The 26th World Police Indoor Soccer Tournament was held in early October in Eibergen, Holland. Every year it grew very fast – the number of teams increased (this year there were 162 teams), professional level of players improved. Kirov soccer players take part in this competition for the sixth time and two previous years our team took 2nd places. It’s not surprising that everybody considers it a strong rival. Players from many countries said they wanted to meet with our guys in the final. This year (like in the last one) two teams from Kirov came to Holland – the first team and the team of veterans.

The first tournament day for the first team began at 7 a.m. There were seven games with the interval of forty minutes. Then there was the same procedure for the team of veterans. Towards evening the guys barely stood on their feet. It was clear that the rivals were nervous. The second day was very tense. Our team showed a great readiness – rivals’ goal didn’t stand their energy, it just fell.

The cheer-leading team was impressing – 160 fans came from Kirov. They supported very seriously. Two teams played fourteen hours changing each other and fourteen hours guests from Kirov stretched their ligaments. If tournament organizers had instituted a prize for the best cheer-leading team, it would surely have gone to us. Foreigners’ amazement was also aroused by the fact that some of our cheer-leaders came to the Netherlands by their own cars.  This year our first team of players took the 16th place, the veterans – the 9th one.

Nikolay Koshcheev, the vice-president of RS IPA: “The result of the competition is not so sad at all. It is positive if we take into account that this year we happened to compete with very strong rivals. We had no substitution, the guys played flat out. And moreover, some players sustained injuries in the beginning of the tournament and couldn’t remain in the ranks. We have much to strive for.”

Next year the fans decided to support with greater force. The players said they would prepare more seriously. Meantime, we shouldn’t forget about one more important tournament side. The police officers from different countries come to Holland mainly for communicating with their colleagues and friends. IPA motto is “Service through Friendship”. The way home was pleasant. We got added evidence that our Vyatka nature is strong and friendly support is reliable.