“The combination of positions has not yet been discussed”: Vice President of the RBU Polkhovsky recommended for the post of head coach of the national team

Soon, Valery Polkhovsky may replace Anatoly Khovantsev, head coach of the Russian biathlon team. This decision was made at a meeting of the board of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU), where he currently holds the position of vice president. Now his candidacy must be approved by the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation.

Over the years, Polkhovsky was a member of the coaching staff of the Russian team, worked with reservists, and also led the national team in this sport. Last year, he joined the leadership of the RRF.

However, it is not yet known whether the specialist will retain the position of vice president.

“There was a rather lengthy discussion about this. I had one opinion, different board members had their own opinions. In the end, they decided to leave the post of head coach and nominate Polkhovsky for her. However, it still needs to be agreed with the Ministry of Sports. We have not yet discussed the issue of combining the positions of Polkhovsky, ”RIA Novosti quoted Vladimir Drachev as saying to RIA Novosti.

Polkhovsky was also instructed to form a new coaching staff for the national team. According to him, the SBR is considering the possibility of attracting foreign specialists to work, but it’s too early to talk about specific names. At the same time, information appeared that it was a Slovenian specialist Vladimir Korolkevich and a former Kazakhstan national team coach Robert Kablukov.

“So far they have sent for revision, because in connection with the economic situation and the spread of coronavirus, some points need to be agreed. Invitation of foreign specialists is planned, therefore, the issue of financing is discussed, what will it result in for the RRF. Some candidates must also be agreed with the ministry, and then all this should be submitted to the board before April 20, ”Polkhovsky explained.

Not everyone positively accepted the news about the potential appointment of Polkhovsky and other changes in the team. So, according to Khovantsev, as Vice President of the RRF, he did not fully fulfill his duties, and his words allegedly often diverge from the deed. In addition, the specialist complained that he would learn about what was happening from the Internet.

“The situation reminds me of the one that happened in the 2010/11 season, when I worked with the women's team. As I later learned, negotiations with Wolfgang Pichler about work in Russia were carried out in December. So for me this is not a shock, I foresaw a similar development of events. When he was invited with such powers, it was obvious that this would happen in the spring, ”Khovantsev said on Match TV.

In addition, the coach expressed bewilderment over the invitation to the team of foreigners.

“Since November, I have not received a salary at the SBR. So it’s not entirely clear to me how they are going to pay the foreign specialists they want to invite. I’m not sure that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) will do this, ”added Khovantsev.

Alexander Tikhonov, the former head of the SBR, also criticized the candidacy of Polkhovsky. He recalled that under the leadership of Polkhovsky, Ekaterina Yuryev was disqualified for violating anti-doping rules, and Svetlana Ishmuratova was unhappy with his work.

“Polkhovsky is expelled from three countries, and the SBR puts him on the head coach. I don’t even doubt that his candidacy will not go through the expert commission of the Ministry of Sports, ”Tikhonova quoted“ Soviet Sport ”.

At the same time, the athletes themselves are more optimistic.

“I hope that all this will be for the good of the team. I am familiar with him, but specifically I did not train under his guidance. But his human qualities are normal, ”said Maxim Tsvetkov.

In turn, the 2020 world champion Alexander Loginov emphasized that he was ready to work with any mentor.

“Regardless of the composition of the RRF, my job is to train and show results. It will not affect me in any way. I know what I’m doing and why. I must not pay attention to what is happening around me. Regardless of what the coaching staff and management team will be, in any case I will find a common language with people, ”Loginov assured.

However, there is a different point of view. The head of the Biathlon Federation of St. Petersburg Dmitry Vasilyev noted that the position of head coach of the Russian team can be completely abolished, as both the men's and women's teams have their own mentors. A personal trainer Loginova Alexander Kasperovich spoke out against the frequent change of the coaching staff.

“The main problems are building logistics, directions, an individual approach. Who will be the main, who will be the eldest ... Too many questions. Of course, I am against the fact that the headquarters is constantly changing. Two years worked - changed, it is unrealistic to do some things. Here we need to give coaches opportunities to work, ”Kasperovich is sure.

The formation of a new coaching staff is one of the measures aimed at improving the position of the Russian biathlon. Summing up the results of the previous season, Drachev repeatedly emphasized that in the off-season both the federation and the mentors have to solve a number of problems.

“The work plan must be done immediately for two years, since it should be built with an eye to the Olympic Games. Now we reviewed the results of the work of the men's and women's teams, looked at what changes are needed, what can be improved. I don’t want to delay the decision on who will work with the male and female staff, including second and third coaches, because training should be started as soon as possible, ”TASS quoted Drachev as saying.