Once they beat BATE, now they play without salaries. How "Krumkachy" live

Is it possible to save a football club if it has no big money, professional contracts, or matches with giants? Judging by the history of "Krumkachy," absolutely. Ten years ago, the "crows" surprised Belarusian football with victories over BATE and Shakhtyor, but now they play in the Second League (third division) and largely exist thanks to the enthusiasm of players and fans.

Onliner.by journalists visited the team's home match, found out how much it costs to maintain an amateur club, and met people for whom "Krumkachy" has long become something more than just football.

In our case, as in many other stories from the noughties, the internet decided everything. Now forums are gradually fading into oblivion, but once they were an important part of life: people met there, made friends, argued, and even had romances. And participants of the forum of the popular sports newspaper "Pressball" even created football teams. This is how "Krumkachy" appeared, founded by Dzianis Shunko, Vasil Hlezau, and Ulad Mayarouski.

How it all began

— An initiative to hold tournaments among football fans once appeared on the "Pressball" forum, — recalls club founder Uladzislau Mayarouski. — There were six of them in total, and each time we gathered in a new city. That's where we met, became friends, and started communicating.

And then an idea emerged: why shouldn't Dzianis's team, which had previously participated in amateur tournaments, enter the Second League? The entry fee was small, and the level of competition was already more interesting. That's how it all started.

Initially, Dzianis was the main driving force, and I helped with organizational matters, licensing, and accounting. Dzianis financed the team for the first year, then Vasil Hlezau joined. And when we were entering the top league, I was looking for partners. That's how we managed to attract "Krynitsa."

— Didn't it seem like an adventure?

— Well, it was an adventure! But Vasil and Dzianis were so passionate about the idea that they infected me with their enthusiasm.

— Do you know if Dzianis is interested in the team now?

— I have no idea, we don't communicate. After the high-profile story with the dismissal of coach Alyaksei Kuchuk, our paths diverged. We haven't spoken since then.

— Is the current team primarily interesting to you from a results perspective? Or are "Krumkachy" already something more for you — a formed community?

— There used to be more fans. We were well-known, actively engaged in marketing and PR. Over time, many supporters left, and now we have to win the attention of new ones. But the current team is interesting to me because it's young, energetic, spirited, and plays good football. I also like the coaches. It's interesting to observe the club's development.

— Do you believe that "Krumkachy" will return to the Premier League?

— It's not that I believe — I just don't think about it. We had a task to save the team — we saved it. We also managed to keep the fans. Of course, participation in the First League depends on finances. Now our task is to earn the right to promotion based on sporting principles, and then we'll see.

Initially, the team participated in amateur tournaments, and then entered the Second League — and off they went. In 2014, the "crows" broke into the First League, and a year later, under the leadership of Aleh Dulub, they soared into the Premier League.

True, they spent only two seasons there but were remembered for a long time — for cool matchdays (not just the match, but also the atmosphere around the game, contests, fan engagement, etc. — NN), bright uniforms, unusual fans, and, of course, unexpected results. During this time, the club managed to beat Belarusian football giants: BATE, Minsk "Dinamo," and "Shakhtyor."

But the beautiful story didn't last long: since 2022, the team has consistently played in the third division. In 2019, after a conflict, one of its founders, Dzianis Shunko, left the project. Since 2022, the club has been playing in the third division.

"We are an amateur team — everyone is studying or working somewhere"

Павялічыць

At the small "Hruhany" stadium, lost among factories on the southern outskirts of the capital, "Krumkachy" director Aleh Davidovich greets us. He is noticeably agitated and thoughtful: all his thoughts are on the upcoming match. For the play-off game, "Neman-2" brought in players from their main team. The regulations allow this, but for the "Krumkachy" management, such an approach raises questions regarding sporting fairness.

Moreover, according to the interlocutor, the Hrodna team, through the federation, managed to postpone the first match, which they were supposed to play away.

— I never liked, and still don't like, behind-the-scenes games. Everything should be decided on the football field, in fair competition. This situation also makes the players nervous. But I believe that we can win and advance, — says Davidovich.

Aleh joined "Krumkachy" in 2018, after meeting Dzianis Shunko and Ulad Mayarouski. Before that, he was involved in business, but he agreed to the offer to try his hand at football. As we can see, he stayed for a long time.

Павялічыць

True, much has changed since then: if previously the team was professional, now it is completely amateur. Mostly young guys play for it. Among the more experienced footballers are playing coach Siarhei Kazeka and Andrei Khachaturyan, who joined "Krumkachy" this summer.

— We have a young team with a competent coaching staff led by Uladzimir Bushma. In my opinion, he is the best coach in the entire Second League. The training process is structured qualitatively: the guys train four to five times a week. I see how the coaches convey their demands to the footballers, and they fulfill them. There is complete mutual understanding between them. It is very pleasant to observe how our players grow and move to higher-ranked teams. For example, Illia Zaitsau and Hleb Kryutsou now play for "Astravets," Viachaslau Papova for "Slutsk," and Nigerian Ebuka Nnedi moved to a top-league club in Tajikistan this summer.

— You also have another exotic legionnaire — our old acquaintance, Japanese Kosuke Namekata.

— Yes, he is currently a fifth-year student at the Belarusian State Economic University. But after graduation, he plans to return home to Japan and continue to seek his path in football there.

Aleh Davidovich says that neither the footballers nor the coaching staff receive money for their work; everything relies solely on enthusiasm. At the same time, according to the director, the guys perfectly understand the situation.

— Everyone is studying or working somewhere. Someone, for example, at BSPU or BSUFC. The coaches mostly work at the "Hruhany" football school, and the footballers are employed in a wide variety of fields. For example, Yanush Ladutska is an administrator at the country club "Ptsich," goalkeeper Arseniy Kudzin sells cars at a car dealership, and Aliaksei Baranau works in IT.

— How much money is needed for "Krumkachy" to exist normally?

— For the Second League, 60,000 rubles per season is enough. This amount includes stadium rental, payment for ambulance duty, player nutrition, and travel expenses. Organizing one home match costs us approximately 700 rubles.

We also manage to earn something: at matches, volunteers sell tickets for 6 rubles and club merchandise. So, a part of the expenses is recouped. The team has several sponsors, but I wouldn't want to name them.

Павялічыць

Aleh calls the fans the main driving force of the team. Over the years of its existence, the "crows" have formed their own fan base. People travel with "Krumkachy" all over the country, help with organizing matches, and fill the stands in a way that even top-league clubs don't always manage. For example, 550 people attended the recent game against "Myory" — FC Minsk can only dream of such an audience.

But if "Krumkachy" break into the First League, expenses will significantly increase. Fans have already announced a fundraiser for the entry fee and collected a little over 600 rubles out of the required 5000.

— They hope for promotion and want to help the club find funding. The fans are always there, constantly supporting us. And the team exists for them. What's the point of playing if you have no spectators?

— And how difficult is it to carry this burden?

— In the Second League, we're still more or less coping, but for the First, completely different money is needed — around $150k. Finding such an amount is very difficult. Every year we try, so far without success, but we continue to look for options.

— The situation is not easy. What then motivates you to continue?

— What happens at our home matches and away games — the unity of fans and the team. When you observe this, you find internal reserves.

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