Meet Bala Town’s UEFA Conference League opponents Paide Linnameeskond
Paide Linnameeskond in action 13 years ago against Tartu Tammeka. (Image: Martin Smutov)
Bala Town kick off their UEFA Conference League campaign this week, as they take on Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia.
The first leg takes place at TNS’ Park Hall on Thursday, July 9th, with the second leg happening in Estonia a week later.
Here is everything you need to know about the Lakesiders’ opponents.
The history of Paide Linnameeskond
Simply known as Paide, the club were originally formed in 2004 as a satellite team for Flora Tallinn and entered into the sixth tier of the Estonian pyramid. The club wasted no time in making their way to the top, as they gained four consecutive promotions between 2005 and 2008 to reach the top tier.
Since reaching the Meistrliiga in 2009, Paide have never been relegated, but have also never won the league. Their highest ever finish was second back in 2020.
Their most successful period came under former player Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko. Under his tenure ship, Paide recorded that second-place finish, and entered Europe for the first time in their history. They also picked up their first and only major piece of silverware under Zahovaiko, as they lifted the Estonian Cup in 2022, and winning the Super Cup a couple of months later.
Stadium
The game will take place at the Pärnu Rannastaadion.
Paide normally play their home games in the town of Paide in a ground that holds 500 supporters, but it does not meet UEFA Category 2 standards.
As a result, they will have to travel over 100km south to the city of Pärnu and to the Rannastaadion.
Translating to the Pärnu Beach Stadium, the stadium holds 1500 fans and is the home to both teams in the city.
Manager
The man in the Paide dugout will be 34-year-old Ivan Stojković.
Hailing from Serbia, Stojković took charge of Paide in May 2023, after a poor start to the season under the previous manager.
Stojković guided Paide to a fourth-place finish in the league, as well as winning the Estonian Super Cup against Flora.
Embed from Getty ImagesPlayers to Watch
The Paide squad has a good blend of homegrown talent as well as talented foreign players.
One player Bala will certainly have to keep an eye on is Joseph Salitse. A left back by trade, Salitse has been at the club since 2020 and has three caps for Estonia. In front of the defence, you will find Karl Mööl. Mööl is a defensive midfielder who has played across Estonia, as well as playing some time in Denmark.
But perhaps the biggest name in the Paide squad is winger Thomas Agyepong. A man who came through the Manchester City academy, Agyepong has had loan spells at Hibernian and Dutch side FC Twente, before finding his permanent home in Estonia.
Current season
We are at the midway point of the Estonian season, and Paide currently find themselves in fourth place in the ten-team league.
The currently sit one place outside of the European spots, and a whopping 14 points off the current leaders FCI Levadia. However, they are only four points behind second place.
European pedigree
Paide have been a constant presence in European competition since they first qualified in 2020. That year they played in the Europa League, but they fell at the first hurdle against Lithuanian side Žalgiris.
Their highest point in Europe came in the 2022 Conference League. Having beaten Dinamo Tbilisi and Ararat-Armenia, they reached the third qualifying round and were drawn against Belgian side Anderlecht, who beat them 5-0 on aggregate.
Last season, Paide were knocked out in the first qualifying round by B36 Tórshavn of the Faroe Islands; the side who would go on to defeat Haverfordwest County in the next round. Paide will be hoping to replicate their 2022 form this season.
