Andriy Bashlay: "Aliyev already had a great two-footed shot. Those balls flew like a cannon"

Andrii Bashlay, a graduate of Dynamo Kyiv and a former defender of the Ukrainian youth national team, recalled his years spent at the capital's club.

- How did you get to Dynamo?

- When I was 13, I was invited to Dynamo by Oleksandr Shpakov. He is a famous coach who trained Andriy Shevchenko.

- What was your first salary at Dynamo and what did you spend it on?

- 100 dollars, at Dynamo-3. I can't say that I spent it on anything specific. Our family was not very rich, so it was easier for the family when I started earning some money. They didn't have to buy me things anymore, because I could provide for myself.

- At Dynamo, you were not part of Pavlo Yakovenko's legendary academy class of players born in 1985, but you played under his leadership in the Ukrainian youth team. Did you experience incredible physical exertion?

- Yes, I experienced it a little bit. Of course, it was hard, but the path to success is never easy. We ran a lot and worked hard. Apparently, this is why people achieved something later. It's hard to judge now whether all this was necessary or whether it would have been better to preserve health and enthusiasm for the future.

- Did the players vomit from the exertion of training?

- I think everyone has done it. This is a normal story, in principle. Of course, this also happened to me.

- Artem Milevskyi and Oleksandr Aliyev are the biggest Ukrainian talents of Dynamo with whom you have met?

- There were a lot of talents. However, someone was hampered by injuries, someone was not trusted... Artem and Sasha achieved more than others. It just happened. They deserved it with their work.

They complemented each other. What Artem lacked, Sasha had, and vice versa. Sasha, of course, had a great two-footed shot. Those balls flew like a cannon. Artem did not have such a shot. But he was very good at covering the ball with his body. It was hard for the defenders to get close to him, and they often fouled him. Artem earned free kicks and penalties, and Sanya converted them.

- Did you have any memorable stories with any of the Surkis brothers?

- In 2004, Dynamo sent the second team to Moscow for the Commonwealth Cup because the surface of the Spartak arena was already of poor quality. We decided that the first team would prepare for the championship on good fields somewhere in Spain or Turkey.

The tournament was of a high level with strong teams. We made it out of the group, but lost to Sheriff in the 1/4 finals (0:1). It was an important competition for Dynamo because the team had won it before and played in the final.

Afterward, Ihor Mykhailovych gathered us at the base and gave us a scolding. He also fined us. He knew everything about everyone and could present the facts to everyone. He did not mention any names, but everyone understood that it was about him. There was no point in arguing.

- During your years at Dynamo, how close were you to the first team?

- I played for Dynamo-2, a double, and took part in friendly matches of the first team during international gigs. I often joined the training sessions with the first team. I was waiting for my chance, but unfortunately.

- What was missing?

- It's hard to say. The competition was high, there were also injuries that required surgery. I lacked something. Maybe a little athleticism. I was a little too light. However, I'm not complaining or offended by anyone.

- How did you leave Dynamo?

- I had a five-year contract, during which I played on loan for Arsenal Kyiv, where I played a couple of matches in the UPL, Obolon and Karpaty. Then the agreement expired, and there was no point in extending it. The first team didn't need me at that time, and the second team, of course, had young players who needed to be given chances.

When I received the status of a free agent, my first club was Stal Alchevsk.

- Did you leave your home club with a heavy heart?

- There was nothing heavy. This is life. Not everyone can play for Dynamo or Real Madrid. There are many other great teams with good conditions, coaches, where you can earn money and enjoy football. There was no problem with that.

- After leaving Dynamo, you played exclusively for teams in the First and Second Leagues in Ukraine. How do you think you realized your potential?

- There were no other offers. When the Premier League clubs invited me, I still had a contract with Dynamo and, unfortunately, they didn't let me go. There were really good options. Later, when I had already left Dynamo, these offers did not come anymore.

I think I played in decent teams. I spent a good part of my career in Sevastopol. It's really nice to remember. What a team we were, the atmosphere in the city and at the stadium, and the support was crazy... We showed great results there.

Of course, there were my mistakes, if we analyze my career. It's just that sometimes something depended on me, and sometimes not.

- Wasn't it too early to stop playing at 29?

- I received an offer to work at the Dynamo school. I could and wanted to play somewhere else, but I realized that my football age was gradually coming to an end. And Dynamo doesn't call me every day. Would I be invited there again in a year or two? I don't know.

I in no way regret my choice. Shpakov taught me a lot. Then I went to work at the Academy just in time for Serhiy Rebrov's Spanish headquarters. The head of the academy was Alberto Bosch. We worked on Spanish programs. It is worth a lot to get into such a system and see that football really does not stand still.

Compared to how I trained as a child, these are completely different requirements. It was really interesting. A very cool coaching and football school.

- What do you think of today's Dynamo?

- It's nice to see that our young players are really playing now, who are opening up and proving themselves. If not for the war, the situation might have been different. But now the guys are getting a chance. When I was at Dynamo, I could only dream of this.

I watch and cheer. I am happy when the players with whom I managed to work in the Dynamo academy take the field. These are Christian Bilovar, Ruslan Neshcheret, and Matvey Ponomarenko.

- Will Dynamo regain the UPL gold medals this season?

- I think so. I see that Shakhtar are having a hard time. I don't know why. Maybe they lack a clip. You can't play on three fronts all season with 11 players. People get tired physically and emotionally. Plus injuries and illnesses. To show results, you need a rotation.

Dmytro Venkov