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Belarus league expands again

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The 2008 Vysshaya Liga will have another new look with the number of top-flight teams in Belarus to return to 16 after three seasons as a 14-club competition.

The 2008 Vysshaya Liga will have another new look with the number of top-flight teams in Belarus to be increased back to 16 after three seasons as a 14-club competition.

Expanded league
Last year's only relegated side, FC Minsk, have been replaced by a trio of clubs from the second division with FC Savit Mogilev, FC Granit Mikashevichi and FC Lokomotiv Minsk all promoted to the top flight. FC Belshina Bobruisk, who had begun the second-division season with a three-point deficit, were in contention for promotion until the final game of the campaign, but missed out to Lokomotiv on goal difference.

Savit aspirations
Savit were only founded in 2006 but have since made a meteoric rise from the third division. Owner Vitaly Nis is now focused on establishing a strong economic base as the foundation for a prosperous future at the top, saying: "[English Premier League side] Arsenal FC make several million euros from each home game. Why can't we follow their example on a smaller level? There could be up to 10,000 people attending football matches in Mogilev, as in the past. We just need a team which can raise local interest. Hopefully, it will be FC Savit and then who knows? People may be laughing now but why play if we are not determined to reach the highest level?"

'Did their duty'
"We weren't aiming to reach the Vysshaya Liga before the start of the season," added head coach Alexandr Sednev. "The board simply did its job, the coaching staff managed the training process and the players, the key element in this system, did their duty on the pitch." A key component in Savit's success is the prolific Vladimir Shakov, who was converted from a defender on his arrival from FC Naftan Novopolotsk two years ago and has scored 52 goals in the last two seasons. "I'm aiming to become the top goalscorer for the third successive season, although the competition will now be much higher," said the 23-year-old.

Granit steel
Granit are also preparing for their top-flight debut yet just like his Savit counterparts, head coach Valery Bohno is aiming high. "We'll be trying to win every match," he said. "We're not going to fight for survival. We're not going to be the whipping boys. There are a lot of quite successful teams without star players. Why shouldn't we become one of them?" While Savit and Granit are excitedly awaiting their maiden Vysshaya Liga campaigns, however, the third promoted club Lokomotiv are hoping to find more stability, having been either relegated or promoted every year since 2003.

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