BELARUSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2020 - MEET THE TEAMS

The Belarusian Premier League has been the only league in Europe to keep playing over the past month or so with the current worldwide situation. How long they will play for is unknown at present with the ladies game and youth football already put on hold for now in Belarus. The First and Second League kicked off over this past weekend with some details below. Before that we will meet the Premier League teams in some detail -

BATE Borisov are the most well known of the Belarusian teams in England having played Everton (09/10), Arsenal (17/18) and Chelsea (18/19) in the Europa League and also in the group stages of the UEFA Champion's League over the recent years. There are the only Belrusian side to ever play in the group stages of Europe's biggest competition.  

BATE is an acronym of "Borisov Automobile and Tractor Electronics" with the team based in the City of Barysaw also known as Borisov. The team was founded in 1973 and won the "Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic league" three times in 1974, 1976 and 1979. They disbanded in 1984 but were re-established in 1996. They have dominated the league winning the title an amazing fifteen times including an incredible thirteen season running spell between 2006 to 2018. Since promotion to the top level in 1998 they have never finished outside of the top three aside from one occasion in 2005 when they ended in fifth position. Their Borisov Arena stadium holds 13,126 people. 

They have reached the last 32 in the Europa league on two occasions. In 10/11 they lost on the away goal rule to PSG and in 12/13 they were knocked out by Fenerbache who narrowly won 0-1 on aggregate. Alyaksey Baha was replaced by Kirill Alshevsky in December 2019. Alshevsky is only 38 and started his coaching career aged just 21. He was previously BATE reserves manager and u19 assistant as well as having a spell as boss of Dynamo Minsk and as coach of the u19 National side. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Stanislaw Drahun is a full Belrusian International (66 caps) who netted 14 times for his team last season. He has played for Lokomotiv Minsk, Dinamo Minsk and Gomel before playing in Russia for PFC Keylia Sovetov Samara,  Dynamo Moscow and Orenburg. The 31 year old is a midfielder. 

Jakov Filipovic, 27, is a full Croatian International although he only has three caps to his name in friendly games played in 2017. He recently joined the club from KSC Lokeren who play in the second tier in Belgian football. 

Bojan Nastic, 25, joined the club in September 2019 from Belgian club Genk. The Bosnian International left back had been on loan at second tier KV Oostende. 

Ihar Stasevich has been with BATE since 2015 and has made over 50 appearances for the national side. The attacking midfielder, 34, was named Belarusian player of the year for 2019 which he also won in 2015 and 2018. He started his career with BATE in 2004 after coming through the academy ranks at the club. He had a brief spell in Russia in 2010 with 'FC Volga' before moving back to his home county to play for Gomel, Dynamo Minsk and then back home to BATE.   

FC Belshina Bobruisk were formed in 1976 although football in the city of Bobruisk can be traced back to the 1920s when a team won the Belarusian championship. In the 1970s a team called 'Stroitel Bobuisk' won the title in 1972 and 1973. The team was initially called 'Shinnik Bobruisk' and has always been attached to local tyre manufacturing company Belshina. In 1992 the club joined the First League (second tier of the Belarusian system) and gained promotion to the top tier in 1994. They were crowned champions in 2001 after being runner's up in 1997. 2001 was a good year as they also won the Belarusian Cup which they had also won in 1997 and 1999. 

They were champions of the First League in 2019 earning themselves promotion to the Premier League they had been relegated from in 2016. They had finished in 5th and 3rd position before their second league title win last season. 

They played Northern Irish side Portadown in the 2002/03 UEFA Champion's League winning 3-2 on aggregate before losing to Maccabi Haifa in the second qualifying round. Their Spartak Stadium holds 3,700 people. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Samuel Odeyodo is a 26 year old Nigerian and has lived in Belarus since 2013. The midfielder has played for Krumkachy Minsk, Naftan Novopolotsk, Granit Mikashevichi and his current club since 2019. 

Leonic Kovel, 33, made 17 appearances for the Belarus National team between 2004 to 2011. He has also played football in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukriane. 

Nivaldo Rodrigues Ferreira (known as Nivaldo) is a 31 year old Brazilian midfielder/forward who has very recently joined Belshina. He is very well travelled having recently played in Malta for Gudja United. He has also played for Gomel and Dynamo Brest in Belarus as well as playing in Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

Dynamo Brest broke BATE Borisov's stranglehold on the league last season winning their first title since they joined the top division in 1992 - They have been members ever since. They were formed in 1960 as Spartak Brest before a name change to Bug Brest in 1972 and then Dynamo in 1976. For 12/14 they were known as FC Brest. 

They have played in Europe on three occasions and are due to play in 20/21 UEFA Champion's League. Their only victory came in the 18/19 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round against Greek side Atromitos 5-4 on aggregate. 

Sergey Kovalchuk has recently taken over as manager after Czech Marcel Licka left the club in December. Kovalchuck had been in charge of the team on two previous occasions (11/12 and 2013 to 2016). Many of last season's title winning squad have left the club. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Gaby Kiki is a 25 year old central defender who was born in Cameroon. He came to Belarus in 2017 playing for Dnepr Mogilev before joining Dynamo in 2018. He was sent off in their last game against Vitebsk which was a second booking for a handball which many people thought was a very harsh decision. 

Mikhail Gordeichuk is a full Belarus International and was a member of the 2012 Belarus Olympic football team. He scored against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly game played in Cork in 2016. The 30 year old midfielder counts BATE and Volna Pinsk amongst his former clubs. His last International cap came in June 2019.

Pavel Pavlyuchenko, 22, is the current first choice goalkeeper. He has been capped twice by Belarus. He has also played for Dnepr Mogilev. 

Dinamo Minsk are the only team in the Belrusian Premier League to have won the Soviet Top League in 1982. They played top level football in the USSR FOR 39 seasons. They dominated the Premier League in the early years winning the title in 1992, 1992/93, 1993/94, 94/95, 1995 and 1997. They also topped the table in 2004. Since 2012 they have finished 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd and 4th last season. 

They have a rich history of playing in European competition with their best seasons being in 83/84 when they got to the European Cup QF and in 84/85 when they got to the same stage in the UEFA Cup. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK AFTER 

Kim-Jun Young, 20, has recently joined Dynamo. He is the first South Korean to play in the Belarus Premier League.  

Ivan Bakhar, 21, is already a full Belarus International with four caps to his name and a number of appearances for the u21, u19 and u17 sides. He is another recent recruit having moved across the City from FC Minsk. 

Twenty nine year old defender Miha Goropevsek is Solvenian and another recent signing. He was also played his football in Ukraine and Poland. 

FC Energetik-BGU Minsk were formed in 1996 and are based as the name suggests in Minsk. The BGU part translated from Belarusian stands for Belarusian State University. The Students as they are nick-named were promoted to the top tier in 2001 and then relegated in 2005. They dropped to the third tier from 2008 to 2013. A second placed finish in the first league saw them back in the top league for the 2019 season where they finished a creditable twelfth place. Their 2019 top scorer Ilya Shkurin was transfered to Dyanmo Brest in January but the next day immediately transfered to Russian club CSKA Moscow. Their stadium holds 1,500 people. 

Energetik's squad has a real International feel to it with players from France, Liberia, Cameroon, Uzbekistan, Montenegro and Brazil in their current squad. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

David Tweh is a full Liberian International player with three caps currently to his name. The 21 year old midfielder/winger played for 'Barrack Young Controllers' and 'NPA Anchors' in his home country before moving to Belarus.

Jérémy Mawatu moved to Energetik from France where he played for Bobginy and Cretil who both play in the fourth tier of French football. The 22 year old came through the youth system of Auxerre. 

Junior Atemengue is a Cameroonian centre forward who moved to Energetik from Neman Grodno in 2018. The 24 year old has played for a number of clubs in his home country as well as spells in Morocco and Thailand. 

FC Gorodeya were formed in 2004 originally as a Futsal club and then played in local football from 2007 joined the Second League (third tier) in 2008. The are based in the Minsk region with their stadium opening in 2006 with just a 300 capacity. This has increased with their moving up through the leagues to it's current 1,625 mark.

Since 2106 they have played in the top division finished 9th, 9th, 9th before improving to 7th place last season. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Lazar Sajic is a 23 year old Serbian midfielder who has been with the club since 2019. 

Sergey Usenya is another player to come through the BATE academy system although he never made a first team appearance for them. He went to play for Torpedo Zhodino before moving to Gorodeya in 2012 where he has been since aside from a short spell playing in Armenia with Alashkert in 2015. 

Sergei Arkhipov is a striker currently on loan with Gorodeya from Russian Premier League side Tambov. The 23 year old has a twin brother who is also a professional footballer - Artyom also plays for Tambov and is also currently on loan at Gorodeya making two appearances this season. Sergei has five appearances to his name. 

FC Isloch Minsk Raion were formed in 2007 as an Amateur club and only joined the Belarusian second League in 2012. They finished third in their first season and won promotion to the first league and then in 2015 won promotion to the Premier League when they won the second tier title. Since then they have finished 7th, 11th, 10th and 5th. Isloch have a fan who has become one of the most famous supporters in the world over the past month why football in Belarus is one of the only places the game is currently being played. Valery Kolontay attends games and plays his accordian in support of his team. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Pavel Ryback was named as the best defender in the league last season when he played for Shaktyor Soligorsk. He moved to Isloch in the pre-season. The 36 year old is ultra-experienced having played football since 2001 and had also played in Belarus. He played for Torpedo Minsk, Lokomotiv Minsk, Lida, Smorgon, Gomel, FC Minsk and Neman Grodno before moving to Shakhytor in 2015. 

Yahor Hatkevich is hard to miss as he's a 6 feet 5 inch goalkeeper. The 31 year old is another product of the BATE academy who didn't play for the first team. He has played for a number of Belarusian clubs including Vitebsk, Gomel and Torpedo Zhodino. 

Godfrey Stephen is only 19 years old. The Nigerian left sided defender looks to have a good future in the game having played over 20 times for Isloch already. 

Sergey Karpovich is a 26 year old midfielder who was recently rewarded with his first full caps at International level. Joined Isloch from Torpedo Zhodino in 2019 

Momo Yansane is a centre forward. The 22 year old from Guinea scored 11 goals whilst on loan with Isloch last season and has now joined the club full time. He played for Guinea 2017 under 20 FIFA World Cup. 

The current FC Minsk were formed in 2006 but can trace it's history back to 1954 when 'FShM Minsk' were formed. This club adopted the name of 'Smena Minsk' in 1989 and played in the Second League and First League. They then partnered with BATE Borisov to become their farm/feeder team and were renamed 'Smena-BATE Minsk' - this partnership ended in 2000 and they reverted to the name of 'Smena Minsk'. 

Then in 2006 a new team named 'FC Minsk' were founded and took over Smena's first league licence along with the majoirty of their squad and facilities. The new club won the First League title at the first attempt but were relegated back down the next season. They again won the title in 2008 and have been in the top tier ever since. Their best placed finish was third in 2010. They also won the Belarusian Cup in 2013. 

FC Minsk have played in the UEFA Europa League on two occasions - Fans of St Johnstone will remember their game in 2013 which went to penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw on aggregate. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Dmitri Prischepa has a big future in the game. The 18 year old defender has played five times for FC Minsk this season and has spent time on loan at Zenit St Petersburg in 2019 where he played for their reserve side. Has been capped at u17 for Belarus. 

Gleb Gurban is another of the current crop of promising young players at FC Minsk. The 18 year old defender has only made one appearance so far this season. 

Sergey Sazaonchik is a 19 year old midfielder who has made three apperances for the first team this season. 

Uladzimir Khvashchynski has lots of experience having played for Dynamo Minsk, Dynamo Brest and Shakytor Soligorsk from where he is currently on loan. The 29 year old attacker has two goals from five games so far this season. 

FC Neman Grodno are from the City of Grodno (population roughly 370,000 compared to nearly 2,000,000 people in Minsk and 350,000 in Brest) and were formed in 1964 playing in the Soviet Second and third tiers for many years without achieving promotion to the top level. From 1992 they have had unbroken membership of the Belarusian Premier League with a top placed finish of runner's up in 2002 and a Belarusian Cup victory in 1993. 

They have played four times in Europe (Cup Winner's Cup x1, Intertoto Cup x 1 and UEFA/Europa League x 2) - they have never won a tie in Europe with their closest being in 2003/04 when they draw 1-1 with Romanian side Steaua Bucuresti. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Giorgi Kantaria has been with Neman since 2017. The Georgian defender made over 60 appearance for the club and has also play for his u21 International side. 

Roman Vegerya has made three appearances so far this season. The 19 year old defender has played for the u17, u19 and u21 International sides and was recently rewarded with his first full cap in the game against Bulgaria in February where he came on as substitute for Sergei Karpovich. 

Andrey Yakimov, 30, is a midfield player with lots of experience having played for Vitebsk, Volna Pinsk and Naftan Novopolotsk. 

Rukh Brest were formed in 2016 and only joined the second league in 2018 as a farm/feeder club of Dynamo Brest. They won promotion in both seasons finishing top of the second league in 2018 and then in third place of the first league in 2019 when they won the promotion play-off. With their promotion to the top tier they ended their partnership with Dynamo Brest. The 1922 date on their club crest apparently relates to a club named 'Ruch Brzesc' who played in the Polish leagues in the 1920s and 1930s - At the time the City was part of Poland - The original club ceased to be when World War II broke out. Rukh translates to 'Movement'. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Pavel Sedko has made 11 appearances for the Belarusian under 21 international side and has one cap at full International level which came in November 2017 against Armenia. He won the Belarusian Cup with Dynamo Brest in 2017 and 2018 and is currently on loan at Rukh. He scored a fantastic goal from outside of the box  for Rukh in their game against FC Minsk. 

Joao William has impressed in central defence this season. He has played in all five of Rukh's games of which three have been clean sheets. The 23 year old Brazilian has played for a number of clubs in his home county. 

Chidi Osuchukwu moved on a full time basis from Dynamo Brest at the begining of the year. The 26 year old Nigerian midfielder was with Portuguese side Braga from 2013 to 2017. 

Artsyom Pyatrenka moved to the club in pre-season from Slavia Mozyr. The 20 year old forward has played for the u17, u19 and u21 Belarus International sides. He has two appearances to his name so far this campaign. 

FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk were formed in 1961 and are another club to have unbroken membership of the Premier League. The initially struggled and in 1997 finished bottom but were saved from relegation as two higher placed teams (1. Ataka Minsk played for one more season in the second league but then dissolved. 2. Transmash Mogilev merged with FC Dnepr-Mogilev) withdrew. 

From 1999 they have finsished no lower than sixth in the table. They have been runner's up six times and won the title in 2005. They have also won the Belarusian Cup on three occasions and are the current holders of the trophy. 

They have regularly played in the UEFA Cup and played Italian side Torino in the 19/20 competition. They have also played Welsh side Connahs Key Nomads in 2018. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Syarhey Balanovich, 32, is a full Belarusian International and originally played in the first and second leagues for Volna Pinsk before joining Shakytor in 2008  - He went to play in Russia in 2014 with 'Amkar Perm' before returning to Shakytor in 2018. 

Alyaksandr Hutar was named as the best goalkeeper in the league last season when he played for champion's Dynamo Brest. He moved to Shakytor in the pre-season and is a full Belarus International. Now aged 31 he also won the title when playing for BATE (he came through their academy system) in 08, 09, 10, 11 and 12. 

Gega Diasamidze has recently joined the club from Georgian club Saburtalo Tbilisi. The 27 year old midfielder is 6 foot 2 inches.

Dzimitry Padestrelaw is a full Belarusian International and scored for the national side in their recent 1-0 victory over Bulgaria. 

FC Salvia Mozyr are based in the city of Mazyr which is in the south-east of the country and has a population of around 250,000. The city is 62 miles north west of Chernobyl across the border in Ukraine hence in 1986 it suffered from the radioactive fall out from the Chernobyl disaster  The team were formed just one year after in 1987 and have played under various names - 'FC Polesye Mozyr', 'FC MPKC Mozyr' and 'FC Mozyr' as well as being named 'FC Mozyr-Zlin' after a merger with 'Zlin Gomel' in 2006. They have been 'Slavia Mozyr' since 2008.

After promotion to the top tier in 1995 they won the league and cup double in 1996 and then the league again in 2000. From 2006 to 2011 they played in the second league and also in 2014 and 2018. They finished in eighth place last season. 

Their last appearance in Europe came in 2002 UEFA Champions League when they beat VB Vagur of the Faroe Islands before defeat to Solvakian side Inter Bratislava. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK FOR

Gleb Shevchenko is a 21 year old defender/midfielder and has been capped at under 21 level. He has played over 60 games for Slavia since 2016. 

Igor Costrov is a 32 year old Moldovan midfielder who has played for a good number of clubs in his career. He has played for clubs in Moldova as well as a spell with the Kansas City Wizards in the USA and Hapoel Be'er Sheva is Israel. 

Mikhail Baranovsky is a veteran goalkeeper aged 37. He has been with Slavia since 2108 where he began his career in 1999. He spent most of his time in Russia. 

Francis Narh, Dennis Tetteh and James Kotei are a trio of Ghanian players with the club. Kotei is a defensive midfielder yet to make an appearance who joined from South African side Kaiser Chiefs recently. Narh is another midfielder who joined from Turkish side Karabukspor in 2019. Tetteh is a centre forward who joined from Egyptian side Tanta.  

FC Slutsk were formed in 1998 and played in the lower leagues until joining the second league in 2008. Since 2014 they have played in the top tier with a best placed finish on eighth in 2017 and 2018. They have never been past the quarter-final stage of the Belarusian Cup. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Barys Pankrataw is a real fan's favourite and an ultra experienced goal-keeper. He made a string of great saves in Slutsk's recent 1-2 victory over Shaktyor. The 37 year old has always played his football in Belarus and counts Dnepr Mogilev, Spartak Shklov, BATE Borisov, Dynamo Minsk, Granit Mikashevichi, Neman Grodno and Belshina Bobruisk as his former clubs. 

Dramane Salou and Abdoul Gafar Sirima both recently joined the club and hail from Burkina Faso. Sirima is a forward and has netted one goal in his five appearances so far - The 21 year old has played in Russia and Moldova previously.  Salou, 21, has only played once so far - He has played in the Ukraine and Serbia. 

FC Smolevichi are another side formed over recently in 2009. They placed in the Premier League in 2018 but were relegated to the first league buy a second placed finish in 2019 got them back up to the top tier again. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Jean Morel-Poe, 23, joined the club on loan from Torpedo Zhodino for this season. He was born in the Ivory Coast and has yet to score in the four games he has played so far. 

Aleksey Butarevich, 23, is a midfielder who has benn capped at u21 level. He has been with the club since 2019 and counts Torpedo Minsk and Neman Grodno as former clubs. 

Ivan Veras recently joined from first league side FC Granit Miskashevichi. The defender/midfielder, 22, has played all five league games for the club so far this season. 

FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino were foremd in 1961 and play at the 3,020 capacity Tropedo Stadium in Zhodino. They were founder members of the Pemier League in 1992 but were relegated in 1993 but have been members of the top tier since 2002. Their best placed finish was fourth place on four occasions - they played in and won the relegation play-off in 2010 and 2012. Torpedo's greatest triumph was in 2016 when they won the Belarusian Cup. In the last 32 they beat FC Orsha (who at the time were a Second League side) 16-1 on aggregate (5-0 and 11-1), FC Smorgon 9-1 (5-0 and 4-1) on aggregate in the quarter-final and Dynamo Minsk 2-1 (L 1-0 and W 2-1) in the semi final to set up the final with BATE Borisov which ended 0-0 and was won on penalty kicks 3-2. The winning spot kick was scored by Denis Trapashko who currently played for First League side Naftan Novopolotsk.

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Brazlian midfielder Gabriel Ramos joined Torpedo from Georgian club Dinamo Batumi in pre-season and has made an immediate impact scoring twice in four games played. 

Lipe Veloso is another Brazilian pre-season recruit - He joined from Ukrainian side FC Lviv. The 23 year old spent time with Corinthians, Flamengo and Palmeriras as a youth player. 

Kirill Premudov joined in 2019 - the midfielder counts Dynamo Brest, Dynamo Minsk and Luch Minsk amongst his former clubs. 

Another founding member of the Belarusian Premier League. Vitebsk have been a bit of a yo-yo club going down to the first league in 2003, 2005 and from 2012 to 2015. They have finished 2nd in 92/93 and 94/95 along with winning the Belarusian Cup in 1998. They were runner's up in the cup last season. They are another side to have had a number of names over the years - since they were formed as 'Krasnoye Znamya Vitebsk' in 1960 they have played as 'Dvina Vitebsk', 'Vityaz Vitebesk', 'KIM Vitebsk', 'Lokomotiv-96 Vitebsk' and 'Lokomotiv Vitebsk' before opting for their current name in 2006. 

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Vitebsk are another side to recruit a number of Brazilian players. Midfielder Wanderson Maranhao has been with the club since 2018, defender Julio Cesar joined in pre-season from Spanish third tier side Vilafranca and Diego Carioca joined in 2019. 

Moldovan centre-forward Ion Nicolaescu joined in pre-season from Shakytor and has scored twice in the four games he has played so far. 

RECENT RESULTS 

PREMIER LEAGUE

Thursday 16th April 
Energetik-BGU 0 Gorodeya 1 (123)
Dynamo Minsk 2 Neman Grodno 0 (317)

Friday 17th April 
Belshina 1 Smolevichy 1 (TBC)
Shakhtyor 1 Slutsk 2 (253) 

Saturday 18th April
Isloch 2 Slavia 1 (169)
Rukh Brest 1 FC Minsk 0 (311) 
Vitebsk 1 Dynamo Brest 0 (287)
BATE 0 Torpedo Zhodino 0 (652) 

FIRST LEAGUE

Friday 17th April 
Lokomotiv Gomel 5 Khimik Svetlogorsk 0 (120)

Saturday 18th April
Arsenal 0 Oshmyany 3 (175)
NFK Minsk 4 Granit 1 (230)
Sputnik 1 Smorgon 1 (100) 
Gomel 0 Naftan 0 (1070) 
Volna 0 Slonim 0 (250) 
Orsha 3 Lida 2 (100) 

SECOND LEAGUE

Saturday 18th April

GROUP A
Chayka Zelva 2 Molodechno-DYuSSh 4
Malorita 0 Meliorator Zhitkovichi 2 
Ivatsevichi 2 Ostrovets 3
Kronon 1 Pershiy Regien 1 
BGU Minsk 1 Stenles Pinsk 3

GROUP B
Viktoriya Maryina Horka 4 Dnepr Rogachev 0 
SMI Autotrans 0 Shakhtyor Petrikov 3 
Gorki 3 Zhlobin 1 
Polotsk 0 Bumprom 4 
Osipovichy 4 Energosbyt-BSATU 3 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Friday 24th April 

PREMIER LEAGUE 
Smolevichy v Dynamo Minsk 
Neman Grodno v Energetik BGU 

SECOND LEAGUE GROUP A 
Stenles Pinsk v Chayka Zelva
BGU Minsk v Pershiy Regien
Ostrovets v Kronon
Meliorator Zhitkovichi v Ivatsevichi
Baranovichi v Dinamo Malorita 

SECOND LEAGUE GROUP B 
Zhlobin v Polotsk
Dnepr Rogachev v Gorki
Shakhtyor Petrikov v Viktoriya Maryina Horka
Energosbyt-BSATU v SMI Autotrans
Dnepr Mogilev v Osipovichy

Saturday 25th April 

PREMIER LEAGUE 
Slavia v Minsk
Gorodeya v BATE
Dynamo Brest v Shakhtyor

FIRST LEAGUE 
Slonim v Orsha
Naftan v Lida
Smorgon v Volna 
Oshmyany v Sputnik

Sunday 26th April

PREMIER LEAGUE
Slutsk v Belshina
Torpedo Zhodino v Rukh Brest
Isloch v Vitebsk

FIRST LEAGUE
Granit v Arsenal
Khimik Svetlogorsk v NFK Minsk
Gomel v Lokomotiv Gomel

The Gomel v Lokomotiv Gomel derby is the game of the week in the first league. Gomel dropped out of the top tier last season - they were champions of Belarus in 2003 as well as Cup winners in 2002 and 2011. Their city rivals were formed as "Gomelzheldortrans" in 2008 - they have never played in the top division.