Artem Favorov, a graduate of Dynamo Kyiv, who now plays for the Hungarian Pushkas Academy, recalled how his football career began in Kyiv.
Artem Favorov- You're a Dynamo graduate, you played in the second team under Andriy Husyn. What kind of person and coach was he?
- I was very young then, I got into adult football and learnt a lot. Moreover, the guys on the team were mostly 4-5 years older. Husyn talked to me a lot and helped me, as did his assistants Shmatovalenko and Kardash. Yes, they did a bit of "ironing" if, for example, the bed was not made. This was how they trained discipline. But I had no problems with them.
- Which of Dynamo's coaches, under whose guidance you trained and played, was the toughest?
- At the Academy, there was a coach Khvoya, who seems to be at Arsenal now. He could tell 12-year-olds something in swear words, so I remember him like that.
- Which of the players on that team, in your opinion, showed the most promise?
- Zhenya Makarenko stood out in the second team. Vitalii Hemega was a talented guy, but injuries prevented him from developing his potential.
- In fact, only Roman Yaremchuk from that team made it to the Ukrainian national team and remains in it now. What can you say about him?
- At first he was in the "double", then he was transferred to the second team. In the academy, he was always very thin, and then he made a rapid leap and gained physical strength. He did well to work on himself, it helped him.
- Sometimes players from Dynamo's first team, including legionnaires, also played for this team. Which of them comes to mind first?
- Badr El Kaddouri. He worked well and gave 100% in every game. His attitude was right. It's hard to get stars to do what they don't want to do. But he was great - very simple, always helpful.
- Did you cross paths with Aliev and Milevskyi?
- When Blokhin was in charge of the first team, Aliyev and Milevsky were really "lowered" to the second team, they came to training, usually in the off-season. I remember Aliyev "shoved" me a couple of times during training. But from the point of view of human qualities, there are no questions about the guys at all. I think everyone who knows them will never say a bad word about them.
- There was a Bolivian Diego Suarez in the team, a real Dynamo-2 "legend" who played more than a hundred matches. But in fact, during his career, he did not play anywhere but Dynamo-2. What kind of a guy was he?
- An interesting guy. They said he was a very talented player, he was invited when he was 14 or 15 years old. And then, apparently, he sat out and disappeared at some point in time.
- Did Kaddouri or Yusuf give the young partners any incentives?
- No, there was no such thing (Laughs). Maybe in the evening in a restaurant they could, but for everyone to know about it - it never happened.
- Were you allowed to train with Dynamo's first team?
- No.
- Did you know Ihor Surkis?
- No, I was taken to the second team, I played, and then I was carefully and calmly removed from there. Khatskevich came and just removed me. He said: "If you have any questions, contact the club," and that was it. I took my documents and left.
- What was the biggest fine you ever received?
- Gusin didn't really fine me, he just scared me that he would. I had a small salary, nothing to fine me for. But I know he could have fined the guys. Dmytro Korkishko - on half a salary. Sanya Chornomorets - for decent money.
- What was there to be guilty of?
- Someone could have gone out for a walk. If someone was seen late at night somewhere in a restaurant at 10-11pm, they could be fined. Or if you were late for a meeting, you had to pay a fine.
- Who had the strongest shot?
- Dima Kushnirov hit well.
- On the ball?
- Yes, he had a good shot (Laughs). I practised it after training. Slava Lukhtanov was kicking at that time, God willing.
- Many players from that team have already finished their careers. Did anyone surprise you by choosing your next profession?
- I saw that Artem Butenin was running a pizzeria. Kushnirov joined the police. As for me, he had two hearts. In games and training sessions, he endured incredible loads and recovered very quickly. I was sure he would definitely play in a good team. So I was surprised that he had already finished his career and joined the police. But everyone has their own destiny and everyone chooses their own.
Kirill Krutogorov
