Basketball club «AZOVMASH»About club |
According to the recollections of Mariupol sports veterans, basketball began developing in Mariupol (Zhdanov that time) in the early postwar years.
Early 50s Zhdanov "Iskra" sought to participate in the championship and the Cup of USSR republic, where Zhdanov teams (including women) took part with varied success during 60-70s.
SK "Azovstal" and SK "Azov" were permanent participants of the regional and republican championships. New impulse for city basketball development (youth above all) was in the mid of 70s and early 80s when the youth team SC "Novator" (future SC "Azovmash") led by Valentin Romanets consistently won the region championship taking top places within Ukraine.
A. Bondarenko, A. Kibenko, M. Dyachenko, A. Lukyanets, L. Yaylo, S. Ivchatov, À. Yangitcher and many others learnt details of the game in «Novator», making their presence felt in the world of basketball. On the basis of SK «Novator» the first professional basketball team «Azovmash» was created.
September 1990 «Azovmash» debuted in a professional manner. Participating in the II league of USSR championship (Ukrainian zone) the team occupied 6th place among 8 participants.
August, 22, 1991 the «Self-supporting basketball club «Azovmash» was registered by the decision of Illich district counsil in Mariupol. "Azovmash" gained confident victory in the 1st league championship of the Independent Ukraine (37 victories out of 44 games) entering TOP12 of the country. After 1992-1993 season "Azovmash" got the "authority threat" nickname when beat all prizewinners occupying the highest for the new-commer 7th place. The club expected the promising future which came in form of market relations and leading players appearing in prominent and proliferating clubs, such as L. Yaylo in "Budivelnyk", S.Ivchatov and A.Yangicher in "Shakter".
The history of "Azovmash" is associated with the names of prominent organizers and coaches, players included in the golden chronicals of Soviet and Ukrainian basketball. 1990 team led by honoured Ukrainian coach, one of the founders of Mariupol basketball, Valentin Romanets made itself known for the first time in the Ukrainian league championship of the USSR after winning the sports competition within Donetsk region. Next year after success within the First League the team played for the first time within the Higher one. By 2000 it occupies the 7th place in the championship due to the players from the national Ukrainian team L.Yaylo, A. Yangicher, S. Ivchatov and others. That was the most prominent success of the team in 90s, including victory within Corach Cup, number two European Tournament. 2000 was the turning point in club history. Since that time it is headed by Aleksandr Savchuk the President of JSC "Azovmash". 2001-2002 the success came with the bronze within Ukrainian championship. Approach to team as a whole, sport base, players was changed completely. The goal to win the highest rewards within European championships and tournaments was set by the President. Upon his initiative the Sport Complex with the capacity of more than 3000 seats, training and recreational base and laboratory was built. BC "Azovmash" became the landmark of the biggest machine building company in the CIS and Mariupol. 2002 the team got Ukrainian Cup debuting successfully within Superleague Ukraine. "Azovmash" was almost completely renewed. Andrey Podkovyrov, famous Ukrainian basketball player and coach, became the head coach of the team. Beside Peter Podtykan, Aleksandr Skutyelnik, Sergey Moskalenko from the previous team`s line-up and Leonid Yaylo, coming back to the native club, new players Andrey Botichev, Igor Kharchenko and Dmitriy Korablyev appeared in the Club. Year 2003 brought a real triumph, the 1st win within Challenge Cup and Ukrainian Championship, to the Club. That was an outstanding success of the team. The same year one more win within Ukrainian Cup. 2003-2004 was a success start within Superleague and FIBA-Europe. Speaking at the team honouring Aleksandr Savchuk underlined that the victory was easier to get than to possess. But the team as well as its captain Aleksandr Skutyelnik passed through all the hardships sucessfully. First decade of the XI century was "Azovmash" star time. Led by Andrey Podkovyrov (2003-2004), Rimas Girkis (2006-2007, 2009), Mehmed Becirovic (2008), Sergey Zavalin (2010) "Azovmash" became seven-time champion of Ukraine. Prominent basketball players were raised in "Azovmash": Sergey Lischuk, Leonid Yaylo, Sergey Moskalenko, Vyacheslav Evstratenko, Aleksandr Skutyelnik, Vyacheslav Bobrov, Bogdan Bayda, Maksym Ivshyn, Dmitriy Zabirchenko and others. Aleksandr Savchuk saying "Together we are unconquerable! Players. Coaches. Fans." comes into fruition. Achievements: - Champion of Ukraine – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Silver Medalist Ukrainian Championship: 2005 - Bronze Medalist Ukrainian Championship: 2001, 2002 - Cup of Ukraine Winner: 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009 - Winner of FIBA Europe Regional Challenge: 2003 - FIBA Europe Participator – 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006 - Silver Medalist FIBA Europe – 2006-2007 - ULEB Cup (later Eurocup) Participator – from 2007 - United League VTB Participator – from 2010 |
