Ahead of UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying in Denmark, Gintra of Šiauliai have received another reinforcement. The yellow and blacks have signed 22-year-old Ukrainian Viktoriia Lavreniuk until the end of the season.
V. Lavreniuk began this season with Latvian champions RFS of Riga. It was there that she became well known to Gintra's players and coaching staff. Early in the Baltic League season, the Šiauliai side lost 2–4 in Riga after leading 2–0. The Ukrainian turned that match around, scoring three consecutive goals and guiding RFS to victory with a hat-trick.
The attacking player has represented Ukrainian clubs Rodyna, Veres and Metalist 1925 Kharkiv, as well as Ukraine's youth national teams. V. Lavreniuk says the Lithuanian champions' ambitions and the chance to compete at the highest level convinced her to accept the offer.
'The main reasons were the club's ambitions, its professional environment and the opportunity to play in the UEFA Women's Champions League. I fully understand that this is the right place for me to develop as a footballer, and it could become somewhere I want to spend more than one season. Through my work and dedication, I hope to prove I deserve to represent this club,' V. Lavreniuk said.
The 22-year-old Ukrainian can play centrally or on either wing, but is happiest leading the attack. She lists pace, work rate, off-the-ball movement, finishing and the ability to play equally well with both feet as her strengths.
'I will give everything in every training session and every match. I will fight for the team and do everything I can to make the supporters proud of our achievements,' said the ambitious newcomer.
V. Lavreniuk will wear number 95, which she revealed has a special meaning for her.
'I chose number 95 because it reminds me of Lightning McQueen, a character who symbolises speed, determination and a never-give-up spirit. Those qualities are very close to me and important both in football and in life, so this number gives me extra motivation every time I step onto the pitch.'
Club Director Mantas Radavičius welcomed another important addition ahead of the European campaign.
'Viktoriia is a player we got to know very well at the start of the season, when she showed her ability against us. She is quick, versatile and capable of scoring goals, giving us more options in attack. We are delighted she accepted our offer and chose to continue her career with our organisation, where we hope she can fulfil her potential,' said the Club Director.
The UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying tournament in Køge, Denmark, takes place on 5–8 August. The draw placed Šiauliai's women's team with Scottish champions Hearts of Edinburgh, Danish champions HB Køge and the team progressing from Group 3 of the first qualifying round. Four teams are competing for that place, including Latvian champions Riga FC, who have already reached their first-round qualifying final.
Gintra face Hearts in the qualifying semi-final, while HB Køge meet the team progressing from the first qualifying round in the other semi-final.
