Head coach of «Epitsentr» Serhiy Nagornyak answered questions about his team’s striker Vladyslav Supryaga, who is on loan until the end of the season from Kyiv «Dynamo», regarding his injury and potential.
Serhiy Nagornyak. Photo — FC «Epitsentr»— When can we expect Supryaga to return?
— Vlad won’t be able to play for 3−4 weeks. The recovery process is ongoing. Our doctor Kristina Pinzar immediately set his arm (during the match of the 6th round of the Ukrainian championship against «Kryvbas», which took place last Sunday, — editor’s note). The most important thing is that a fracture was avoided, and we are waiting for Supryaga’s return after the October break for national teams.
— How did you manage to convince Supryaga to choose «Epitsentr»?
— It didn’t take long to convince Vlad. He expressed his desire to play for «Epitsentr» himself. He behaves at a top level within the team. However, people still perceive him as a world champion, for whom a lot of expectations were set — but it didn’t work out at «Dynamo», to put it frankly. I worked with him at the start of his career. The data he has is colossal: good speed, finishing ability, sense of timing. All of this was there, and we want to help him with it.
Vlad has one problem that lies in his psychology. A lot has been spoiled for him by the media, which raised expectations that not everyone can handle. Before the injury, he was working well in training. In game situations, perhaps not everything is coming together, but at any moment he could break through. This is what happened against «Kryvbas». Fortunately, he avoided a fracture.
— You have taken on a challenging task — can Supryaga, Yanakov, and Boryachuk play like they did at the youth level?
— I am here to support them. It is important to convey today that a football career is fleeting. One must fight for their place in the sun here and now, not live in the memories of 5−10 years ago. I see that the guys cannot let go of the past. They are working hard, but they need to demand more from themselves to reach a better level. I can’t go out and play for them. The guys need to understand that their place in the squad is not guaranteed, just because they were once considered highly promising. I don’t want to say that they have lost their potential.
I want to help Vlad and Den, who still have time ahead of them. Andriy is already 29. They need to want it three times more than I do. Everything is in their hands and heads.
Oleksandr Karpenko
