Forward of “Alexandria”, Alexander Filippov spoke about the newcomers of his team and its prospects in the struggle for the championship with Kyiv’s “Dynamo” and Donetsk’s “Shakhtar”.
Alexander Filippov. Photo — FC “Alexandria”— As for our newcomers, I think that Vladimir Shepelev does not need much introduction, as he is already an experienced player and quite well-known in Ukraine. He is characterized by good ball control and understanding of the game. He knows how to make good runs and both create and finish chances. In the match against “Zarya”, Vladimir did a great amount of work, helping out in defense and midfield. He accelerated attacks and was useful up front. So I can say that Shepelev is a fighting unit for our team.
As for Tedi Tsary, he is a newcomer in our championship, but his ability to take on opponents "one on one" was immediately evident from his actions in the Sunday match. The Albanian boldly goes for dribbles, skillfully controls the ball, and can either finish the attack or deliver a sharp pass from the flank.
Theo Ndika is an experienced footballer who has played in the championships of Belgium and Switzerland. It is clear that he has class. However, it is currently difficult for the coaching staff to choose eleven best players, although everyone sees that Theo Ndika works well in training. Therefore, the Frenchman just needs to wait for his chance — and everything will be fine. Theo Ndika, like all the guys I mentioned, strengthens “Alexandria”, and I believe they will help us.
— From the performance of “Alexandria” this season, it has long been understood that the team can count on one of the sets of awards. And thoughts about breaking the longstanding hegemony of “Dynamo” and “Shakhtar” don’t accidentally arise in your subconscious?
— It is clear that compared to both of our giants, “Alexandria” is a small team. Of course, there are such thoughts because what soldier doesn’t dream of becoming a general? We want, strive, and take steps towards that. And in the future, we will only move forward with small steps, but already at the end of the championship, we will see how many points we will have and what place we will ultimately occupy. I know that we have a very good and strong team.
— There has been a lot of talk this winter about the future fate of Ivan Kalyuzhny. What does he mean for the “Alexandria” team — both in the game and outside of it?
— Ivan is a key player for our team, a link between defense and attack. He is the one who makes the passes. Kalyuzhny is perhaps the most influential player in our team, who always does a lot of work and gives his all in every match. It’s good that he is with us until summer.
— How safe is it in our military time in Alexandria?
— Alexandria is a small cozy town. And it’s good that in such a difficult time, the city is, thank God, more or less peaceful. There aren’t frequent or long alarms, so we hope that peace will come as soon as possible and tranquility will prevail throughout the country.
— Where do you spend your free time in Alexandria?
— We try to go to the city center to distract ourselves from football a bit. We like to sit together with the guys, have coffee, take a nap, and catch our breath. In our free time, we can also play cards or other games at the club base. Or we watch football matches or movies.
— I can't help but ask about the scoring race. Do you feel like a competitor to Dynamo's Vladislav Vanat, who currently leads with 11 goals and some other strikers?
— My main goal is to help the team in every possible way. As a forward, I need to score goals. For me, the most important thing is the team results and for “Alexandria” to win always. Who will be recording goals to their name is already secondary.
Vyacheslav Kulchytsky
