USSR II Division

No wonder the winners of third division brought no enthusiasm – the championship of second division was viewed in largely negative terms. Critics focused first of all on the large size: the increase of the league from 20 to 24 teams was seen as the main problem. Since the introduction of the second division the size was a prime target – too many clubs simply had an easy living, not improving a bit the general quality. Now a bunch of teams were just inadequate. Traditionally, 5-6 clubs were stronger and may be close to first division teams in strength. Now the number shrunk, because the first division was also enlarged, thus decreasing the number of strong teams in the second, but in the same time a large group of third division clubs was included and they were not even on the level of the sleepy habitual residents of the league. The teams which should have been relegated in 1978, but were allowed to stay in the league only enlarged the number of inadequate clubs. Those were: Spartak (Ordzhonikidze), 18th in 1978, Dinamo (Leningrad), 19th, and Kolkhozchi (Ashkhabad), 20th. The Turkmen Kolkhozchi was one of the reasons for enlargement of the league – the already mentioned argument about preparing for the Spartakiad. One year later – with the bottom six relegated – Kolkhozchi finished 23rd, Dinamo – 22nd, and Spartak – 13th. Only Spartak improved their play, the other two were still at the very bottom. As for the newcomers – Fakel (Voronezh), Metallist (Kharkov), Spartak (Nalchik), Zvezda (Perm), Traktor (Pavlodar), and Alga (Frunze), they were vastly divided. None impressed, but Fakel and Metallist finished in the upper half of the table – 5th and 7th, respectively; Spartak was 15th, and the rest… were at the bottom: Alga dead last, Traktor – 21st, Zvezda – 20th. So, in the relegation zone ended those who should have been relegated the previous year plus half of the newcomers. Plus Terek (Grozny), which was not much to begin with and suffered another typical problem of league management – mismanagement and chaotic change of ‘ownership’ (that is, the big organization to which most clubs belonged – Terek started the season as belonging to the sporting organization Trud, then moved to Spartak, with a transitional period, when the club ‘belonged’ to nobody. This affected the squad – some players were sent down from the ‘mother’ organization – Pavlenko from Spartak Moscow was the biggest name – but later they left, because it was no longer the same organization and there was no obligation to stay in the distant city. Pavlenko got offer from Dinamo Moscow and left in mid-season.) The big size immediately presented the problem of players – there were no enough competent players anyway, and now the needs went beyond limits. ‘Same faces, moving from club to club’, complained observers. Most teams did not bother to organize decent youth system – why doing it, when experienced players were available. They were lazy and not very talented, but good enough to keep a team in security in the vast untroubled zone between 3rd and 18th place. Training was found wanting anyway around the league – most teams were poorly prepared and lacked consistency. They also looked alike and any unusual tactic from the opposition left the other team without a clue what to do. Facilities were constant problem too – the worst example cited was the match between the reserve teams of Zvezda (Perm) and Zhalgiris (Vilnius): the hosts, Zvezda, offered asphalt-covered pitch, which was naturally rejected. A search for grass took long time and when at last something was discovered, the match was not played anyway, for Zvezda fielded only 6 players. Discipline was old and constant problem too: the bitter joke around the league was ‘The Dutch play football, but our players know the rules’ – it was based on arguing every call the referees made. A mountain of critical points piled up, and very little positive was observed: a few coaches, small number of players, mostly experienced veteran midfielders, and a handful of teams – Karpaty (Lvov), Pamir (Duashanbe), Fakel (Voronezh), and to a point, Kuban (Krasnodar) and Shinnik (Yaroslavl). However, only one club was seen without severe limitations and promising hopeful – Karpaty (Lvov). As a conclusion, nothing good was expected from the next season either.

Most of the criticism was objective: the increase of first division immediately decreased the already small number of clubs expected to compete for promotion. Usually, teams relegated from the higher league were assumed favourites – this years it was only Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) and it was a flop. Instead sailing back to the top division, Dnepr sunk down and barely escaped new relegation – they finished 17th, having 2 points more than Terek (Grozny) in the relegation zone. Torpedo (Kutaisi) and Nistru (Kishinev) also considered favourites, settled for mediocrity – Torpedo ended 11th, Nistru – 8th. Thus, the group of possible contenders was reduced to nothing and strange teams popped up at the top of the league. Fakel (Voronezh) was the real surprise – they finished 5th. Above them were two clubs representing the typical constant members of the league, strong enough to stay out of trouble, but without any ambitions. Shinnik (Yaroslavl) finished 4th.

Shinnik was one of the few positive things this year, especially finishing so high in the league and so close to promotion – with 52 points, they were just 4 points bellow the second placed team. However, it was doubtful that Shinning really tried to win promotion. They had no team for top division football, but had perfectly adjusted to second division squad. Although a strong season, very likely Shinnik carefully organized to stay just bellow promotional place: realistically, they had nothing to do in first division.

Pamir (Dushanbe) was of the same kind – they were the only club which played in every season of the second division since it was established 10 years back. Like Shinnik, one of the ‘sleepy’ teams of the league, so their sudden climb was quite a surprise. They not only finished 3rd, but also appeared having real aspirations for promotion. At the end, they were 3 points short.

The big surprise of 1979 – it was so, for Pamir was aging and started the painful change of generations. That was why nobody expected them to play well. The strength of the team was their coach – A. Tunis was one the most experienced and respected coaches in the league. He managed to navigate the squad through difficult time, somehow blending veterans and unknown youths into working team. It was even more surprising because during the season Pamir lost two key players, taken by first division clubs – Gess by Spartak Moscow and Amriev by Pakhtakor Tashkent. For a second division club it was a big loss, yet nobody complained – conceptually, the second division was organized 10 years ago with one aim: to prepare players and supply first division clubs with new talent. Perhaps nobody liked that, but at least publicly nobody was in a position to speak against the practice – upper level clubs were able without fuss to take whoever they wanted at almost any time. Pamir perhaps developed a taste for promotion during the year, but at the end may be it was best that they did not qualified: it was perhaps the worst possible timing for going up: the team was at the beginning of rebuilding.

Three unlikely clubs fought for second place, or may be just two… Pamir perhaps paid the price of their situation, but Kuban (Ktasnodar) benefited. Were they really ambitious is hard to say: perhaps they started the season without big aims, then, finding themselves at the top of the league developed some appetite. Not really outstanding, may be they benefited from Pamir’s troubles and the calculated play of Shinnik, lacking real ambition. Kuban was not better than their rivals – perhaps more determined, perhaps more consistent, perhaps luckier, but nothing more. 22 wins, 12 ties, and 12 losses were enough for second place. With the new limit on ties, they finished with just the permitted maximum – Shinnik lost three points, because of excess ties, on the other hand. Head to head, Kuban was no better at all: both games with Shinnik ended in a tie. The home match against Pamir was also tied, but visiting Dushanbe was a disaster: Kuban lost 2-5! However, Shinnik won both matches against Pamir, so at the end there was relative parity between the three clubs – either that, or the calculating spirit of Shinnik was at work. But Kuban had nothing to complain of – they achieved their highest success to date.

Standing, from left: V. Sereda – team chief, V. Korolkov – coach, A. Chakhalyantz – doctor, A. Ploshnik, V. Erkovich, V. Fursa, A. Artemenko, S. Andreychenko, V. Komarov, A. Rybak, A. Ovchinnikov, V. Grokhovsky – assistant coach, V. Solodko – administrator.

First row: Yu. Semin, A. Smirnov, I. Kaleshin, Yu. Chebotarev – team captain, V. Batarin, A. Semenyukov, E. Polovinko, V. Vasiliev.

It was not much of a team – or rather, the typical second division team… bunch of unknowns and few veterans. Whatever former first division players were recruited were the stars… Just like any other second division club Kuban was a supplier – and they lost their good goalkeeper Vasiliev, taken by Ararat (Erevan). As a quad, they were nothing to brag about – in fact, motivation was a big problem: after the season their coach revealed that success came largely because of his constant nagging that the opposition is not better then his boys and beatable. Nothing optimistic about a team which has to be convinced during mid-game break that they actually may score a goal, that the match is not lost yet, that they can get a point, even two points, if… they put a bit of effort. Insiders admitted to serious problems, but carefully did not blame anybody personally – outside critics had no such inhibitions and pointed a finger at Semin, Rybak, Ovchinnikov, Komarov and Erkovich – the ‘stars’ with first league experience – and openly wondered what such a team would do in the top division. The insiders were not very optimistic either – they thought their club has a chance, for it was not worse than… the weakest teams of first league. The team clearly depended on few players – defenders Anatoly Rybak and Vitaly Fursa, both 33-years old. Plenty of experience, but mostly in second division. Rybak played in first division and was the captain of Nistru (Kishinev) a few years back, when they played a single season in first division. He moved from club often. Somehow unable to settle anywhere. He scored quite a lot for a defender, but curiously his 2 years with Kuban produced no goals. The other three former first division players – Ovchinnikov, Komarov, and Erkovich – never made names for themselves, sitting mostly on the bench, but had attitude… Komarov, spending years with Dinamo Moscow, was perhaps the worst when it came to motivation. From the young players the striker Aleksandr Ploshnik was the biggest promise – he was the top scorer with 21 goals and was called to the Olympic team of USSR, but… he was also the one severely reprimanded by the club for disciplinary reasons. Yuri Semin, the future great coach, was clearly the star of the team. Not a spring chicken either and more or less a failed promise, he already had a big history of quarrels: was let go from Spartak Moscow after arguing with Konstantin Beskov in 1972, followed by even bigger scandal in Kairat (Alma-Ata), after which he was saved from banishment from football only by relegation to third division club. No better was his stay in Lokomotiv Moscow, from which he moved to Kuban in 1978, along with Rybak, dismissed from Chernomretz (Odessa). Semin, however, played more or less heartily for Kuban and most likely was the true leader and inspiration. All said, Kuban had little to depend on… so the promotion brought practically no joy. May be even the fans did not see any bright future, probably resigning to the idea that one season in first division is the maximum.

The general gloom about the season perhaps blinded observers for anything good. Even the champions of second division were not really praised. But there were things to be more optimistic about: Karpaty (Lvov) may be was a bit shaky at the start of the season, but at the end they were overwhelming, finishing 6 points ahead of Kuban. They scored 89 goals. They won 27 matches and were the only club ending with less than lost games. Their top-scorer set a record, which was never bettered. Two players appeared in the national team. The squad was really a bunch of highly promising youngsters, some of them becoming huge stars in the 1980s. Yet, praise for the champions was lukewarm at best. In general, observers praised Karpaty only for daring to use local young talent. Even the scoring record was more criticized than praised: it meant that Karpaty was short in attack, the specialists said. The team desperately needed strikers, same observers lamented. The rare inclusion of second division players in the national team was even not mentioned as something promising, let alone recognition of class. Only one thing was certain – that Karpaty was the only second division club ‘on the right track’ and there was no point comparing them with any other club of the league. As for how they compared to first division clubs, nothing was said at all… it looked like that they were considered much weaker and there was no point to waste time to predict their future. Well, may be Karpaty were really not so impressive winning a league so weak… but winners they were. They won promotion to first division for a second time in their history.

First row, from left: A. Saulevich, G. Batich, I. Tziselsky, Yu. Susloparov, V. Gunko, V. Ratz, V. Diky, I. Palamar, A. Shvoynitzky, I. Mosora.

Standing: A. Melnik – team doctor, B. Greshtak – assistant coach, I. Sekech – coach, V. Shterbey, S. Yurchishin, Ya. Dumansky, O. Rodin, L. Brovarsky, A. Bal, Yu. Dubrovny, M. Kusen – team chief, Ya. Dmitrasevich – assistant coach, A. Tishtenko – administrator.

Istvan Sekech, of coarse, was credited with the success – a coach working with Karpaty, yet, having big reputation and considered one of the best Soviet coaches in the 1970s. His winners were immediately compared to the surprising rise of Karpaty in the late 1960s, when the modest club soared in three years from third division to first league, winning the Soviet cup along the way, as the only second division club winning the trophy. Back than, the squad consisted of largely home-grown boys. Same in 1979, many said. Karpaty managed to completely change its previously aging squad, so no problem with transitional shaky period: they were relegated in 1977, changed the team in 1978, and won promotion in 1979. Practically only the 31-years old captain Lev Brovarsky remained from the old squad. He and Dubrovny provided experience and stability. The rest of the squad was very young – and noticeable. A whole bunch was part of the successful USSR Junior national teams of 1977 and 1979. Some were to play at World Cup finals, generally a big part of the successful 1980s: Yuri Susloparov, Andrey Bal, Vasily Ratz. A big number played for Dinamo Kiev in the also great years of the club in 1980s: Bal, Ratz, Saulevich, Palamar, Batich. Most of the above were already noticed and considered great hopefuls, but the brightest future was expected from some more – Yaroslav Dumansky and Rodin. As for Stepan Yurchishin, he was considered the biggest Soviet talent at the moment and certainly a leading star of the country after a year or two. Before the end of 1979 both Yurchishin and the 23-years old right full-back Oleg Rodin made their debut for the national team of USSR. Very young and talented squad, needing some experience and 2-3 classy additions to become a major force… Alas, Karpaty had lowly rank in the Soviet pyramid and the players one after another were snatched by other clubs, mostly Dinamo Kiev. Yes, some became big stars – but also became known to the world as players of Dinamo Kiev. Few faded quickly… Dumansky, Rodin, and Batich. As for the biggest hopeful, the ‘certain star’…

Stepan Yurchishin came with more than a bang in 1979 from nowhere. That is, he came from village football. First to the second club of Lvov – SKA – playing in third division. Noticed, he was moved to CSKA Moscow – since SKA , as an army club, supplied the central club with talent, whenever available. Yurchishin debuted in first division in 1977 – played 8 matches and scored one goal. Nothing much… his army service ended and he went to Karpaty in 1978. In 1979, the 22-years old scored 42 goals in the 46 championship games. Actually, Yurchishin appeared in only 42 matches, so the record was really a goal per match. Impressive by any standard, even more impressive for the normally low scoring Soviet football. Astonishing record, unmatched by any other Soviet player. This remains as the all-time scoring record of USSR – for both first and second division.

Stepan Yurchishin hungry for the next goal.

The fantastic record was also about 50% of all goals Karpaty scored this year – of total 89, 42 scored the young striker. With season so great, Yurchishin was proclaimed certain star and included in the national team. It was to be only going higher from that… but it was not. To a point, he repeated the story of another ‘bursting a few years back goalscorer – Anatoly Shepel, who scored the previous record of second division in 1973: 38 goals for Chernomoretz (Odessa). It was all downhill after that and by 1979 nobody remembered Shepel, although he was still playing. Or, rather, sitting on the bench… In a few years Yurchishin was also forgotten – in 1981, like Shepel before, he was taken by Dinamo Kiev and played grand total of 1 match. In and out of Karpaty, he eventually played for Pakhtakor (Tashkent) and third division Podolye (Khmelnitzky), ending his career in 1990 with Karpaty. For the national team he played only 4 matches , all in his ‘bursting’ years. Years before his retirement hardly anybody remembered him, except as a grand failure. He never came even remotely close to his astonishing scoring record. He was scoring, but… mostly when he played in the second division. His first division record is mediocre. Why he failed is hard to say, but may be Dinamo Kiev was the reason – he apparently did not fit in the team, or Lobanovsky did not see a place for him, and his career was clipped as a result. Or may be he was just not a first division player… may be the expectations were too big for him to handle… one of the three failures of this Karpaty vintage, along with Rodin and Dumansky, but certainly the biggest one. His record lives, though.