Oleksandr Hatskevych: "Surkis brothers laughed a lot when Lobanovsky told them this story"

Former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Oleksandr Hatskevych recalled his most memorable New Year's Eve and how he had the courage to call Lobanovsky.

"Belkevych and I were celebrating the New Year, and I decided to call Lobanovsky to congratulate him. His wife, Ada Pankratievna, always picked up the phone, but he did.

I was taken aback and forgot his patronymic: "Can I speak to Valera?" He replied: "Sasha, I'm listening to you." - "Vasilyevich, happy New Year. And goodbye." That was the end of my greeting.

After that, the New Year was no longer a joy for me, I was waiting for 2 January, when we were supposed to come to training. I wondered what Lobanovskyi would do to me. But he didn't even mention this moment to me. But the Surkis brothers laughed a lot when Valeriy told them this story.

...And these days, I wish everyone only one thing - that Ukraine defeats the enemy in the war as soon as possible and that the long-awaited peace comes," Khatskevich said.