Brann has arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, about 30 miles away from China, to play the easternmost European match for a Norwegian team ever. It is also one of the longest away trips ever for a Norwegian team in a significant match. The long flight to Central Asia is made with a chartered plane for extra comfort. Here they will meet Astana in a decisive match in the Serie Liga qualification. Brann leads 2–0 from the first match. If they win overall, they are in the league play of the Serieligaen. At this market in Almaty, you can buy nuts, among other things. Memorial in Almaty from the Chernobyl accident. According to The Astana Times, over 30,000 Kazakhs helped clean up after the accident. This photo is from one of the city’s subway stations. Michelin chef to avoid upset stomach A quick Google search on Kazakh food traditions shows that horse meat and sheep are frequently used in Kazakh cuisine. Instead of enjoying the local food, Brann has brought Michelin chef Christopher Haatuft with him. – We have our own chef to ensure that the food is processed in a good way, says Brann’s general manager, Christian Kalvenes. Cristopher Haatuft picks out the raw materials the Brann players will chew on during their stay. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news The chef owns and runs the restaurant Lysverket in Bergen. He is responsible for the food that is prepared at the hotel for the Brann players. – Everything works very well at the hotel. I just make sure things are done properly. There will be no exotic spices on the chicken fillet, says Haatuft. The fire players are unlikely to be served either horse beef or mutton cabbage. – I am not here to show off Norwegian or Kazakh food culture. It is important to remember that I am at work for Brann, says the chef. Approximately 5 million for flights and hotels Brann has chosen to invest in order to be best equipped to progress in the Serie Liga. For Kazakhstan, they rented a separate plane, among other things. The price? Just under NOK 4 million. – We have had a slightly more comfortable flight than we usually have. We hope it will lead to the players having better legs when they arrive, both now and when we go back, says Kalvenes. Christian Kalvenes says that the flight was pleasant. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news The team has also checked into the most expensive and best hotel in Almaty. The hotel is, among other things, equipped with a spa. Kalvenes that the price for the hotel is between half and a full million kroner. – This is not the time to save, we must be well prepared for this match, he says. If Brann progress after the match against Astana, they are guaranteed approximately NOK 37 million in payments from the European Football Association. In addition, there is other income, such as ticket income. One of the costs of the expensive journey is the plane Brann has chartered to take them there and back. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Being followed by the police At the airport, the red shirts were met by a local fixer who had been contacted beforehand. They also brought a fixer on the plane. The players have been told to stay at the hotel. Kalvenes explains that it is because they must focus on the match and not on sightseeing. – We live in a large, beautiful hotel where they can move freely, says Kalvenes. When the players first leave the hotel, for example for training or a match, they will not leave alone. – We must have a police escort when we are out and about, he says. Brann players Ruben Kristiansen, Mathias Dyngeland and Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen were smiling after landing in Almaty. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Already last week, Brann sent down a vanguard to make sure everything was in place before the players arrived. – We try to reduce coincidences as much as possible, says the fire chief. War leads to longer journeys Between Bergen and Almaty there are approximately 5,000 km as the crow flies. The flight is even longer. On Tuesday at 09.00, the aircraft with Brann’s crew and support equipment took off from Flesland and headed for Almaty. The journey started with a private plane from Bergen. The plane had to avoid Russia and Ukraine due to war and sanctions. In Trabzon, Turkey, they had to fill up with fuel. After nine hours and eleven minutes, the fire team arrived in Almaty. According to Kalvenes, the long journey was pleasant. The flight was expected to last ten hours, but landed about 45 minutes early at Almaty airport. – It was positive, he says. Published 29/08/2024, at 07.58
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This is the wild trip to Brann – news Vestland
