Former Grozny football player Akhmat Ruslan Adzhindzhal recalled his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after defeating Polish Lech in the UEFA Cup.
The match of the second qualifying round of the tournament took place in 2004. The Russian club won at home with a score of 1:0. The return meeting ended in the same way. In the next round, Grozny lost on aggregate to Basel, Switzerland.
Impressions from meeting with Putin? It is unlikely that anyone from the team expected this. I was told that someone from the presidential apparatus would like to come and talk to the team. We are sitting here after the match, and then Vladimir Vladimirovich comes. “God, how can this happen?” we thought.
It was casual communication, mostly a joke. It’s no secret that the president has a good sense of humor. He also joked. The most interesting thing is that Putin approaches each of us and shakes hands with everyone. He said he was watching football, he was worried, he was sick.” “Match TV”.
At that time the name of the club was “Terek”, in 2017 it was renamed to “Akhmat”.
In the current season of the Russian Premier League (RPL), Akhmat has collected 33 points after the 21st round and is sixth in the standings.
Elena Vyalbe, former president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) statedThat he never doubted Russian President Vladimir Putin.