|
Coach Hiddink happy to watch game in Chechnya
| |
|
|
Photo: telegraph.co.uk
|
MOSCOW, March 20 (Reuters) - Russia coach Guus Hiddink
said he would have no problem going to Chechnya to watch a Russian Premier
League match involving local side Terek Grozny.
Promoted Terek, back in the top flight for the first time since 2005,
were given Russian FA permission to play their home games in Grozny after
receiving personal safety guarantees from Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.
Chechnya has been slowly returning to normal after two bloody wars with
separatists in the past decade. Terek hosted Krylya Sovietov Samara in
a league game on Friday, the first professional match in Grozny for 14
years.
'I don't have a problem going there,' Hiddink told Reuters on Thursday.
'Actually I think it would be a good experience for me to see other parts
of Russia outside (the main cities of) Moscow or St Petersburg.'
The Dutchman's sole worry was over the method of transport.
'The only thing I'm concerned about is flying these old Russian-made planes.
So if I get a modern aircraft, I'll go like that,' he said snapping his
fingers.
Hiddink, who took over as coach in July 2006, said he was planning to
fly to Samara for Saturday's league match between Krylya Sovietov and
CSKA Moscow to check on players ahead of Wednesday's international friendly
with Romania.
'I was told it'll be a charter flight (to Samara) so the plane should
be safe,' said Hiddink.
'It is such a huge country, has so much diversity, great history and culture,
I would love to learn more about Russia.
'I would love to go to Siberia, the Far East, the Caucasus, anywhere just
to experience life here first hand.'
Soccernet.espn.go.com,
March 20, 2008
|
|
