(Football news) Fans of European giants Real Madrid and Inter Milan will see a relatively unknown team with a popular name in this year's Champions League. Sheriff Tiraspol will become the first club from an ex-Soviet country to reach the Uefa Champions League group stage. The success of the team is even more highlighted as they from a tiny separatist region called Transnistria which is not recognised as an official country by the United Nations.
The tiny breakaway state takes its independence very seriously as they have their own currency, own border security and cellular data but it is not recognised internationally, this made Sheriff play in the Moldovian league since 1999. The Champion League debutants have been the kings over the peasant land as they have won the Moldovian league 20 times of the 22 titles they have contested for. The Sheriff Company annual turnover is almost double of the state budget as it funds the club directly and also support from the Transnistria government helps them dominate the league.The club was only founded in 1997 but since 2009 they have played four times in the Europa League and have been eliminated twice in the Champions League qualifying rounds.
Sheriff Tiraspol beat Teuta of Albania, Alashkert of Armenia and Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade before taking on Dinamo Zagreb. They weren’t supposed to win against the Croatian giants but the most unlikely thing happened as they beat them 3-0 in the second leg. The historic feat was achieved due to the virtues of Sheriff’s multinational squad as they have players from 18 different countries, a far cry from the previous times as the team only consisted of Transnistria players.
The coach of Sheriff Yuriy Vernybub said “Honestly, I didn’t expect it. It’s a fairytale". He acknowledged there were political overtones to the moment, but was upbeat about the opportunity it presented. “People say sport isn’t politics," the 55-year-old said. “Sport is politics. The games will probably unite fans in Moldova and Transnistria,” he said optimistically.
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Although the region is heavily disputed and some may even criticise it, the very fact is that football brings everyone united and for a change the Moldova and Transnistria fans can unite together to support such a historical achievement by the club. It's not everyday that the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan come to Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena in Tiraspol as Moldova as a nation should be proud that a team from the Moldovian league is playing in the best competition in the world. Transnistria people are hoping that football brings peace and prosperity in the region and also more people get to know about the small city of Tiraspol.
