by Mantas Aliukonis
The season of the city’s representative club, based along the Nevėžis River, has been disappointing—both for the team and for its long-time leader, Saulius Skibiniauskas. One of the most stable clubs in Lithuania’s Pirma lyga (second tier), Nevėžis this year clearly seems off track. That phrase is not just metaphorical: the Kėdainiai central stadium (3,000 seats, artificial turf) sits right next to railway tracks, and players joke that the passing of a locomotive or train before kick-off is a bad omen—whoever’s goal the train rolls toward will concede first.
“It’s more of a superstition the players have made up themselves,” Skibiniauskas laughs, recalling the link between passing trains and early goals.
A lack of sporting luck
Speaking about this season’s defeats and inconsistent play (Nevėžis currently sits 13th with 22 points in a 16-team league), the club director sighs: “In previous years we were always either in or close to the top five. This year’s situation is unpleasant and surprising. Because of poor results we changed head coaches in the summer, and under the new coach many more changes will have to follow in the club.”
“Football is like this—sometimes it comes down to luck. This season we lost more than three matches to goals in second-half stoppage time. That tells you that somewhere, we’re missing sporting luck.”
Skibiniauskas admits the poor form has been difficult to rationalise: “Before the season we had an excellent preparation period, but now something has broken down. It’s also tough on the coaches when the team struggles, and there isn’t really a rational explanation.”
The interview took place on May 29, 2024.
Coaching changes and missing leaders
This summer Nevėžis replaced head coach Algirdas Surgautas with his assistant Evaldas Biečius as caretaker, before later hiring Latvian coach Dmitrijs Kalašnikovs, who is still in charge.
Asked what the new head coach must prioritise, Skibiniauskas is clear: “He needs to see the current situation and offer solutions to fix the gaps, and he will also be responsible for selecting new players.”
Last season’s top scorer, Nigerian striker Ebuka Onah (12 goals in the Pirma lyga), left after suffering a serious injury at the end of the campaign and the expiry of his loan from FK Riteriai. The second-best scorer, a Japanese attacking midfielder, was also released after failing to meet expectations.
The players signed to lead the attack this year—Mery Traore (on loan from Kauno Žalgiris), Ukrainian Yevgeniy Mogil, and Georgian Nika Toklikishvili—have not had the expected impact. “The team’s form has been very up and down. In pre-season we held our own against A Lyga clubs, but now we struggle against Pirma lyga sides. I don’t understand it—it has never been like this in Kėdainiai,” says Skibiniauskas.
Still, Nevėžis continues to rely heavily on homegrown players. “About 90% of the team are Lithuanian, most from Kėdainiai itself. Only a few come from other cities,” he notes.
Proud history, harsh present
Nevėžis enjoyed its golden era in the 1960s–70s, winning domestic titles in Soviet Lithuania and even triumphing in the Soviet internal championship. “That is a beautiful part of our history,” Skibiniauskas says, “but times have changed. There’s no planned economy anymore. We live in a free market, where it’s harder for a small-city club to compete financially against bigger ones.”
He recalls their brief return to the top flight in 2021 after winning the Pirma lyga in pandemic-hit 2020. But COVID-19 disrupted preparations, their home stadium was unfinished, and the season ended in relegation.
Now, with a budget of up to €300,000, Nevėžis competes in a highly competitive Pirma lyga dominated financially by TransINVEST. “It is very difficult for small-city clubs to reach the A Lyga today. Every year it gets harder,” Skibiniauskas admits.
This season’s struggles
Skibiniauskas laments the defensive record: “Before the season we thought defence would be our strongest line. But there have been matches where we conceded four goals, which is hard to understand.”
The poor form has also affected the B team in the third-tier Kaunas regional league. “We lost two painful home matches early in the season, something that had never happened before.”
The city’s minimum target was a top-eight finish. Promotion to A Lyga was considered unrealistic given TransINVEST’s superior resources. “Our goal is simple—to go into every match and try to win. With our budget we can’t aim to sweep everyone aside.”
On Lithuanian football
Asked what surprised him this year, Skibiniauskas names Sūduva: “Their position among the league leaders is unexpected.”
As for the Pirma lyga: “What surprises most is our own place in the table—it doesn’t reflect our potential.”
On player recruitment, Nevėžis works with trusted agents but never signs without a trial: “We always want to see the player in person. CVs and highlight videos can mislead. Sometimes they’re years out of date.”
He notes that Lithuanian football is still largely physical and power-based, though foreign coaches are slowly bringing more tactical nuance.
“Choosing players depends on many factors—fitness, position, motivation. And every year the club’s strategy changes depending on circumstances.”
Skibiniauskas concludes with hope that Nevėžis can overcome this difficult season and bring happier days to its community.
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