Russian national team has strength to fulfil a task set by new head of RFU Sergey Fursenko, to win in the World championship-2018. For this purpose we should build new stadiums and all-weather fields, improve trainer's staff and training technique, and also begin to mass-produce football talents in the country. To this conclusion have come the participants of a round table, organised by the «Olympic Reporter» magazine.
By the highest standards
Igor Potapov, the first deputy of the minister of physical training and sports of the Rostov region:
New RFU mansgement has set an ambitious and difficult task to be the first at the World championship-2018. Sergey Fursenko is deep into football, therefore his decision to spend such significant event as the cup-final of Russia, in one of the Russian regions looks very reasonable and competent. Moscow ihas been already satiated by such kind of events.
Leonid Nikonov, the director of sports club «Maxima-Aksai»:
Cup-final of Russia has been, certainly, one of the major football events for Rostov in the last years. It has awaken spectators' interest, without which any sports competition loses its sense, and has given us the possibility to estimate our football economy by the highest standards.
Yury Smirnov:
According to the application book, which RFU prepares for FIFA, if World football championship-2018 is held in Russia, Rostov will become one of cities where tournament matches will take place. Besides other infrastructure, Rostov will get wonderful 40-thousand seats stadium in this case.
The staff decides
Yury Balahnin, the director of V. Ponedelnik Football Academy:
Even in our warm climate it is necessary to build fields with artificial grass, where sportsmen could perfect their skill all year round. We should provide schools with professional trainers. At last, we should to make football popular.
Vladimir Maevsky, the head of the ministry department of the secondary and professional education of Rostov region:
We needn't re-invent a wheel: football is a club kind of sports, so it should be developed in clubs. Almost 15 thousand children play football in Rostov region they are good stuff for bringing champions up.
Money for a cult
Nikolay Meleshko, the chief executive of Roctov-on-Don Football Federation:
I like optimism of the RFU head, but we need football cult to win the World championships, as, for example, in Spain. Thus, we can compete in youth talent with any country.
Yury Smirnov:
We, regional officials, should provide necessary infrastructure first of all. What the National football academy builds, are the remains in comparison with the city needs. It is necessary to get private business involved.
Igor Potapov:
It is possible to build infrastructure at the expense of the private-state partnership. We should show business how profitable it is to invest money in sports. Besides sure gain leasing of sports constructions, there is indirect benefit the healthy population, which works more effectively, than sick.