First season of Professional League was a success in Ukraine

04 Apr 2012 | Davide Tuniz

Ukranian Federation President outlines the first season of the new league. Seasonal awards were assigned

Few days after the victory of Donbass Donets'k in the first Ukranian Professional League (PHL), Federation President Anatoly Brezvin and CEO Yuri Zagorodny summed up the first season played with full professional teams and the new organization.

"The last League was the most interesting in 20-year history of competition - said Brezvin. - Before the season there were many discussions abou the format and the structure of playoffs. But this formula paid off one hundred percent. Fans will remember what they saw in the finals"

League CEO Yuri Zagorodny noted the great interest for the championship among the fans: "Every day we witnessed the increasing interest in the championship by the fans. If the 168 matches from the first stage were attended by almost 90,000 fans, the 20 games from the second stage, were attended by 35,000 fans. We have to remark the major role and the active involvement of media in the issue of coverage championship."

An important indicator of the level reached by the PHL is the number of candidates to the national team of Ukraine playing at home. "Of the 26 players that coach called for the final roster, 19 playing in PHL" - said Zagorodny.
"Finally our coaches do not have to travel far abroad because the backbone of national team plays in local clubs. It is gratifying that in the national team was a place not only for Sokil and Donbas players, but also Berkut Kyiv, Companion Kyiv and Kharkivs'ki Akuly were represented. This indicates a high overall level of the league - said Brezvin.

Zagorodny.shared his plans for the future "We had already begun to work on the regulations of the next league - the sports, disciplinary, marketing and technical regulations. There are many controversial issues and we aim to resolve them as quickly as possible. "

Although George Zagorodny could not say the number of teams participating in future championship, Anatoly Brezvin said that there are plans to include among the partecipants a junior team and Junior Ukraine National Team

During the press conference were also nominated the winners of seasonal awards. Sokil Kyiv forward Kostantin Kasyanchuk wins his second title of Ukranian Player of the Year, already captured in 2010. Last year the winner was Donbas forward Aleksandr Materukhin
Silver Medalist Sokil Kyiv forward capture his second seasonal trophy after been awarded as All-Star Game MVP. He also finished season as the League Top Scorer with 72 points (25+47)

Kasyanchuk teammate Andrei Nikolishin was elected Best Forward while two players from Companion-Naftogaz Kyiv won the prize as Best Goaltender - Sergei Zavyalov - and Best Defender - Evgeny Krivomaz.

Kharkivs’ki Akuly forward Artem Kobikov was elected Best Young Player
Champion Donbas Donets'k got two awards: Oleg Mikulchik was elected Best Coach and forward Yuri Koksharov Playoffs MVP