Shakhtyor secure maiden title

FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk have secured their maiden Belarussian Premier League title, with two games of the season still remaining.

Fine record
Yuri Vergeichik's side required one point from their final three games in order to guarantee themselves a first league title and realised that dream in some style, sweeping aside third-placed FC Torpedo Zhodino 4-0 to build an unassailable lead at the summit. The win means Shakhtyor remain unbeaten in the league this season with 18 wins and six draws, conceding just 13 goals in the process.

Consistent presence
The Soligorsk-based outfit have been mainstays at the top of the table in recent years and have not finished outside the top five in the past seven seasons. They began the season as title favourites after Vergeichik acquired a host of young and talented players like Aliaksandr Klimenko, Mikhail Martinovich, Pavel Plaskonny, Aliaksandr Sobol and Dmitry Makar to replace older squad members.

Older heads