Jõhvi Football Club 'Feniks' Celebrates 15th Anniversary with Focus on Youth
Jõhvi's football club 'Feniks' is marking its 15th anniversary this year. The club prioritizes training young players, hoping its graduates will represent the Estonian national team, while the senior team aims for promotion to the top league and European competitions.
Football club 'Feniks' from Jõhvi celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Founded in 2011 under the name 'Lokomotiv', the club later rebranded to 'Feniks'. Club director Sergei Ivanov says developing a football club is challenging, but the achievements of the youth and the children's enthusiasm keep them motivated.
Ivanov notes that children arrive 40 minutes before camp, run, play football, and go through intense training sessions. In the evening, they attend another club training. He dreams of not only reaching the top league but also seeing a club player represent the Estonian national team regularly.
The club runs an annual summer football camp, attracting not only local kids but also children from other countries. One grandfather, Andrei, says his grandson attends for physical conditioning, team play, and to grow into a man.
Participants from abroad share their ambitions. Fedor from Cyprus wants to become a professional footballer. Cesco from Moldova enjoys football because of the many goals, joy, and victory. Local player Martin says his father has been playing football for 30 years and he wants to follow in his footsteps.
In 2014, the team, then still called 'Lokomotiv', played in the Estonian top league. This season, 'Feniks' is fighting for promotion to the first league.
