Botev from Ihtiman: fans, but not quite

Tomorrow’s CSKA opponent in the Bulgarian Cup round of 16, Botev Ihtiman, is seventh in the Southwestern Third League with 22 points, 13 behind leader Marek. The team will launch against the army many experienced players not only in our second echelon, but also in the elite. Suffice it to mention just three of them: captain Vasil Velev, central defender Dimitar Lazalov and forward Atanas Kurdov to outline Botev Ihtiman’s personal potential.

In recent seasons, the team struggled to stay in the Third League and they did it. This summer, with more funding from the local business and attracting quite experienced players to their team, they set themselves a lofty goal: attacking the forehead and a possible promotion. Botev started strong and until the fifth round there was no defeat: 3 wins and 2 draws. However, there was a collapse and a delay with respect to the leaders: Marek, Belasitsa, Vihren and Kyustendil.

In the last two matches, however, Ihtimantsi went crazy: 4: 0 against Nadezhda Dobroslavtsi and 5: 0 against Velbuzhd Kn. Second division Neftohimik was eliminated by the cup in the preliminary round.

Three weeks ago, head coach Valeri Svilenov brought Dimitar Lazalov to the team. The 33-year-old central defender won the cup with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in 2019, when current CSKA coach Bruno Akrapovich was leading the team. The former defender of Beroe, Levski, Slavia, Botev Pd and others. he knows very well the working methods of the Bosnian specialist.

“The motivation in this match will be completely different. CSKA players will try to impress Bruno Akrapovich in his first match under his leadership. There is almost always a promotion in a team when a coach changes. Against CSKA we want to go out and have fun. Let’s adjust our watch and let the young people see how far they have come in their development, “Vesalov told Diema Sport. At the beginning of this season, he was surprisingly released by Heber, could not find a new team and accepted the invitation of Botev Ihtiman. There he will stay in shape until winter, pending an offer from a club with professional status.

The team’s coach, Valeri Svilenov, is younger than many of its players. He was born on June 14, 1985 in Ixtiman. He took his first steps in football at the local school under George Kapajov. The latter led Svilenov on a 15-year promotion to the men’s team as a central defender. A year later, Balepi Svilenov was admitted to the Lokomotiv 101 Sf school. After three years he returned to his native Ihtiman. He later played for Xebup and Montana. Since 2010, when he was only 25 years old, he begins his career in the lower club, where he is at the moment. For a short time he was a sports mentor for Svoge and Conelliano.

Emotions are great, we continue to play against CSKA. If there were an audience, it would have been better if the match was in Ihtiman. But under these circumstances we decided to play for the “Army”. CSKA is the biggest team in Bulgaria and for us it is an honor that we meet. We cannot compete with CSKA, but we will try to surprise them, ”shared Svilenov.

Defender Stanislav Katrankov is a team coach (1985), with extensive experience in the second echelon with Botev Galabovo, Sozopol, Lyubimets, Heber, of whom he is a teenager, and Miner Pernik. Ihtimantsi’s captain is 36-year-old Vasil Velev, brother of Black Sea midfielder Stefan Velev. In the elite he wore the teams of Sliven, Loko Sofia, Botev Vratsa, Vidima-Rakovski and Haskovo.

The composition shows the names of two people directly related to CSKA. 28-year-old midfielder Vladimir Baharov is a teenager for the Reds. He was in the “Army” from 2009 to 2013, but never managed to break into the first team. He then played for Akademik Sf, Neftohimik, Dunav Ruse, Vidima-Rakovski, Oborishte, Tsarsko Selo, Miner Pernik. There is a party for the army in 2010 with Pavel Dochev.

The other CSKA teenager is Bogomil Hristov (26 years old). He made his debut with the men’s category in the 2012/13 season, registering 5 matches in the elite with Milen Radukanov. In the summer of 2013 he moved to Slavia. Also plays for Loko Sofia, Bansko, Spartak Pleven, Botev Galabovo, Oborishte, Strumska Slava.

There are also strikers Vladimir Kaptiev (33), brother of Loko’s former striker Sofia Rosen Kaptiev, and Atanas Kurdov (32), who was recently tried in Levski. Kaptiev peaked in 2011 when it crossed the Black Sea. It makes a name for itself on the Danube.