PINSK, 27 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko criticized the Belarusian national ice hockey team for poor performance at the 2016 IIHF World Championship when talking to the staff of Amkodor Pinsk on 27 May, BelTA has learned.
“It was a real slap in the face. Everybody felt this way. However, there is no need in self-chastising. It is sport. Everyone wants to win. Going into the game relaxed and indifferent is inadmissible. Today they do not play hockey, they fight. When you step onto the ice, you should be prepared to fight to the bitter end. We did not do it. This is the major fault of our hockey players. It is also true about some other athletes of ours,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
Speaking about ice hockey in the world, Alexander Lukashenko said that in comparison with European, Russian and Belarusian hockey, Canada and the United States play an absolutely different level of game today. “We are lagging behind, both in tactics and thinking, and even in physical form,” said the President.
Sport functionaries and coaches say that a psychological factor, not physical fitness, is the reason behind the unsatisfactory results. “There are objective reasons however. Unfortunately, they are not mentioned. HC Dinamo Minsk, our representative in the KHL, did not make it into the KHL playoff this season. There was a long break and no practice, which cannot be replaced with friendlies. They should have fought for the playoff berth (in the KHL – BelTA's note). We will analyze and make conclusions. They will get what they deserve. They will have to search for financing sources by themselves this year,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
According to the head of state, the second reason is in the training of the national team. “Athletes should have a concrete goal. If you are a good player, you play. If not, you go. The team lacked the spirit. There was no sparkle in their eyes,” he said.
According to the President, everything necessary was created for ice hockey development in the country. “Now we are forming our Dinamo team. We need to pay more attention to the national championship, rise good players and teams here that can show a high level of the game. There is no need in relying on HC Dinamo alone. We should train our athletes, select good players, create decent conditions for them. The domestic championship, the coaching staff and a hard-line approach to training athletes are the main things. Results are first, then go salaries. This is the approach to be applied,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
“We will rectify the situation. We will deal with it, for sure. For now we should think about Rio de Janeiro. We have the Olympic Games ahead,” the Belarusian leader added.
