During the three-week international break in the Belarusian football championship, FC Arsenal Dzerzhinsk is using the pause to treat injuries and reset for the final stretch of the season. The club also sees young defender Eduard Akunets step up to international duty with the Belarus under-19 national team as domestic fixtures halt.
International Call-Up for Academy Product Eduard Akunets
While the senior squad lacks heavy representation in the national team, Arsenal Dzerzhinsk continues to supply players to the youth and junior ranks. Defender Eduard Akunets, who has progressed through the club’s sports school and reserve squad since 2022, joined the Belarus U19 squad ahead of a busy international window.
The junior national team played two friendlies against Russia U19 in Minsk as preparation for the second round of qualification for the junior European championship. In that qualifying cycle, Belarus faces a group featuring Austria, England, and Slovenia. After staying on the bench during a 1-0 defeat on September 25, Akunets earned a place in the starting lineup for the second match on Sunday, playing the full match despite the coaching staff making eight substitutions in a 1-1 draw.
Disciplinary Aftermath Following the Match in Vitebsk
Off the pitch, the club continues dealing with the fallout from a 5-1 defeat against ML Vitebsk. Dzmitry Antileusky received a red card during that encounter, leading the ABFFF Control and Disciplinary Committee to issue a suspension alongside a fine of 20 baseline units, totaling 900 rubles. Head coach Igor Trukhov also received a warning after intervening on behalf of his player during the incident.
The ABFFF has not issued any public apologies or comments regarding the officiating decisions that directly impacted the match, and no public information indicates that the match referee faced sanction for the calls. Vitebsk head coach Sergei Gurenko later addressed the friction during the project “Goal Delivery,” noting tensions that went unnoticed by television broadcast cameras.
Preparation for the Final Stretch of the Season
With the domestic league paused, Igor Trukhov and his coaching staff have extended recovery time for the squad following the recent break. The priority remains getting injured players back to full fitness before league play resumes, allowing Arsenal Dzerzhinsk to tackle the closing fixtures of the campaign with an optimal roster.
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