Estonia preparing platform for lift-off
Monday, July 2, 2012
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Estonia head into the unknown on Tuesday when the UEFA European Under-19 Championship kicks off but Aivar Pohlak tells UEFA.com he knows exactly where they are heading.
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Estonia will take a step into the unknown on Tuesday when the UEFA European Under-19 Championship kicks off but there is not a hint of trepidation.
The tournament, which runs until 15 July, represents the first UEFA final tournament hosted by the Estonian Football Association (EJL), and president Aivar Pohlak believes its importance cannot be overstated. "This is about the process of developing a football culture," he told UEFA.com, "gaining another cultural level."
Estonia U19 coach Arno Pijpers echoed that sentiment. Now in his sixth year in the country, the former senior national-team coach says he has already witnessed the start of this process. He added: "The country only has around 1.5 million people, so it's very important that you are able to reach every potential player in the country." This month's tournament is a big step in that direction.
To see the full interview, click on the video above.
