Season Preview: Kuban Krasnodar. Granary
By: Ivan | February 23rd, 2007
Location. Kuban is a river flows through Krasnodar city. Region produces agricultural goods: tons of grain, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and so on. No wonder if their fans go Watford supporters way and start bringing vegs to away matches. Their fanzine is called Watermelon Workshop. And fansite is named Green Mile after movie with Tom Hanks.
Team. Kuban was on top of First league for two years and finally got the promotion. The trick is that Krasnodar-born aluminum oligarch Oleg Deripaska, friend of Roman Abramovich, owns 50 percent of club stock. But team don’t buy foreigners as Chelsea does. They just pay big salaries and always say hello to rejecters from big clubs.
Stars. There are no big players among old-timers so youngsters usually dig the result. The best striker is Robert Zebelyan who scored 23 goals in 40 games. Oleg Ivanov and Renat Yanbaev are great also but I’ll name real hero only after this season.
Transfers. Very underrated Latvian midfielder Yuris Laisans and striker Shamil Asildarov both couldn’t find themselves in big clubs and settled in Krasnodar.
Rivals. That will be hot against not so far Spartak Nalchik and ex-First league mates FC Khimki. But the real rivals are FC Rostov. Rostov produces agricultural trucks that usually broke down while harvesting in Krasnodar. So every man from Kuban has something to say for his Rostov’s neighbor.
Fact. Kuban is a historical settlement of Cossacks. I think it wouldn’t be a great cheek to call Kuban players that way. Go on, Cossacks!
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Nothing like trucks breaking down to stoke a rivalry! I’m enjoying these previews, Ivan.
Posted from
United States
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A fun preview to read. Welcome from the La Galaxy Offside and the France NT page.
Posted from
United States -
Krasnodar may be an agricultural region but don’t confuse that with it being a “hickville.” Krasnodar is the Russian Riviera. The climate is like Atlanta but with Colorado’s mountains and California’s beaches.
Although probably apocryphal there is a story that when Catherine the Great was trying to entice the Cossacks to protect her southern Russian border she offered them land for free and an ample supply of Russia’s most beautiful women. Supposedly she told all the landed gentry to send their most beautiful servant women to Krasnodar. The result? Krasnodar women are hands-down the most beautiful.
Besides, Krasnodar also has the best sheeslik (pork skewers) and the tomatoes and really to die for in the Summer.
So while folks up in Moscow and St. Pete might look down their noses at the hicks from the South, they just simply are ignorant of what they are missing.
One of those things they are missing is Russia’s first high-end Western style country club. Check-out http://www.krasnodarcountryclub.com for a mock-up.
Schez leva, Tim
Posted from
United States -
Timothy, we can only consider Sochi as Russian Riviera, not Krasnodar. Sochi is in Krasnodar region, but Krasnodar itself is not on the seashore. And it’s a real agricultural capital - I’m saying it with no prejudice. I just know it.
Thanks anyway for promoting your golf website
Posted from
Russian Federation -
hello webmaster.I am wondering about Santos Lago Baiano a player from Kuban Krasnodar. He is Brazilian but he plays for Bosnia and Hercegowina.Is he still there? And how he plays?Tnx
Posted from
Bosnia And Herzegovina -
Hi Pava. Baiano is still playing for Kuban - he scored one goal and made one pass in four matches. He is known in Russia as Ricardo and playing well. Unfortunately his team is on the last place so far and their coach was sacked recently.
Posted from
Russian Federation
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