“Who will win, who will win?!” Gargždų “Banga” – the new season begins. Gargždas “Banga” will meet Telšiai “Džiugu” in the match of the 1st round at home.
On the eve of the new season of the highest Lithuanian football league, we talk with the Portuguese head coach of the “Bangas” club, David AFONSO, about preparation and goals.
The composition was changing
– Last season, “Banga” remained in 7th place. You took over the position of head coach in June, when the season was already in the second half, the club’s results were poor. How did you get the team together then?
– Adaptation took place, a lot of work had to be put in for the team to reach the level we want to have. We managed to get points at the end of the championship and we remained seventh in the standings.
– What kind of mood do you have for this season, are the players satisfied?
– The mood in the team is good. The footballers are young but ambitious. We work a lot during training. We want to demonstrate that enthusiasm and skills during the competition. We have to overcome any challenges together as a team. We are really looking forward to the start of the season. However, there have been a lot of changes in the composition of the team. Many players from the starting line-up left the club. Some finish their careers, continue the game in a lower league. And there is a player who has moved to a better team. My task was to assemble a team, to complete it. That’s why we also accepted players from Banga’s B team, we aim to educate the young generation and show it.
The issue of finances is relevant
– Could you name the strengths and weaknesses of the team?
– I wouldn’t really like weaknesses. But, of course, in this case there is a lack of experience. However, we work very hard so that we do not run out of it at crucial moments. And the strength is the atmosphere in the team. The club is friendly, as I mentioned, ambitious, so we will do everything to properly represent Gargždas “Banga”.
The strongest team in the league is, of course, Zalgiris, but there are others as well. For example, the Sagittarius team is new, but with a much bigger budget, they could attract good players with experience. We will see which is better: an expensive player with experience or an ambitious and young one. The topic of finance is always important when assembling a team. I’m not talking about necessarily having the best players, but I mean the depth of the team. It is important to have players who can play properly in the A-League, changes can be made and so on. It would help young people to prepare, develop skills.
– Who is currently helping you in the team?
– My assistant is Armando Tarlazis Vieira Dos Santos. Goalkeeper coach – Vaidas Žutautas, team manager – Matas Bieliauskas, physical training coach – Vitalijs Limontas and physiotherapist Rimvydas Žulpa. Of course, Rimantas Mikalauskas, director of VšĮ “Gargždų futbolas”. Pavel Kozlov, head of youth education programs, also helps when needed.
It feels cheesy
– You have been living in Gargždai since 2012, you started a family here. Being a head coach, living in this city makes you feel in your own sled?
– Really so. I learned to speak Lithuanian in half a year. I started as a coach with children, and now I have become the head coach of the Banga club. It is a great honor and obligation for me. I have practically reached this step after a decade, so maximum efforts are being made to meet expectations. I already feel like a gargoyle myself.
– After Russia started military aggression against Ukraine, are there any thoughts of escaping back to your native Portugal?
– I don’t think about bad scenarios. I will not run away from my responsibilities. We are focused on our work. We invite the spectators to come to the match and support us, to see the young generation of football. After all, football unites all people. When I am in the stadium, I forget all the problems and worries, at that moment there is only football. It helps a lot to break away. Both “Banga” playing in the top league and “Banga” B team are in great need of support.
Worth knowing
Valdas Antužis, Dovydas Norvilas, Mantas Petrikas, Kornelijs Smilingis, Ignas Venckus, Robertas Vėževičius, Darius Zubauskas and legionnaires Mauricio Pinto and Shogo Yoshikawa will continue to compete in the team led by head coach David Afonso. The youth of the club, who have been tested in the I League, will be waiting for their chance – Karolis Žebrauskas, Pijus Srėbalius, Mantas Bertašius, Klaidas Birgiola, Justas Kerpė, Karolis Pliuškys, Karolis Toleikis. The team will be supplemented by Povilas Survila and three legionnaires – Renan Paulino, Jefferson Reis and Goncalo Vieira
The expected budget of FK Banga is EUR 350,000.
Agne ADOMAITĖ
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– 2024-05-12 02:58:33
