Former Ukraine national team player Artem Fedetskyi spoke to Denys Boyko about his relationship with Anatolii Tymoshchuk.
Artem Fedetskyi— I lost contact with many people after the start of the full-scale invasion. Naturally, that’s a normal occurrence. And when it comes to the matter of people’s lives, you discover who is who. I messaged Tymoshchuk literally right away, on the third day. He read it, rechecked it, and didn’t respond at all. Although he was always an example for me, always a role model. Even when I joined the «Shakhtar» academy, he was already in a leading role there, captain of Donetsk «Shakhtar», captain or vice-captain of the Ukrainian national team, and always an example, with the yellow-blue ribbon tying his hair, running with the flag.
— Doesn’t it seem like a show to you? Just a show, a facade for outsiders? Many patriots who love our country aren’t even known. And here anyone can wear a ribbon. That’s not an indicator that you love your country. The real indicator — is what happens in practice.
— I completely agree with you. It’s just that for me, it was a special case of someone you looked up to. When I first met Tymoshchuk, I was seven or eight years old, and he was always a role model. When Tymoshchuk would come to the «Shakhtar» academy, pick you up in a Mercedes 600, take you to lunch, it’s clear that I returned to the academy feeling like a deity.
— You’re talking about him choosing to stay in Russia despite his position?
— I don’t want to count other people’s money, it’s not about money now. But I understand: he, having a position, knowing his father, mother, sister in Lutsk, had all the opportunities to quietly leave the country and live anywhere in the world, not coaching that «Zenit». If you choose to stay, at least don’t advertise yourself as «Zenit» coach. Just disappear for a while.
I understand the tragedy when Ukrainian families, children lose fathers, brothers, sisters, and you are self-sufficient, everything is going great for you. And despite having lots of friends, being an honorary citizen of Lutsk (he received such an award, which was later revoked), you don’t make any moves, absolutely none. And then, when your licenses were taken away, you go to Lausanne to sue.
— Is it your biggest disappointment? Because you knew this person for so many years, genuinely took him as an example, and believed him to be a true patriot?
— I thought he was genuine. I believed. I looked up to him. Was it personally painful for me? Why should I worry about him? He has it all. For me, it’s... one of those moments when you think, «Well, screw you.»
— So his ignoring was absolute?
— Absolutely no response. He could’ve called, talked, said something. But he wasn’t interested. I spoke to Voronin, he was shocked. Voronin, incidentally, had just signed a contract with «Dynamo» (Moscow). Voronin tells him, «Tolik, don’t stand out anywhere!» Andryukha, knowing him for so long, a normal guy. He immediately broke the contract and returned to Düsseldorf. He asked Tolik, «If there’s no opportunity, you’re involved somewhere, shares, business, just don’t stick out. Don’t coach!»
But how long did Tolik last? Just a few months. And when he smiles again, walking around the stadium, happy about «Zenit»'s victories. Well, who are you? It’s a life lesson for me. I can’t distrust people because living in constant fear of everyone is wrong. There are people you can trust. And I thought of Tymoshchuk just like that…
