Canadian‑born twins Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, celebrated for their performances in the Kontinental Hockey League, arrived in Minsk with a different kind of equipment in hand. Rather than skates and sticks, they wore the bright red and white kits of the Belarusian national football team, ready to step onto a grass pitch for the first time.
A hockey duo tries soccer
The visit was part of a promotional campaign run by Betera, a Belarusian betting operator that sponsors the national side and has appointed the brothers as brand ambassadors. Organizers arranged a short training session that paired the Protas brothers with seasoned internationals, allowing the athletes to experience the rhythm of a professional football drill.
Training alongside seasoned internationals
During the session the twins met midfielder Max Ebong, defender Kirill Pechenin and head coach Viktor Hancharenko. The trio welcomed the visitors, guiding them through passing drills and small‑sided games. Coach Hancharenko praised the brothers’ agility and quick thinking, noting that their hockey background gave them an unexpected edge in spatial awareness.
Penalty kicks and fan interaction
A highlight of the day came when the Protas brothers took turns shooting penalties. Out of ten attempts they converted six, a respectable tally that drew cheers from a small crowd of supporters. After the drills they spent time signing autographs, posing for photos and chatting with fans at an IIHF World Championship watch party that was streamed live across the country.
The brothers also took part in an earlier Betera‑hosted gathering earlier in the week, where they discussed the growing crossover between sports sponsorship and fan engagement in Eastern Europe. Their presence underscored Betera’s strategy of leveraging star athletes to broaden its reach beyond traditional betting audiences.