Former midfielder of «Dynamo» and «Omonia» Roman Bezus talked about what awaits the Ukrainian team in Nicosia in tomorrow’s Conference League match.
Roman Bezus— Roman, you played for «Omonia» from August 2022 to August 2025. What memories do you have from this period?
— For me, it was a new country, a new challenge. I have very good memories because we won the national cup and made it to European competitions. I always had strong support from «Omonia» fans. Even now, if someone recognizes me, the communication is always warm. Overall, I received a lot of pleasant emotions in this team. The only downside was the ending, as it was hard to recover from a serious injury. But the club was always with me. For instance, they recently called and offered me tickets to the game against «Dynamo.» So my family and I plan to attend this match.
— Now you are playing for «Anorthosis.» What objectives does the team have?
— I joined the team during the season. The start for «Anorthosis» wasn’t very successful. The main goal, as far as I know, was to maintain our place in the elite division. However, we’ve gradually bounced back and are now regularly earning points. As they say, appetite grows with eating, so we will try to climb higher in the standings.
— This Thursday «Dynamo» will play against «Omonia» in the Conference League. What are your expectations for this clash?
— Essentially, I’m hoping to see quality football. I’m almost certain that it will be a thrilling contest.
— Who is the favorite in this contest?
— I haven’t seen Dynamo’s recent matches, although the results haven’t been great. However, every unsuccessful streak eventually ends. Perhaps it will happen in the upcoming game. Nevertheless, «Omonia» currently looks very formidable. I think they will be the main contenders for the championship in the current league. Since the Cypriot team will be playing at home with crowd support, I give them a 55 to 45 chance of winning.
— You mentioned the championship. What about «Pafos»?
— They are roughly two equal teams. As for Dynamo’s future opponent, they currently have the strongest lineup in probably the last five years. The team is once again led by Henning Berg, a well-known former defender of «Manchester United,» who led «Omonia» to the championship in 2021.
— What makes the current «Omonia» strong?
— They have a good selection of players. There are equal substitutes, and the new-old coach has added balance to the team, which means that every player knows what to do on the field. It’s a physically strong team that attacks well and defends decently.
— Among the team’s top scorers is left winger Willi Semedo, with whom you played at «Omonia.»
— He’s an individually strong player. He’s good in one-on-one situations. He has an interesting story. He’s a player for the Cape Verde national team, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time in history. Not long ago, this player was competing in the third or fourth division of the Cypriot championship. He earned such recognition through his work. And if I’m not mistaken, in the season before last, Willi was named the best player in Cyprus according to the players.
— Who is the leader of «Omonia», and whom should Kyiv players beware of?
— First and foremost, it’s the Montenegrin attacking midfielder Stevan Jovetić, who has experience playing for teams like «Fiorentina», «Inter», «Sevilla», «Manchester City». He is the captain of his national team, for which he has played about 100 matches.
— I remember him from the matches against the Ukrainian national team in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers when Roman Bezus scored against Montenegro.
— That did happen (laughs). Yes, Stevan is older, but he remains technically strong and can deliver a good pass. He is sometimes used as a forward.
Also, I would like to highlight Moroccan forward Ryan Mmaee, signed this season. He’s a physically strong player. Defender Senu Koulibaly is also quite good. The revelation of the season is creative Brazilian attacking midfielder Evandro. It remains a mystery how «Omonia» managed to sign one of «Pafos’s» leaders, Muamer Tankovic, this season. He is also a technically very strong player.
I’ve nearly mentioned half the squad (smiles). This again shows that «Omonia» has quality players. Of course, the game can go in different ways, but in any case, «Dynamo» will have a very tough challenge.
— I can’t help but ask about the weaknesses of the Cypriot team?
— It’s crucial for the Kyiv team to play tactically smart, compactly, and not let the opponent break free. It’s dangerous to leave «Omonia» players one-on-one. It might be better to play defensively, take advantage of open spaces, and launch counterattacks. They need to play boldly, and even push the opponent at times. Cypriots don’t like it when teams play aggressively against them.
— What’s your prediction for the upcoming match?
— I rarely get predictions right, but I favor «Omonia» by one goal. 2:1.
Sergiy Boychenko
