Commonwealth Cup: reload

The 20th tournament Commonwealth Cup was opened in St.-Petersburg. To survive the former popular contest had to change its format. Initially the idea was a competition between clubs-winners of the countries of the former Soviet Union, but now youth national teams participate in the Cup.

In the early 1990s the Commonwealth Cup was popular due to nostalgia about Soviet football, which fans lost after the dissolution of the USSR. Rivalry between Dynamo, Kiev, and Spartak, Mosocw, was the main cuisine of the tournament. Finals, in which these two teams met, were the most popular.

However, time has passed, and a new generation of football fans didn’t pay much attention to a historic aspect of the Commonwealth Cup. At the same time, interest of clubs themselves reduced either. Champions of each country had their own plans for preparation to a new season, and the Commonwealth Cup didn’t suite them well. At first, Russia and Ukraine sent bench strengths, later Belarus and Moldova followed their examples.

Problems of political character appeared as well. Initiators had to separate champions of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Champions of Georgia didn’t participate in last Cup.

The issue of reformation or cancelling the tournament was discussed for a long time. At the same time, the Commonwealth Cup was important for the Russian Football Union as an image project. Famous sportsmen came to opening ceremonies every year. They emphasized that this tournament is very important.

Since this year the youth national teams will participate in the contest. The Russian side finances the Cup, but there is no prize fund for the winners anymore.

In 2012 12 national teams will participate in the Commonwealth Cup: Russia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Moldavia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Belarus, Iran, Tajikistan, and Lithuania. National teams of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Finland rejected invitations.