Contrasting reactions to UEFA Cup draw

Dundalk FC and NK Varteks had contrasting reactions after the two sides were drawn to face other in the UEFA Cup qualifying round.

Hard challenge for Dundalk
Des Denning, chairman of  Dundalk, said: "I think we probably could not have had a worse draw. Of all the seeded clubs NK Varteks were the hardest one. They have put away Aston Villa [FC] last year. But we have made contact with them and I am pretty positive that they could play us at home first. If this is the case then it will not be such a bad draw."

Varteks hope for long stay
Davor Darabos, president of Varteks, seemed content with the draw. "We wanted to draw an Irish team because they are a known football nation," he said. "And also we will have no problems with transportation to Dublin. We are expecting to stay as long as possible in Europe."

Ørgaard delighted
Jens Ørgaard, the general secretary of Denmark's FC Midtjylland, was delighted after his club were paired with F.Y.R. Macedonian outfit FK Pobeda. "I don't think Pobeda will be able to threaten us," he said. "We have never played against teams from that region before but if we play up to our usual standards, this should not be a problem for us."

Spasov satisfied
Ferario Spasov, coach of Bulgarian side PFC Litex Lovech, was also a happy man after his side drew FK Atlantas of Lithuania. "I am satisfied," he said. "Atlantas are one of the strongest possible teams, against which we could play and I wanted a stronger team in the qualifying round, so that we didn't underestimate our opponents."

Joy for Leixões
Leixões SC, the lower-league Portuguese side who qualified for the UEFA Cup after surprisingly reaching their domestic cup final, will face F.Y.R. Macedonian side FK Belasica GC. Jorje Desetha, Leixões' sports director, expressed his delight with the side's arrival in major European competition.

'It is a compliment'
"It is important for us and our town to participate in the UEFA Cup," he said. "We have qualified through the domestic cup as a third-division side. We are facing a difficult game, but we also think that is possible to pass in the next round. We are a small club from a small town. It is a compliment for us to play in an UEFA competition."

'Very difficult opponent'
Nijaz Merdamovic, FK Sarajevo's general secretary, said of his teams draw against SK Sigma Olomouc of the Czech Republic: "We have drawn a very difficult opponent. We are playing the first match away and we hope to achieve a good result."

Tough test
Mr Fogiel, a spokesman for Ekstraklasa club TS Wisla Kraków, was quoted as saying that: "We've been drawn against Glentoran FC and we know that most of the top players in Ireland play in England. But having seen what has happened at the World Cup, one has to respect any opponent. In football everything is possible. But we really hope to make it to into the first round."

'We will be cautious'
Glentoran manager Roy Coyle claimed that: "It was a very difficult draw. Wisla are a quality side and for us it will be very difficult two games. We will be cautious and we want to go to Poland with something to play for and that is why it is important to do well at home in the first leg."

Bangor awaits
"This is our first experience in the UEFA Cup and we could not have expected to get an easy opponent. It is good that we are playing the first match against Bangor City FC. I am very satisfied with this draw, it will be difficult, but it will be an opportunity for us to pass into the next round," was director of Prva Savezna Liga side FK Sartid, Cedomir Jefit's reaction to being paired with Bangor City.