Lithuanian FK Banga are facing UEFA Europa League team Ventspils tomorrow afternoon at home – can they get a result against the Latvian club who are missing some key players? The Banga v Ventspils game was originally scheduled for September 22, but was postponed because of Ventspils’ participation in the UEFA Europa League. The match kicks off tomorrow, Thursday October 8, at 14.00. Banga may be a newcomer in the Lithuanian top division, but Ventspils have several key players on international duty or struggling with injuries.

The game against Ventspils will be first for Banga on international stage, but the team won‘t be able to celebrate this occasion at home. A new synthetic pitch is being relaid at the Gargždai City Stadium. The team will finish the season with either away fixtures or at nearby Klaipėda.

This year Banga returned to the top division in Lithuania and while not being sensational, managed a few surprises and are almost guaranteed a place in the league next season with a respectable 6th place finish.

The second part of the season was not as good as the first for Banga and new head coach Vytautas Jančiauskas. Banga have only won two and drawn two out of eleven games since the summer break. However, the latest victory against 7th placed LKKA-Teledema gave the Gargždai club a moral boost. For this game, Banga have no major injury worries and will be able to field a full strength squad.

Banga head coach Vytautas Jančiauskas spoke highly of future opponents Ventspils after their achievements in Europe: “Ventspils is a very strong team and must be respected. They have their own playing style and have good teamwork. Our goal is to give them a good fight.”

FK Ventspils arrived in Klaipeda on Wednesday, a day before the game. The squad of last three year Latvian Champions has changed dramatically after two last games (against Skonto in LMT Virsliga and Heerenveen in UEFA Europa League). Seven of Ventspils players have been called up for Latvian National team who are playing crucial WC 2010 qualifiers against Greece on Saturday and Moldova next Wednesday: Astafjevs, Laizans, Zhigajevs, Kolinko, Vishnjakov, Kosmachevs, Mihadjuks. Several players, including central defenders Ndeki and Dzamperini, have some minor health problems.
Despite these problems, Ventspils head coach Nunzio Zavietteri is not complaining and looks forward to the game: “We are starting a new season of TrioBet Baltic League and we want to start it with a win. We have played a lot of games recently, and a lot is to come as well, but we have to be strong and deal with all the problems we have at the moment.”
“TrioBet Baltic League is a very serious tournament for us, where all the best clubs from Baltics are playing. It is obvious that we want to prove that we are the strongest team in this region and in order to do so, we have to beat Banga to start with.”

The TrioBet Baltic League will be covering the match live on our website: www.balticleague.com.

About the TrioBet Baltic League:
The TrioBet Baltic League was established in 2007 with the best four teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania participating according to the results of their respective domestic championships. From next season the competition will be expanded to 16 teams and kicks off in September 2009 with the final being played in the summer of 2010.

TrioBet Baltic League Press Department
press@balticleague.com