Beers sink Lithuania

After the disappointing campaign at World Championship in Poland - just a 3-2 victory against Australia avoid relegation - Lithuanian players, included Federation President defender Petras Nauseda, now face serious accusations from the Russian coach Sergei Borisov. "Strip bars, discos. It was a total chaos - said Borisov at 15.lt portal - Players had fun at night and passed the day sleeping. They just came to Poland to relax and have fun instead of playing hockey. I don't know how much they drink - a glass of beer, two or more. But I know that they went back to sleep at 03 or 05 o'clock in the morning, even I bind all of to be in bed at 23.00. Players should be proud to defend the Lithuanian honor"
 Borisov attacks in particular, the Federation President Peras Nausėda, who is also a team defender.
"The main organizer was Petras (Nausėda), in his mind there were only discos, bars, strip clubs and beer - said Borisov. - He. as Federation President, should be an example to all."
One night  the situation precipitates, according to Borisov: "The police was called and so the IIHF tournament director. When he arrived said that our team is behaving improperly. I was ashamed of Lithuania. I would like to apologize the fans for this behavior, but I cannot help, I was helpless, hostage of the team"
"Our team should had fight for gold - continues Borisov -  but when I arrived in Poland, I understand team was divided in two groups - half the team was with me, the other side with Petras (Nausėda). When Darius Pliskauskas, Mindaugas Kieras and Pius Rulevičius joined us - I am very grateful to them because they helped us - I immediately banned two players. I couldn't to ban more, because had to be registered at least 15 players If you registered just 14, we would be removed from the tournament. And there would be risk of heavy fines. I could not understand why Nauseda did that. For a such important event as a World Championship it's necessary to prepare yourself to fight with the soul and the heart. I do not understand. After all, I am a foreigner, but I went to work as the Lithuanian national team coach, and I'm proud of it, I'm disappointed because I could not honor my commitment. Petras Nausėda didn't understand this: he is the President - should be the ideal man, can not be defiled. But he only organized drinking parties. I was surprised because it was complete chaos. Look at the Koreans. Thet couldn't be the best, but their discipline was perfect and they took the first place. We are certainly not worse, but unfortunately ....

The interview caused many reactions in Lithuanian hockey world. Team captain Artūras Katulis "I am the team captain and I played for National team from twelve years, I'm very surprised and disappointed by the coach words. He threw down the Lithuanian team in a boiler and mixed with the mud. Yes, the team had problems with some of the players' discipline. But it was an individual attitudes and behavior. I personally have never seen neither Mr. Nausėda or other players running between one bar and another at the eve of the games. Unfortunately, we do not always match the wishes and the ambitions with the opportunities. As we know, this year the team went to the tournament with a mere 15 players and seven of them played for the first time in a World Championship. How Borisov can talk about to clinch a gold medal? We don't have a lot of players who earn their bread just with hockey. In my professional hockey career still have not met a coach who does not respect his same team. I do not consider him as a coach if he put the failure exclusively on the shoulders of the players. This simply is not fair "

Mindaugas Kieras: "When I arrived in the team from the UK I noticed a strange behaviour from the coach: players who are playing, not playing. For the first day there were a series of closed meetings, the next day - again, a meeting with the older players where we were asked to manage, track and punish young players who do not abide by the discipline. Mr. Nausėda and Mr. Borisov's relationship is clearly abnormal. A lot of his actions during the championship were full of panic, it seemed that he came not to win but to seek some kind of relationship. He was constantly dissatisfied with everything."
Darius Pliskauskas estimated that over two days during the Championships have been held up to 6 meetings. "Within two days he had six meetings about how we must educate young people.I had the impression to came to a conference and do not play hockey. The coach did everything that unbalanced team and cause enmity among players. I do not understand why the coach did not allow experienced players to play enough minutes in these games. If Mr. Borisov is as good a coach as he speaks and thinks, why he can not find work in professional team, and coaches only a team in Moscow beer league?

Petras Nauseda didn't replied to Borisov accusations, limiting to admit the party in a bar in his birthday day but assuring that never the limit was exceeded. He not rule out the possibility to sue Sergei Borisov. But today three members of the Federation board - Remigijus Valickas, Mindaugas Marcinkevičius and Tomas Budrauskas - resigned alleging that "the situation is intolerable"

 

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