Dynamo Kyiv newcomer Vladislav Kabaev spoke about his move to the capital club, his first impressions of the team and the tasks at the new stage of his career.
Vladislav Kabaev
— Vlad, 8 years ago you made your debut in the Premier League in the match against Dynamo Kyiv, and today you signed a contract with this club. Can we say that this is fate?
— Perhaps! Many young football players dream of getting into the top club, the grandiose of Ukrainian football, which is Dynamo Kyiv. When I first entered the field of the NSC Olimpiyskiy, I could not even think that I would later become a Dynamo player. Therefore, I am very pleased that now I have the opportunity to get into such a big club.
— What was your childhood football dream?
- When I was still a schoolboy, we went to Kyiv on excursions and went to the old "Olympic". Of course, I wanted to play at this stadium one day, because I knew what legends played on this field - Lobanovsky, Blokhin, Shevchenko. Now my dream has come true.
- Whom will you take an example from in Dynamo Kiev?
— I don't have football idols. I would like to show my football, which I can play, and progress even more.
- In "Zorya" you played almost every position in the attack. Where is it more convenient for you to play and in what position will we see the real Kabaev?
- It is more convenient for me to play both on the left, and in the center, and on the forward position (smiles). Where the coach puts it, I will play there. Probably, in Dynamo I will play on the left, however, I think that Mister and I will have a dialogue, and he will be able to reveal new qualities in me.
- Has the process of your adaptation to Dynamo already begun?
- Yesterday I came to the base and talked with Mister, as well as with the football players. Everyone received me very warmly. I know many guys with whom we played in Zorya and the national team. Lots of mutual friends. But it's still a challenge for me. New city, new team, new coach, new base. I would like to get involved in work from today and adapt as quickly as possible.
- Under what number will you play in Dynamo?
- Under the 7th number. I wanted to take the 22nd or 7th number, and the administrator advised me to choose the 7th number, which turned out to be free. I played under this number in Zorya, and I understand who wore number 7 before me in Dynamo. Benjamin Verbic is a very high-quality football player, of course, Shevchenko is associated with this number. Yes, this is additional pressure, but the more interesting it will be to work with such responsibility.
“Each Ukrainian footballer now has a great responsibility, because our heroes, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, from whom we take an example, look at them. Do you think about it when you enter the football field?
— It's impossible not to think about it. There is a war going on, and in every interview, at the first opportunity, I would like to thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine, thanks to which we now live more or less calmly. Kyiv is alive. Every guy wearing a Dynamo, Shakhtar or Zorya T-shirt fights on the field and does everything to make people distracted by football, because this is the game we all love. I saw a lot of cuts that our warriors are watching the matches, and many representatives of the ultras went to the front. Of course, we think about them and take the field only to win.
This war has united us in all areas, and now we must stick together. It is clear that there are no friends between Dynamo and Shakhtar on the football field, but we must be united off the field. I saw clubs congratulating each other on social networks on victories.
— What physical shape are you in now?
- I missed a week and did not prepare for the match with Lvov due to a small injury. But now I talked with the doctor and the coach, and today I will be included in the training process. Only training and games will show how ready I am.
I watched the team’s training yesterday and I liked that everything was going on positively, calmly, without shouting. I want to fit into this team and do everything to help the team. I think that I will also have the opportunity to learn a lot from Mister and the guys playing in the national team. I would like Dynamo to progress, and I along with it.
