Bate Borisov Belarusian beach soccer dynasty continues

The 7th consecutive Belarusian National League Championship began on the 19th of July in Vitebsk and ended on the 24th of August in Molodechno after 4 exciting stages

Beach soccer has become a mainstay in Belarus with the National Selection playing in the Euro Beach Soccer League, high-profile international events, and prestigious club tournaments as well. The success has been spurred by their extremely competitive and longstanding National League. This season was the seventh running and included six teams, each playing in three events three stages, totally 15 games in all. In addition to this regular season competition they also have the Belarus Cup and the Belarus Super Cup.

Bate Borisov has been at the heart of nearly all the action as they have represented Belarus in the Euro Winners Cup 2014, and 2013, a collection of Europe’s top teams from their respective National Leagues. Bate will once again be playing in 2015 as they dominated the competition again this year, winning their fourth straight league title, despite a revamping of rosters from the other five teams. Vitgazenergo Vitebsk was the biggest threat to the incumbent champions as they have contracted the former Brazil National Team coach, Gilberto Costa, as well as three players from the Iranian National Selection. Vitgazenergo has finished in second place in the 2013 National League as well as the Belarus Cup. 

2014 proved to be no different for Borisov as they began the season in May by winning the Super Cup, 4-1 over Vitgazenergo, and cruising through the National League regular season as well. Bate won 14 of their 15 matches, earning 42 points, while Vitgazenergo took second by earning 32 points. The Belarus Cup 2014 will take place from Septemeber 20-21 and in the sixth year history of the Cup, Bate is again the hot favourites, after a terrific record of only two defeats in all competitions since its creation in 2011. 

Final Regular Season Standings:

Winner: Bate (Borisov)

Runner-up: Vitgazenergo (Vitebsk)

3rd: Kirovsk-DUSSH (Kirovsk)

4th: M-City (Mozyr)

5th: Gorniak (Soligorsk)

6th: Laguna (Brest)

Individual Awards:

Best goalkeeper: Vadim Aleshkevich (Vitgazenergo)

Top goal-scorer: Ivan Letsetskiy (M-City, 27 goals)

MVP: Ivan Miranovich (Bate)