The former head coach of «Desna», «Obolon», «Sevastopol», «Lviv» and a number of other domestic professional clubs Oleksandr Ryabokon shared how he agreed to collaborate with the amateur FC «Lisne» and why he actually left the first league «Dínaz».
— Oleksandr Dmytrovych, so who exactly will you be working with at «Lisne»: as an assistant to the current head of the team Oleksandr Rozhon or as a consultant coach? Let’s finally clarify this important point.
— Let’s start with the fact that I am already officially collaborating with «Lisne». Right now, the team is on a training camp in Kovel, we started preparations on March 2. In the team, I will perform the role of consultant coach.
— If possible, more details on what exactly will be included in your area of responsibilities?
— My task is to help the team get on professional tracks.
— Very interesting. So the management of «Lisne» aims to finally become a professional club?
— The club is ambitious and I think that starting next season, there is a goal to play among professionals.
— So there is a clear task from the management to win the AAFU championship and get into the Second League?
— Yes. There is a clear task and most importantly, the desire of all players and coaches of FC Lisne to fulfill it and play among professional clubs.
— And financially, can the club manage in the Second League?
— The finances are all okay. You will see which players are being invited and they agree to play for the club. The team is well-equipped, dressed, fed, and has the opportunity to conduct normal, full-fledged training camps.
Additionally, I immediately noticed that there is a very good atmosphere within the team. The guys are completely satisfied with what the club is doing for them.
— Who and how approached you with the proposal to collaborate?
— The proposal to join «Lisne» came to me quite a while ago. It was made by the club director Viktor Zelinsky. He was very persistent. (Smiles).
— The next question may seem strange to you, but what is your interest in collaborating with an amateur club? Is this your level?
— I did not agree right away, even though I met Zelinsky about six months ago. Since then we have been in constant contact.
In the last months I essentially had no work. So I thought, considered, and ultimately agreed.
Yes, the club plays among amateurs, but I am sure you know that there are very experienced players here with loud names. I believe that at this stage, agreeing to work at «Lisne» is absolutely the right decision.
— So it turns out that you accepted the proposal to not do nothing at home?
— You could say that. (Smiles). For now, this concerns my work in the club during the preparatory period, and then we’ll see. In amateur clubs, you understand, there are no contracts.
— I can’t believe you agreed to work «for free».
— Oh, you have quite a question. (Smiles). Surely it’s not «for free». You see, I actually had three years of downtime. For the last half year, I worked at «Dínaz», but… If only former sponsors of the Vyshhorod club had enough inspiration, but… They supported the team financially for just one month — and that’s it. For the rest of the time, all players and coaching staff worked for nothing. We did not see any salaries.
— We will return to «Dínaz» later. You mentioned that in «Lisne» there are players with loud names. I understand you are primarily talking about Serhiy Rybalko and Denys Harmash.
— Yes-yes, about them. And not only. There is also a group of older, experienced players. For example, the team has Oleksandr Nasinov, Serhiy Shestakov, Zhenya Morosenko, Volodya Koval. There are also young, interesting players.
— Regarding Rybalko and Harmash. They are both only 34 years old. Is it not too early for them to decide to play in amateurs? Well, fine, maybe they are no longer interesting to UPL clubs, but at the level of the First or Second League among professionals, they definitely wouldn’t get lost.
— I agree. They could still quietly play among professionals for a season or two. Personally, I have no doubts about the high skill of Harmash and Rybalko; they haven’t lost it. They still have the desire to play.
Why did they decide to play in amateurs? I don’t know, that’s their question.
— Lastly, let’s talk a bit about «Dínaz». Did you leave this club because of its financial problems or were there other nuances?
— I did not receive any salary for half a year. That’s excessive. Do you agree?
— Well, of course! This is, to put it mildly, unserious.
— Exactly. It shouldn’t be this way. We somehow endured until the winter break. It didn’t work out with the last trip, but… You know, considering the situation that was at «Dínaz», they should be grateful we even finished the first stage of the championship.
— Were you settled with the payment when you said you were leaving the club, or did they still owe you money?
— The situation is such that I have no claims against the football club «Dínaz». The problem is not with the management of the Vyshhorod club. It’s just that at the end of the summer, the team got a sponsor, but their enthusiasm lasted only for one month. After that, they forgot about the team. I repeat, for half a year, five months exactly, there were no payments.
— So it turns out that you were working, and the footballers were playing, on pure enthusiasm?
— That’s how it was. By the way, there has been no contact with the sponsors of «Dínaz», who took on the team and then simply abandoned it, up to this day. We hoped until the last moment that maybe they would awaken some conscience, but — no. Everyone parted ways at the winter break with thoughts — whether to continue playing or to withdraw, and how to proceed in general.
— Besides the proposal from «Lisne», did you have any other options to continue your career?
— There are always some talks, but there was no specifics. I hope that there will still be a serious challenge for me. If it happens, I will agree immediately. Absolutely.
I believe that I will still work at the professional level, the question is only — when…
Viktor Glukhenky