MINSK, 25 August (BelTA) – I am in favor of fewer foreign players in the Belarusian ice hockey, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with the players and the coaching staff of HC Dinamo Minsk, BelTA has learned.
“We will have 3 or 4 foreign players next year. This is my requirement. We cannot pay the money to the players who are not on the national team. The most important things are the national team and the Dinamo club,” he said.
He noted that if foreign players show a good play they will be able to stay in the team. “We will never throw them away. They will stay on the team. If some of them show interest in the Belarusian national team, we will look into the matter. However, the focus will be on national players,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
“This is not about the players who have come from Sweden, Canada to play here. For now they are our players. If they play well, they will be treated the same. It is just a trend. I want you to know it,” the president said.