Samson Godwin: "The Carpathians" of Dyminskyi were on par with "Shakhtar" and "Dynamo"

2025-01-19 18:40 The former Nigerian legionnaire of Lviv "Carpathians" Samson Godwin, who now trains the club’s youth, shared ... Samson Godwin: "The Carpathians" of Dyminskyi were on par with "Shakhtar" and "Dynamo"
19.01.2025, 18:40

The former Nigerian legionnaire of Lviv "Carpathians" Samson Godwin, who now trains the club’s youth, shared about his career.

Samson Godwin

How did you start playing football? Why did you choose this sport?

— I started playing football from a young age, at home in Nigeria, at the "Gabros International" academy. I had no other option — football or nothing. I grew up in a criminal neighborhood, so football was the only way to make something of myself.

Which club did you dream of playing for as a child?

— "Manchester United". I started supporting the "Red Devils" during Alex Ferguson’s time when Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole were on fire.

Was it hard to move to Europe at a young age? What challenges did you face?

— Yes, it was hard to move, but I adapted quickly. The main challenges were the weather and the language. My first European clubs were BBTS (Bielsko-Biała) and GKS. It was in Poland that I saw snow for the first time. It was something incredible!

After Poland, did you feel like you knew everyone in Ukraine?

— I knew the mentality of the people; it doesn’t differ much. Therefore, I did not feel any problems in Ukraine.

How did you end up in "Carpathians"? Were there any other options?

— There were options in Germany. But for certain reasons, my agent advised me to join "Carpathians", and I listened to him. This decision was right.

Who became your best teammate in the team?

— I had good relationships with all my teammates, so I had many friends. When I first arrived, my compatriot Edward Anyamke, who was playing for "Carpathians" at that time, provided me with great help.

In the Lviv club, I experienced many wonderful moments — the promotion to the UPL and reaching the group stage of the Europa League.

In the 2010/2011 season, "Carpathians" played against "Borussia" (Dortmund), "Sevilla", and PSG in the Europa League. What did you feel seeing such a crazy draw?

— It was awesome! It was truly a wonderful season for a team like "Carpathians"; we were in a group with very strong opponents. "Carpathians" did not manage to advance to the playoffs, but we enjoyed participating in such matches against Champions League level teams. Most of us still recall those incredible moments.

What was the atmosphere like in the locker room?

— The atmosphere was crazy; we had a great time. We had a happy locker room.

Name the coolest teammate in "Carpathians".

— Everyone handled their tasks very well. Each of us brought something unique to the team. We are all special in our own way. That’s why the team from that period will go down as one of the best in the history of "Carpathians".

But if you ask for one… Let’s say it’s the Brazilian forward William Batista, because he was a perfect player and a true scorer.

What memories do you have of Kononov, who later led "Krasnodar", "Akmat", and "Spartak"?

— At that time, he was a very good coach; he knew the details of the game well. He explained everything in detail so that players could easily process all the information.

What was your relationship with the owner of "Carpathians" Dyminskyi?

— We had a good relationship. He is a good president. Dyminskyi made something special out of that team for the city of Lviv. What to say, if "Carpathians" at that time were one of the most stable clubs, on par with "Shakhtar" and "Dynamo".

What can you say about Myron Markevych? What was your relationship like?

— Mister is one of the best Ukrainian coaches. He invited me to "Carpathians". Our relationship is special because he gave me a start in "Carpathians" and made a young player from Nigeria good. Markevych is calm and knows the game well; these are his best qualities.

What do you think about the merger of "Carpathians" and "Rukh"?

— I don’t know much about it, but I really hope it will be a good decision for Lviv football.

What do you think about the city of Lviv? What do you like the most about this city?

— I like everything. That’s why I stayed here. Now it’s my home. Ukraine has become my second homeland.

You played for "Shakhtar" (Karaganda). Did you end up in Kazakhstan out of necessity or was that your choice for the later stage of your career?

— It was a pleasant experience for me. The traditions there are good. I have many good friends there. It’s nice that football in Kazakhstan has grown since that time.

By the way, I was supposed to transfer to "Maccabi" (Tel Aviv) at first, but the Israeli club could not agree with "Carpathians", so I was sold to "Shakhtar" (Karaganda).

In 2011, you played for "Volyn". How did this option come about?

— I went on loan to "Volyn". I was there not for long, it didn’t work out, and my team ("Carpathians") called me back.

Did you manage to get to know Kvarcianyi well?

— No. I worked with him for only one week. I can say that Kvarcianyi is a very emotional coach and doesn’t hold back his words.

You played only one match for the Nigerian national team in 2003 in Jamaica when the local team won a friendly match 3:2. Why weren’t you able to establish yourself in the team?

— The answer is simple. Because I wasn’t better than the players who played in my position. The Nigerian national team, the "Super Eagles", is a very strong national team. During the time I was called up, I was lucky to play with Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal, Mobi Opara.

Coaches in those years could rely on such quality central midfielders as Sunday Oliseh ("Ajax", "Juventus", "Borussia"), Christian Obodo ("Fiorentina", "Torino", "Udinese"), and soon after emerged John Obi Mikel — a star of "Chelsea". Of course, it was tough and high-quality competition.

What match is the most memorable for you?

— Nigeria — Jamaica (the same one where Samson debuted in the national team of his country — ed.).

The best coach in your career?

— Mister (Markevych) and Kononov.

The whole of Ukraine saw your fiery setup before the amateur team "Lehyn" (Bryukhovychi). What are you doing now?

— Now I work with the football school "Carpathians". This was my idea with the support of the director of the team. I develop children and send them to the academy for further development.

Diana Hrytsyuk

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