The new season brings major changes, especially for Riga Mariners in the Nākotnes Līga. The club, now restructured, aims for promotion to the Virslīga with financial backing from Marine Insurance Services SIA and its owner, Aleksandrs Abuzjarovs, who also serves as General Director of Riga FC Academy.
The squad will primarily consist of Riga FC Academy players, with possible foreign reinforcements. However, competition has intensified, as more teams now share the same goal of reaching Latvia’s top division.
The new head coach, Sergejs Kožans, a 38-year-old Latvian specialist, previously helped FK Auda secure promotion to Virslīga before working alongside Tomislav Stipić at FK Auda and Riga FC. After leaving Riga FC, Kožans followed Stipić to CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria’s most decorated club, but their tenure was brief. Reflecting on his experience, Kožans stated:
“We spent a long time waiting for an opportunity after being let go from Riga FC. Then came CSKA Sofia – a big name, the most decorated club in Bulgaria. Expectations were sky-high, but the club was in a rebuilding phase with new management, no home stadium, and ongoing changes at their facilities. Perhaps that’s why they gave us a chance, as a more stable club would have hired a bigger name. We began the season decently, even pushing Ludogorets, Bulgaria’s strongest team, despite losing. But by August, things went downhill. We lacked depth, relied on young players, and couldn’t maintain momentum. The team had been losing since March, and perhaps the players had grown used to it. Criticism came from all sides – fans, media, and management. In Bulgaria, fan pressure is taken very seriously. We went into the fifth match knowing it was our last chance. After the loss, it was clear we’d be leaving – that’s how football works, especially at a big club. If results don’t come, the coach is always the first to go.”
