Former Ukraine national team striker Ivan Getsko told why he refused to move to Dynamo Kyiv at the peak of his career.
Ivan Getsko- The way to the national team for many lay through Dynamo Kyiv, didn't Lobanovsky call you to him? What guided you to say "no" to him?
- We saw him secretly in Kyiv. We had an individual conversation. I came to the game with Kyiv team as a member of Chernomorets. I think it was in 1991. We flew out in the morning, at 12 o'clock we were in Kyiv. At two o'clock we had lunch, and at seven in the evening - the game. On the plane Prokopenko said that they wanted to talk to me in Kiev. I also asked him, "What should I do? What should I talk to them about?"
They picked me up right at Boryspil airport, put me in a car and brought me to some flat. I went in and saw Lobanovsky. We talked to him for about 40 minutes. He said that he intended to create a capable team at Dynamo in the near future. Although he was still working in the Emirates at that time. It seems that he was passing by in Kyiv.
- And what did Valeriy Vasilyevich said ?
- He said that he needed me and he would like me to move to Kyiv. At that moment I was on emotions, I insinuated myself that I could play good football. I can say that I got the star disease. I also asked Lobanovsky, what will happen to my flat in Odessa? I have a service flat. He said that it would have to be given away. How to give it away? And I just made repairs (smiling).
When Lobanovsky said about the move, I hesitated. I said that I was not ready to go to Kiev, because of Chernobyl - I have small children, my wife would not agree to move. At that time I put the safety of my family in the first place, not football. After the meeting with Lobanovsky I was brought to the hotel. I had time to have lunch, had some rest and went to the game.
- And how did you play with Dynamo?
- We beat Kyiv - 1:0, and I scored the winning goal (on 19 October 1991, we played at the Republican Stadium, Getsko scored a goal after a corner kick with a header - author). By the way, Lobanovsky did not head Dynamo at that time.
Oleksandr Petrov
