Two RFS star winter signings – Yukiyoshi Karashima and Mor Talla Gaye – came under sharp criticism for their performance from Viktors Morozs after the game against Daugavpils.
Despite taking the three points away at Daugavpils during Game Week 3 of the 2025 Virslīga and remaining the only team in Latvia to win all three matches of the new season, the FC RFS manager, Viktors Morozs, was not pleased with his team on the day. In a post-match press conference, he especially singled out two players with whom he was most disappointed – Japanese midfielder Yukiyoshi Karashima who joined RFS from FK Žalgiris and Senegalese winger Mor Talla Gaye, who came over from FK Auda. Both players joined the reigning Champions in the winter transfer window.
Commenting on the match, Viktors Morozs acknowledged that, with the exception of isolated moments and specific situations, the team did not perform as he wanted or as they prepared for the notoriously difficult game in Daugavpils.
When asked about Karashima, who made his Virslīga debut on the day, Morozs was direct:
Weak, very weak. We gave him the opportunity but, at the moment, he is not performing at the level that we expect of him. There are many things that we expected him to do for us, some of which he displayed previously, but has since only regressed and is not currently offering the team any of that.
The RFS head coach was then asked if he regretted also giving Mor Talla Gaye, who debuted in the starting XI against Daugavpils, the opportunity:
Yes, I do. I regret also this choice. I think that we had many of the issues today due to rotation of the starting lineup. I did not like the attitude of certain players. It’s ok to make mistakes or to try and fail but you cannot put on an RFS jersey and expect to play with such low energy – it is simply inconceivable.
Both Yukiyoshi Karashima and Mor Talla Gaye were some of the bigger signings by RFS during the winter break to replace some of their departing key players. Karashima was brought in from the Lithuanian Champions, with whom he was a key player, to replace Adam Markhiev and Mor Talla Gaye, whom Morozs singled out for his speed and quality during last season, came in to give the squad more options as the team adapts to the loss of their all-time top-scorer, Emerson.
