The Ukrainian national team, composed of players born in 2011, is planning its first training camp at the end of the year. Considering the war factor, we have every chance to see children from the strongest clubs in Europe. Among them is the goalkeeper of Bayern U-15, Mark Kuzmuk.
Mark KuzmukKuzmuk was born in Kyiv. He started playing football at the Kyiv Locomotive School. He was involved with teams composed of players born in 2009 and 2010 as the second goalkeeper. In his age category, he became the main goalkeeper.
At «Loko», players born in 2009−11 were trained by Taras Kucher, who is considered one of the best youth coaches in Ukraine.
Kyiv «Loko» is a very interesting project for Ukrainian football. The «railwaymen» have no first team at a high level. In the Academy, the question of results is not pressing. Coaches and children have the opportunity to work calmly without pressure. Damir Honchenko, who currently defends the colors of «Anderlecht» and debuted in the national team of players born in 2010 by scoring a goal against the Italians, played for «Locomotive» in Ukraine. The number of graduates from Kyiv’s «railwaymen» in Europe is significant: Nikita Drozd — «Nuremberg», the Solodarenko brothers — «Werder», Anton Babchuk — «Villarreal», the Yashchenkov brothers — «Bochum» and «Schalke», Maxim Gololobov — «Bayer», Oleksandr Spasibo — «Magdeburg», Vladyslav Turchyn — Norway’s «Valerenga», Mira Vaskovsky plays in England.
If it weren’t for the war, Kuzmuk would have ended up at «Dynamo» or «Shakhtar», but instead, he found himself in Germany via Slovakia. Mark successfully passed a trial at «Bayern» and is now in his fourth season defending the colors of his Munich club peers. In the current season, Kuzmuk is the main goalkeeper of «Bayern U-15» and is periodically involved with older teams, not only for training but also in the squad as the second goalkeeper. The U-15 team leads its regional league group in Bavaria.
We all understand that transitioning to «Bayern» from the street or just passing a trial is impossible. One must undergo a very thorough selection process or join the team through scouting. This is a very large club with great tradition. Despite this, besides Kuzmuk, there are several Ukrainians in the Bayern system — Bohdan Olichenko at U-19, Dmytro Tsebenyak at U-15, Timur Viziaryak at U-14, Ivan Yevseev at U-13.
Mark Kuzmuk is being taught to play in the style of Manuel Neuer. During home matches at the «Allianz Arena», the Ukrainian goalkeeper serves as a ball boy behind Bayern’s goals. He has the opportunity to absorb the experience of one of the best goalkeepers of the present day. He acclimates to the atmosphere of a large stadium and the opportunity to directly see the actions of players on the field. It’s a tremendous experience. The German school of goalkeeping — block technique, playing with the feet, playing outside the penalty area. Therefore, in the future, Ukraine could gain a very high-level goalkeeper, and for now, his training continues.
Sergiy TYSHCHENKO
