The Cups… this was the dark and confusing period. Two Cups. The Bulgarian Cup had its second issue and still was not fully recognized as the country’s prime cup tournament. Even in print – records still placed The Soviet Army Cup first. That is, the strange cup tournament, which was the country’s cup tournament since 1946. But at least the big clubs were not fooled – The Bulgarian Cup was the tournament UEFA recognized after putting pressure on the Football Federation to create it. Already the big clubs concentrated on the new tournament and started to neglect the old one. Smaller clubs, however, did not mind at all doing well in the Soviet Army Cup – for them it was valid and still most important cup competition. This duality will stay for the most of the 1980s, leaving the matter confused, for smaller cup would insist in their histories that they did wonders in the national cup competition, that is the Soviet Army Cup. Simultaneously, the same national success was claimed if doing well in the Bulgarian Cup. Anyhow, in 1981-82 the matter was not at all clear – both tournaments were seemingly equal, at least in statistical terms. Yet, the Soviet Army Cup was doomed – its final was played earlier and in provincial Pleven. The Bulgarian Cup was played later in Sofia, thus enforcing the idea that it was the prime tournament finishing the season. The Soviet Army Cup final opposed Lokomotiv (Sofia) to Lokomotiv (Plovdiv). That is one strong first division team to second division team, which had miserable season and finished in the middle of its league. It looked like no contest… but Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) had different view – the final ended 1-1 and the first division team managed to prevail only in overtime by a single goal – 2-1.
The Soviet Military Atache Valery Dzanagov awarded the Soviet Army Cup to the captain of Lokomotiv (Sofia) Yordan Stoykov and that was that.
The winners posed for the fans with their 3rd Cup and their first since 1953. From left: Nikolay Donev, Angel Kolev, Boycho Velishkov, Nasko Zhelev, Boris Iliev, Aleksandar Markov, Nako Doychev, Marko Bogdanov, Georgy Berkov – coach, Aleksandar Dudov.
The Soviet Army Cup winners, standing from left: Ivaylo Georgiev – assistant coach, Nikolay Donev, Svetoslav Stefanov, Nako Doychev, Traycho Sokolov, Roumyancho Goranov, Yordan Stoykov, Ivan Metodiev, Angel Kolev, Boycho Velichkov, Aleksandar Dudov, Plamen Nikolov.
First row: Nikolay Tanchev, Aleksandar Markov, Roumen Stoyanov, Stoycho Stoev, Georgy Bonev, Ventzislav Arsov, Nasko Zhelev, Marko Bogdanov, Boris Iliev.
There was no fuss… Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) had nothing to brag about, for they lost – but this trophy still stay high on their list, as it will be seen later. Lokomtoiv (Sofia), having quite a trophy room anyway, were keenly aware that the cup was secondary and not all that important. Besides, 4 days later the final of the Bulgarian Cup was played and this match obliterated the memories of that final entirely – for this other final was not only played in Sofia, but between the arch-enemies CSKA and Levski-Spartak, the biggest Bulgarian derby.
The second Bulgarian Cup tournament practically established it – the first one was clearly not taken seriously. Even the winners and their fans – CSKA “Septemvriysko zname” did not pay much attention. The first competition was not nation-wide, but small international affair, which ended not with a proper final, but with a round-robin tournament and the winner was the team with most points at the end. It was also part of the massive official campaign celebrating 1300 years from the establishment of Bulgarian state and in it football had very small role. It looked like summer tournament of no import, most likely one-time affair. But the second competition was organized properly, culminating with classic cup final – that the best clubs in the country reached the final pretty much made the new Cup credible.
In the final, Levski-Spartak utterly destroyed CSKA – 4-0. The champions controlled the match in the first 20 minutes, but Levski used every chance to counter-attack and got a penalty in 32nd minute, which Barzov scored. After that, it was all Levski and CSKA was lucky to escape with only 4 goals in their net.
Sitting from left: Alyosha Dimitrov, Krassimir Bezinsky, Stoycho Mladenov, Angel Kalburov, Radoslav Zdravkov, Plamen Markov, Tzvetan Yonchev, Metody Tomanov.
Middle row: Spas Dzhevizov, Georgy Iliev, Georgy Velinov, Georgy Dimitrov, Aleksandar Aleksandrov, Krassimir Dossev, Dinko Dimitrov, Mario Valkov.
Third row: Pavel Filipov – doctor, Ruzhdy Kerimov, Stoyan Yordanov – assistant coach, Asparoukh Nikodimov – coach, Dimitar Penev – assistant coach, Nikola Velkov, Aram Levonian – rehabilitation.
CSKA was unable to win a double this season.
Levski-Spartak after winning their 1st Cup of Bulgaria. Championship was lost, but the cup victory was important and it was always sweet to destroy the arch-enemy. What remained was a bit of confusion… the new cup required new records – in the counting, it was 1 cup for CSKA and 1 cup for Levski. But there was also the old record of Soviet Army Cup winners, which not only remained, but counted in the grand totals. It was neither here, nor there. Still is.