Sokol took last place in Group C in the Continental Cup
Head coach Sokola Oleg Shafarenko commented on the performance of his team in Continental Cup 2024/25.
“This result, unfortunately, was expected, since during the preparation process, for unknown reasons, we did not play a single official match. If they want to develop hockey in our country, then what is happening cannot be allowed under any circumstances. No friendly matches will replace official ones. We were left without game practice, without game tone. Even five workouts a day cannot compensate for this deficiency.
“In Italy we only lasted one game. We had a good game against Rittner and could have even won. The next two matches were terrible. These are the realities. I repeat: without having a single official match behind you, it is very difficult to qualify for anything at such a tournament. This doesn’t even include the grueling 35-hour bus journey.”
“Roughly speaking, on the second or third day of our stay in Ritten, our players became paralyzed. It was easier for the opponents, because they live and constantly play in these parts. In fact, this group was compiled for our rivals. To make it convenient for them to play and get around. No one takes into account our characteristics and never has. We showed what we are capable of, given these circumstances, as well as the situation in Ukrainian hockey. Of course, in order not to depend on acclimatization processes, it is appropriate to arrive as soon as possible. But we don’t have such an opportunity. First of all, material. The organizers pay for accommodation and provide the team with ice only one day before the start of the first match.”
“We understood what awaited us and, given our performance in the Continental Cup, we began preparing for the season very early – on July 8. The sponsors agreed to this, but due to the fact that there is some kind of trash going on around the Ukrainian Hockey Federation and the national championship has not yet started, this preparation turned out to be, to put it mildly, inadequate.”
“I liked the current team, despite three defeats, more than last year. Last year, although we defeated Crvena Zvezda, we failed the next two matches. I didn’t see any pictures of the game at all. Now the situation is more optimistic. This year we played more meaningfully in each of the matches: we created more chances, acted more accurately in defense, and made much more successful, correct tactical and technical actions. I see no reason to give up and hang up. Neither young players nor experienced ones. You have to look for motivation, conflict with yourself in order to progress.”
Let us remind you that in the 2024/25 Continental Cup, Sokol lost in all three matches – Italian Ritten (4:5), Slovenian Jesenica (2:5) and Croatian Sisak (2:4).
Only the winner of Group C, Ritten, advanced to the next round of the tournament, winning all three fights.
Source: Sportarena
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