Polissia coach Volodymyr Knysh spoke about Serhii Sukhanov, the scorer of the winning goal in the 1/8 finals of the Ukrainian Cup between Obolon and Dynamo (1-0), with whom he worked at Naftogaz-Ukrnafta.
Vladimir Knysh- Did you see your former player Serhii Sukhanov knock Dynamo out of the Cup? How can you comment on that?
- Yes, I saw it. He scored well, very well: both sighted and rounded. It was a great goal.
- You once said that you literally took him from Naftovyk-Ukrnafta from his job as an electrician. Can you tell us more about this story?
- It was a story that happened when Naftovik was already having financial problems. Previously, Naftovik had more experienced players who left for good salaries. But at the time I was working, there were already difficulties, and the experienced ones were already choosing other clubs.
[I had to turn my attention to the youth. A good bunch of them came through. Okhtyrka is a small town, 30-40 thousand people live there - and we had five people from Okhtyrka in the First League. All young guys: Vasyliev, Sukhanov, Antyukh, Lapin. Those players played quite well. At that time, the task was not to be relegated from the First League - and we didn't. But then the money ran out, and the team was disbanded. But very good guys came in.
And Sukhanov was indeed already working at Ukrnafta as an electrician at the time. He was shown around, brought by a local coach, and the guys also recommended him. We watched him - he was a really good footballer. It's just a matter of saying that he is an electrician - it just happened to him. But he played football in good schools - he was in Dynamo's structure, he studied somewhere else in some quality academies. At that time, he had nothing - he was still young, he hadn't caught on anywhere. But he caught on in his home team, and he played very well with us. You could see his potential.
- What was it about him that caught your eye and made you want to bring him into your team?
- Firstly, he is a guy with character. Secondly, he has good enough speed, a good shot, and he always gives 100% dedication on the football pitch, and sometimes even more. He is an emotional guy, so to speak. When he was younger, this even hindered his play a little bit, because he could make a roll when he shouldn't have, leave the area on emotion. Now he is much more experienced and doesn't make such mistakes. But back then, he still had potential, it was clear that he could play in the Major League. It was clear even then.
And all the jokes with the electricity, if something went missing in our hotel or elsewhere - it was nothing. "Senia!" and Seryozha would go and fix it. So it's all true.
- So his experience as an electrician also came in handy later in his football life, right?
- Of course, of course, and more than once. You know, whenever something happens to the lights, he's always been a great help.
