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FC Sheriff: The eight-time champions from Pridnestrovie, now with Serghei Dadu signed to Denmark

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - With the local league season in its winter break, FC Sheriff Tiraspol are on course to celebrate a seventh successive title at the end of the season, as they hold a 13-point lead over second-placed CSF Zimbru Chisinau who will be hoping that a new generation can turn the tide.

The eight-time champions from Pridnestrovie have signed a new four-year contract with 20-year-old midfielder Maxim Frantuz, and have also agreed long-term deals with fellow midfielder Andrei Kojokar and goalkeeper Nikolai Kalancea, whose form has earned him a call-up to the senior national team.

At Sheriff, Under-21 international striker Sergei Alekseev will hope to get the chance to impress after being recalled from a loan spell with neighbours FC Tiraspol. Fifth-placed Tiraspol, meanwhile, will hope that homegrown youngster Aleksandr Zislis can shine in Alekseev's place.

The striking vacancy at Sheriff was created by Serghei Dadu's move to Danish side FC Midtjylland where the 26-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half year contract. With one goal in eleven international appearances to date, he will be looking to impress as the first Transnistrian to play in the Superliga, reports UEFA.

More Brazilian players for Tiraspol

The club is now eager to hire more contract players from football-mad Brazil. It already has four Brazilians playing football (soccer) in Tiraspol, alongside eight African players and a number of players from European countries such as Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and neighboring Moldova.

FC Sheriff Tiraspol - its full name - is one of South Eastern Europe's leading football clubs and has its home base in the city of Tiraspol, capital of Pridnestrovie (also known as Transnistria or Trans-Dniester). The team is sometimes referred to as simply FC Sheriff and should not be confused with FC Tiraspol which is a different (and competing) team.

The club was founded in 1997 by the Sheriff company, which recently constructed the luxurious Sheriff Stadium in Tiraspol to serve as the team's home ground.

It is the only club in the unrecognized country which has international contract players from Brazil, Africa, and a number of European countries. (With information from UEFA)

See also:
» More Brazilian players signed to FC Sheriff [1]

On the web:
» FC Sheriff official website [2]
» UEFA [3]