MINSK, Belarus -- Less than three years ago, Alexander Skshinetskys soccer career seemed over.The former under-21 international found himself unemployed after his career stalled, and was working on construction sites when an offer came. Would he consider joining an amateur team that had been playing seven-a-side soccer but now wanted to go pro, founded by a small group of fans staking thousands of dollars of their own money to build a club from scratch?Two seasons and two promotions later, the 26-year-old midfielder is a key player in one of European soccers most unlikely success stories. In only its third professional season, Krumkachy Minsk is playing top-flight soccer, beating established names and challenging the economic orthodoxy in one of Europes most closed-off countries.Krumkachy -- Ravens in Belarusian -- has soared into the countrys top league with a shoestring budget but an enthusiastic and growing fan base of hipsters, families and others turned off by the stagnation of soccer in the ex-Soviet nation. Before a recent run of losses, it was even challenging for Europa League qualification.The secret has been finding talented players on the verge of leaving the game, or even those who have already quit, people who have been underestimated and put down, in the words of co-founder Denis Shunto, who set up Krumkachy with friends in 2011. We get those guys and we can really make them into a team.After starting out in recreational competitions, Shunto and his friends decided to aim higher. Belarusian soccer has a three-tier league system packed with clubs backed by various government agencies and state-run factories in the countrys Soviet-style economy, a set-up which prefers predictability over ambition and can give rise to conflicts of interest. With a spot open in the third tier, but without a state patron, Krumkachy scraped together a few thousand dollars to apply. Each subsequent step up the pyramid brought predictions of imminent financial collapse.Everyone said we wouldnt have the money, we couldnt take part, said Skshinetsky, the midfielder. We played for free in the second division, and in the first division it wasnt much. Maybe $100 for a win in the first division and salaries maybe $150 (a month).On a freezing Friday night in Minsk, the crowd was small and the game scrappy. Goalkeeping errors helped to hand Krumkachy a 2-1 win which all but ensured the clubs top-flight survival for 2017 in the Belarusian leagues calendar-year system. Financial survival is always a trickier question.Weve got the smallest budget (in the league) and were still putting money in ourselves, said Shunto, who wonders if the approach of going without government funding may be too romantic.At Fridays game, commercial tie-ups were prominent and Krumkachys shirts were covered in a myriad of small logos from various businesses which have chipped in as sponsors, while opposition Granit Mikashevichi bore only the logo of its backer, a state-run quarry. Consumerism may be the norm in most European leagues, but in Belarus state-dominated economy, its the mark of the plucky underdog.After ending a nine-game wait for victory, the players came over to celebrate with the sparse crowd. An hour later, the reserve players were still sharing the field with fans and their children having a kickabout.Its an atmosphere like home, very warm. Its been helping the guys not to give up, said Vasily Khomutovsky, one of Krumkachys two co-coaches.At a recent away game, a woman with two children who went there, with two small kids 7 and 10 years old, she made each player a little souvenir by hand and signed it, something different for each player, Khomutovsky said.Theres a family atmosphere within the club, too, with Shuntos brother serving as a backup goalkeeper and Skshinetskys wife in charge of fitness training.Vladimir Harlach, one of the teams supporters, said Krumkachy reminds him of AFC Wimbledon, the English club founded by fans after owners relocated its previous incarnation to another town, and which has since shot up several divisions.Thats a bit different, there was history, Harlach said. Here, its from scratch. History is being written in front of our eyes. You could compare it to other countries 100 years ago, when (soccer) was all being created.Krumkachys average home attendance of about 1,500 is tiny by European standards, but enough to put it comfortably above all but the biggest clubs in Belarus, as well as higher than that of FC Minsk, the city government-run club whose stadium Krumkachy is using.Some at the club wonder whether European qualification might be possible next year, another improbable step up, but the top spot in Belarus appears far out of reach. Able to outspend rivals with cash from occasional Champions League appearances, BATE Borisov has just sewn up its 11th straight title.Khomutovsky welcomes the comparison to Leicester, a team which was promoted to top division in England, survived one season, then won a wildly unlikely title the following year.I hope next year, Khomutovsky said, we do what we can to become the Belarusian Leicester. Cheap Mens Adidas NMD Shoes . 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The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play.Who provided the best players, goals and moments from the 2015/16 Premier League season? The Soccer Saturday panel - Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas - have followed the campaign each week, so we asked them to dish out some season awards.Heres who the panel rate as the biggest stars of the season and their most sensational moments both on the pitch and in the studio... PLAYER OF THE SEASON Riyad Mahrez won the PFA Player of the Year award Charlie votes: Im going with Riyad Mahrez because of his priceless ability to win games with moments of sheer brilliance.Jamie Vardys goals have obviously been important but when you consider all but four of Mahrezs 17 goals have come away from home hes really delivered when his team need him.Thommo votes: Im going for Jamie Vardy. Im glad he won the Football Writers Award because both he and Mahrez deserve recognition for their contributions to the most remarkable of achievements.Le Tiss votes: Ive actually gone for a man who didnt even make the PFA shortlist in Toby Alderweireld. He was the most important factor in turning Tottenham from a side which have always struggled defensively in the past to having the best in the league until their final-day collapse.Merse votes: Its got to be Riyad Mahrez. There are a few other contenders but Mahrez made things happen for Leicester this season at crucial times.YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON Dele Alli reached double figures in both goals and assists Charlie votes: It obviously pains me to say it, but Ive got to pick Dele Alli. To make the impact he has at such a young age, coming up from League 1, is remarkable. Spurs results since hes been banned, which have pained me less, show just how important he is to them.Thommo votes: It has to be Dele Alli for me. Harry Kane could come into it but Alli is the newcomer and he deserves recognition for making the step up.Le Tiss votes: Im going for Harry Kane. Alli runs him pretty close but Kanes goals have made Tottenham into title contenders, for much of the season anyway.Merse votes: Its Dele Alli for me. He has been outstanding, he has looked like a top player in his first season in the Premier League. He came up from League 1, which is difficult, but he settled quicker than snow. MANAGER OF THE SEASON Claudio Ranieri is crowned as the pundits manager of the season Charlie votes: It cant be anyone other than Claudio Ranieri. The Godfather, the Tinkerman, the Thinkerman! Charlies tip Find Charlies 110/1 Europa League final tip here. Thommo votes: No brainer, Claudio Ranieri. Hes motivated the team to the very end and taken the pressure off the players with the way hes handled press conferences. Le Tiss votes: It cant be anyone other than Claudio Ranieri. Yes, there have been a few that have done very well but nothing compares to what hes done. Honourable mentions go to Mauricio Pochettino, Slaven Bilic and Ronald Koeman and maybe even Quique Sanchez Flores.Merse votes: Nobody else but Claudio Ranieri in the Premier League. Otherwise Id go with Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman. With the wage bill they have got, to just miss out on automatic promotion is a phenomenal achievement. Its not Premier League but what he has done on a tiny budget is near on a miracle.SIGNING OF THE SEASON Dimitri Payet has scored nine goals in his debut Premier League season Charlie votes: Id say Dimitri Payet has to get that. There have been a few other really good ones, including NGolo Kante. Obviously, Im more attack minded and theres something sensational about a player that can do what he does. Hes made West Ham believe again.Thommo votes: Its Dimitri Payet without a doubt. Hes transformed West Ham. NGolo Kante would be in there but I think Payet has just been incredible. The modern version of Paolo Di Canio but without the histrionics.Le Tiss votes: NGolo Kante gets it from me. A very shrewd bit of work and Leicester have obviously got some excellent scouting in place given most of us hadnt heard of him.Merse votes: For me, Dimitri Payet and NGolo Kante can share it. West Ham took a chance on Payet, who was 29. I like what David Sullivan said the other day; they have to buy people for now and they cant buy a load of kids and have two or three seasons. Kante has had a brilliant season at Leicester, one of their best players.GOAL OF THE SEASON Dele Alli produced a sublime piece of skill against Crystal Palace and Phil Thompson says it will be goal of the season Charlie votes: There has been a lot of good ones. I loved Jamie Vardys against Liverpool but Ill go with Dele Alli against Crystal Palace, even though it pains me. It was like one of those Dennis Bergkamp moments where you think very few people can do that.Thommo votes: I am also voting for Dele Alli. What people have got to remember is the build-up, going from one side of the pitch to the other, a bit of head tennis and then the technique! Its the sort of thing youd expect to try on the training ground, and I mean try. It was a team goal as well as as a great bit of skill. Watch the Soccer Saturday panels reaction to Dele Allis wondergoal in Tottenhams 2-1 win over Crystal Palace Le Tiss votes: Im going to be accused of bias here but Im going for Cuco Martinas strike for Southampton against Arsenal.dddddddddddd From 30 yards out he curled it into the bottom corner first time with the outside of the boot. Hell never hit one like that again in his life.Merse votes: Ill pick Dimitri Payets free-kick against Crystal Palace. It looked like it was going to hit my car and then it dips into the top corner.MOMENT OF THE SEASON Wes Morgan secures a point for Leicester at Old Trafford Charlie votes: Wes Morgans goal at Manchester United, where we all really thought they were going to do it. I thought that was it, coming from behind at Old Trafford with the captain showing the character of that side. I took longer than most to be convinced that they would win the title but that was the moment I realised it was really happening.Thommo votes: Well, my favourite moment has to be Liverpools comeback from 2-0 and then 3-1 down against Dortmund. I just thought it was sensational, against such a great side, the greatest ever game played at Anfield! In the Premier League, it would be Robert Huths winner against Tottenham. If anything showed that Leicester could win the title, it was that.Le Tiss votes: The Southampton comeback from 2-0 down against Liverpool. Its a very sore point as I was watching Kung-Fu Panda III at the cinema as Id promised to take my daughter and then the game was rearranged. The film wasnt great, but it was certainly made better by the Sky Sports Score Centre. Merse votes: This is a tricky one but Im going for Jamie Vardys goal against Liverpool. I have seen those kind of goals before but it was a really big goal scored against Liverpool and it sticks in your head from the season.Soccer Saturday highlight We take a look back at the best moments from Soccer Saturday this season Charlie votes: Ive not had many because Im always moaning about Arsenal. Jeff never really wound me up about Spurs like he usually did and he kind of eased off on me, which almost made it worse.Reflecting on it, Id probably say the way Jeff ridiculed me and Merse for refusing to admit Leicester were going to win the league and predicting the slip-ups which never happened. He just let us dig ourselves into bigger and bigger holes and reminded us on air the next week.Thommo votes: It has to be Merse talking about players getting their hair done when theyre live on TV. They always look like theyve got their hair done to me so Im not really sure what his point was. The the next day, Jack Wilshere came back from injury for Arsenal and looked like hed just came straight out of the hairdressers. Paul Merson went on a brilliant rant about why he believes Swansea are in with a chance against Leicester on Sunday Le Tiss votes: I think this would have to go down as Merses rant about Swansea players getting their hair done ahead of their televised game with Leicester. I completely disagreed because he thought Swansea were actually going to get a result, so he got a bit a of stick on the texts when Swansea conceded their fourth. Merse votes: We were filming this documentary on these two teams in a small island who play each other 38 times a season or something because theres nobody else to play. They actually do a cup draw to decide who plays at home even though they share the same pitch!Anyway, theres quite a few people there, but it turns out theyre not interested in the game, theyre all bird watchers. Then this rare bird flies past and they all go berserk for it and then, just as it goes out of shot, the camera pans back to Jeff and he says and the cat got the bird. We were all in stitches because Jeff usually finds the right words in such moments but it really wasnt. Pundits Sky Bet tips Find out what the pundits are tipping up for the Europa League final here. Also See: Stats of the season Your clubs season review Quotes of the season Season in 10 games ' ' '