Volodymyr Makhankov, a goalkeeper from Dynamo Kyiv who now plays for Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, recalled his career with the capital's club.
- You joined Dynamo as a 6-year-old boy. What does this club mean to you?
- This is a legendary club. I've been at Dynamo since I was a little boy, since the first children's set. I went through all the stages to the first team, so I have only fond memories. After saying goodbye to my home club, I support it in European competitions. However, not in the league anymore (Smiles). I had a great relationship with everyone there.
- In 2018, you were even included in Dynamo's application for the UPL match. Even though you didn't make your debut for your home team, was that day special for you?
- Such days are not forgotten. "Dynamo was led by Oleksandr Hatskevych, we had a high-quality training process, and a lot of strong players in the dressing room. When I found out that I was in the application, I felt very happy. Yes, I didn't make my debut for Dynamo, but it was still interesting. Unfortunately, that day we unexpectedly lost 1-3 to Veres, and Mykyta Burda and Ruslan Rotan were also sent off.
- You went to the training camp with Dynamo's first team when you were still a young man.
- I think I was 17 or 18 at the time. Serhii Rebrov invited a group of players to the first team who had performed well in the UEFA Youth League. We joined the team, and there were Domagoj Vida, Andriy Yarmolenko... Although I communicated more with the youth: Viktor Tsygankov, Sashko Tymchyk, Bohdan Mykhailychenko. In addition, I felt support from the goalkeepers: Zhora Bushchan, Artur Rudko and Max Koval. By the way, Mikhail Mikhailov was responsible for the training of goalkeepers - he was also a great person and an expert in his field. At a young age, getting into such a team is worth a lot.
- Whose shots do you remember the most as a young boy?
- If I answer immediately and without much thought, Tymchyk is the first to come to mind. He has a very strong shot from the spot. When it comes to accuracy and execution, it's Andrievsky and Tsygankov. Viktor is a great master. I don't think I need to explain further - everyone is convinced of this.
- They say that at the USFL level, Tsygankov beat three or four opponents at a time.
- It's not even about that. Viktor is a very team player. Even as a child, he made very clever and adult passes. The man could bring a striker one-on-one with the goalkeeper with one pass from the centre of the pitch. Tsygankov deserves to be where he is now.
-At some point (in 2020 - ed.), you make a difficult but logical decision - you leave your home team. Why did you choose Karpaty?
- It wasn't easy, it took me a long time to decide. My contract was still in force, but the circumstances were such that I became a free agent in early March 2020. It was almost the end of the transfer window. The championship has resumed, the teams are complete, and there are two and a half months left in the season... "Karpaty were coached by Roman Sanzhar, the club started having financial problems, there were discussions between the players and the management.
- It didn't look very attractive.
- I saw that transfer as a kind of impetus. I went to Lviv to follow my dream - I wanted to play in the Premier League. I arrived, trained and was offered a contract until the end of the season. Everyone remembers what happened next with Karpaty. They did not play eight rounds... I was in a difficult period, in a zone of turbulence. At the same time, we had a great team, I have great memories of Lviv. Even though the coronavirus had just started.
- The press reported that you were one of the first to fall ill.
- No, the thing is that I was not sick at all. I was probably the only one in the team. Then it all started with Karpaty. But thank God, my immunity proved itself... I was sorry to see such a club fall apart. We had a great training base in Bryukhovychi, we had great fans, a stadium, a city... I can only say that I am very happy for the modern Karpaty. It's nice that the new club has entered the Premier League. I believe that Karpaty will once again glorify their city. Lviv deserves high-quality football development.
- Were there any goalkeepers you looked up to?
- Among modern goalkeepers, I like Jan Oblak. In general, I take a lot of useful things from my colleagues - now it is a very progressive position, new requirements are constantly emerging...
As a child, I liked Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. I served him balls and had the opportunity to watch the legend up close. In the end, as well as Oleksandr Rybka, Artem Kichak, Maksym Koval. The first two of them are now in the UPL, because they play for Obolon, and I played with Max for Dynamo later. Football life is so unpredictable.
- At one time you played in the UEFA Youth League, then you got into the European Cups with Kolos but didn't play in them. Is your main football dream to reach the Europa League with Kryvbas?
- Why the Europa League? We still have a chance to fight for the Champions League. "Kryvbas will fight in every match. This is a common goal for each of us. And we all go to it with a great desire.
Lubmir Kuzmyak