oleksandr Aliyev to continue their rise after shining for Ukraine in the recent FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

Last campaign
Dynamo also have a strong production line. Goalkeeper Taras Lutsenko is getting ready for the new season with the club, while players from their academy have been given the chance to impress at a training camp in Crimea, with 20-year-olds Andriy Oberemko and Oleksandr Romanchuk making their mark.

Yatsenko loan
Generally, there has been a marked shift towards local players in the market. FC Metalurh Donetsk acquired Borysfen's star man Vadim Melnyk in the spring, while FC Metalist Kharkiv took Ukraine youth captain Oleksandr Yatsenko on loan from Dynamo. FC Obolon Kyiv had to part company with Victor Terechtchenko and Vyacheslav Nivinskiy, who left for FC Chornomorets Odesa and FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih respectively.

Bright future
All these players will try to establish themselves in the Ukrainian top flight in 2005/06. The critics fear it will have a detrimental effect on the league's quality, but if Buriak and Blokhin are to be believed, it could help lift the national team to new heights.