One thing’s for sure – no matter what league we’re in, the first game of the season is always played in near-Arctic conditions. The opening match of the Altero.lv LIIGA season in Valmiera was no exception, offering little comfort to the fans braving the cold in the stands of the Valmiera Olympic Centre football stadium. Fortunately, the team led by Gatis Kalniņš didn’t let them down on the pitch, securing a 2–0 win over Riga Football School.
Both goals came 80 minutes apart. In the 4th minute, after the agile Japanese forward Yusuke Omori was brought down inside the box, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Team captain Mārcis Ērglis stepped up and, with a bit of luck, converted the penalty – the opposing goalkeeper guessed the direction and even got a touch on the ball but couldn’t stop it from crossing the line.
The second goal came in the 84th minute from a set piece. Following a cross into the box from Ērglis, Niks Savaļnieks, diving, sent the ball into the back of the net. It marked Niks’ return to Valmiera’s first team after nearly six years away – a valuable addition to the squad, blending experience, skill, and energy. In a team this young, he’s already proving to be the cherry on top.
Also helping in this season’s mission to climb back up the league system is former Latvian international Edgars Gauračs. Coming off the bench in the opener, he brought fresh energy to the attack alongside Savaļnieks.
In addition to the three veterans already mentioned, Kalniņš currently has three foreign players in his squad at the start of the season – forward Omori, Ghanaian left winger Richmond Owusu, and Nigerian centre-back Daniel Opeyemi Adelakun. The core of the team, however, is made up of our own academy players, eager to make the most of the opportunity they’ve been given.
The next two matches will be played away in Jelgava, the first this Sunday at 14:00 against FS Jelgava-2.
