The Mayor of Kazan at the Ak Bars Show: the super shot by Minnikhanov and a favorite player in the team

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, became a guest of the Ak Bars Show during the KHL regular season match between Ak Bars and Vityaz. The Mayor began by recalling the previous season, which was terminated due to the coronavirus. According to Metshin, Ak Bars was at the top of its game.

“I think the teams and fans missed hickey even more because of the cancellation of the previous season. Of course, it would be great to finish that season, the team was fine and at the top of its game. It's a pity that that season was terminated. Nevertheless, the new season have begun despite all the restrictions. We come to see and support Ak Bars. I congratulate everyone on the start of the new season!”.

Speaking about this season, Metshin expressed the desire to see Ak Bars as a four-time winner of the Gagarin Cup. According to the Mayor, the team has everything for this.

“As a fan and as the Mayor of the city, I expect that we, three-time winners of the Gagarin Cup, would win the fourth. We are perfectionists. We have a very stable team this year. Dmitry Kvartalnov is an experienced coach, as well as our players Danis Zaripov, Artyom Lukoyanov, Albert Yarullin. It is good that the best goaltender of last season Bilyalov remained in the ream. The youth was re–signed – Voronkov and Galimov. The legionnaires Da Costa and Dawes will make the team stronger. Dawes is the best legionnaire of the KHL, so according to experts, our team is the most stable. We can finish the season successfully. The Opening Cup showed it,”- Metshin said. 

Mahmud Arakaev, host of the Ak Bars Show, supposed that the Mayor of the city, who often plays hockey, would not mind training with the newcomer of the Kazan club, Nigel Dawes. Metshin did not deny it: “I would love to. By the way, I was lucky enough to play with Danis Zaripov and Alexey Morozov. We were linemates. It was an amazing experience.”

Metshin also said about playing hockey with Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov. According to the Mayor of Kazan, the experience of working as a driver in his youth helps Minnikhanov in hockey.

“I am a left winger. I played in this position when I was a kid and at the veteran games too. By the way, I played hockey the day before yesterday. I scored one and assisted four times. But Mom always says, “It seems like there wasn't a goalie there”, - Metshin said about his hobby.

“Firsov had such a shot, as well as our president. To clarify, he has muscles on his forearm, like I probably have on my leg. In his youth, he was a driver of a UAZ. He scores not because he is the president, but because he is a crazy slapper”, - the Mayor said about the game of Minnikhanov.

According to Metshin, he tries visit all the matches of the Kazan club or to watch them online.

The Mayor's answer to the question about the favorite Ak Bars player turned out to be unexpected. Instead of one of the players, Metshin named the club's president Nail Maganov. 

“My favorite is Nail Maganov, the president of the club. I want to thank him as a fan. I appreciate his professionalism in hockey, he managed to build a system from children’s team to the main team. I would like to mention the work with fans, the marketing team is one of the best in the league. Ak Bars is a family. Ak Bars hockey club, Rubin football club, UNICS, Sintez, Zenit-Kazan and Dynamo-Ak Bars – we love all of them,”- the Mayor said.

I.Metshin concluded his visit to the Ak Bars Show with a brief analysis of the first goal in the match. For reference, Vityaz opened the score at the 51st second of the match.

Published in Sport Business Online on September 5, 2020