Actually, Yury Syomin took the helm of the Russian squad's guidance as early as April 19 when the RFU executive committee bureau recommended that he take the office. Syomin's candidacy was passed without voting.
Yury Syomin named the trainers for the national team, including virtually all those who had been associated with the team before: the chief coach's aides Oleg Dolmatov (Yaroslavl's "Shinnik") and Boris Ignatiev, the physician Zurab Ordjonikidze and the manager Andrey Kiryakov.
The coaching headquaters have not yet divided their duties. "What matters above all is that we are in the team and this team is a single organism," concluded Syomin.
He is confident that the system of bonuses should be changed. "Players should get money for each match, for being called to the national team," Syomin told newsmen. He wants to set up a complex Russian footballer research group and believes it will be a very effective system,
"This group's officers will be present at virtually every match and work there even in the intervals," noted Syomin. "They will find out how many meters the player covered during a match and at what speed. Such clubs as Milan and Real have long used this system-it is an objective assessment of footballers."
Syomin admitted when addressing the RFU session at the beginning that he was eager to combine work in the national team and in Moscow's Locomotive club which he had been in charge of for many years.
It's a great thrill to work with a national team, said Syomin. "I would be happy to appear with our team at a world championship because it is the peak in a career of every coach. I'll try to use this chance," he said.
