Ukrainian Football Premier League: week in review.

In the time of the year when the weather doesn't permit to train domestically, football clubs from Eastern Europe train in warmer climates.  The most popular training destination for top level clubs from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus is Turkey.  The country provides teams with numerous hotels and training fields plus plenty of teams to play friendlies against.  The affluent teams from the region choose places like Spain, UAE, or Israel.  Each of those countries usually organizes a tournament for teams training in their land.  Here is a short list of top teams from Ukrainian league and were they are currently located.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk- Spain (Copa del Sol Jan. 27-Feb. 11, 2011).

FC Dynamo Kyiv- Israel

FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk- Spain

FC Metalist Kharkiv- UAE

FC Karpaty Lviv- Spain (Copa del Sol).

FC Metalurg Donetsk- Turkey

FC Vorskla Poltava- Turkey

FC Arsenal Kyiv- Turkey

Clubs to watch in 2011.

FC Arsenal Kyiv (Premier League)

The first team continues to show good results finishing 7th in the league after 19 games and a semifinalist in the domestic cup.  With the signing of two quality players from Metalurg Zaporizhzha the club has a good chance of breaking into Europe for the first time in its history.  The major concern for the club is infrastructure: the club doesn't have a stadium for domestic games, and the contract for a training base in Shchaslyve expired in late December.

FC Zhemchuzhyna-Yalta Yalta (PFL- Persha Liga)

A new club on the block formed in December of 2010.  The team will take place of now defunct FC Feniks-Ilichevets Kalinino.  The project seems to be related to a Russian team by the same name, which was started few years ago.  The financing of the club comes abroad presumably from Russia.  Both clubs have same colors and same shirt makers.  If the club is financed to the same levels as the one in Russia, we would expect to see the team in the top devision in few years.  The club posses little infrastructure but is the only professional club from the city.  The warm climate will help the club to develop quicker since it can train at home almost all year long.

FC Sumy (PFL- Druga Liga)

After decade of uncertainty the football club in Sumy (the current one founded in 2008) finally has a bright future.  Last year the club was acquired by a local businessman who promised to turn the club around.  The city of Sumy has a good stadium build in 2001 with capacity of 25,000, which will insure strong support if the club plays in higher divisions.

Useful links:

www.ua-football.com

turnir.com.ua

terrikon.com