Oleksandr Kosenko: “Before the World Cup we have to be ready to confront teams from all continents”

28.05.2018 14:04

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The head coach of the Ukrainian national futsal team Oleksandr Kosenko was present in Lviv at the third, decisive match of the Extra-League playoff series between local Energia and Kherson's Prodexim, and it was a sin not to take the opportunity to talk to a specialist about the national championship and plans. main team.

- I really liked how the events unfolded in the championship, - said Alexander Kosenko. - The rivalry was fierce, and since the strength of the participants is approximately equal, it was quite difficult to predict the winners in the playoff series. It is no coincidence that the strongest team of the previous stage, Kyiv's HIT, failed to make it to the podium.

- Participants of the final confrontation, "Prodexim" and "Energy", compared to last season suffered significant personnel losses, but if Kherson in their selection work relied on legionnaires, the Lviv'they are for home-grown performers…

- It is not for me to judge which variant of staffing is more effective or expedient. This is primarily the prerogative of the club leadership. And if Prodexim won gold medals for the second time in a row, it shows that they were right in Kherson, inviting Brazilian specialist Joao Carlos Barboza and several of his fellow players to the position of head coach.

Kherson "Prodexim" is the champion of Ukraine in 2018. Photo by mfc-prodexim.com.ua

Although, taking this opportunity, I would like to pay tribute to Energia, which, having been left without a group of leading performers in the off-season, found a replacement for them and thanks to cohesion in the championship and the Cup of the country.

- I am convinced that you have closely followed the developments in Ukrainian futsal. Did you take note of the players who pleasantly surprised you?

- First of all, the progress of young performers is gratifying, but let's do without specifics, because they still have to work and work to achieve something in futsal.

- And from whom did you expect more?

- You know, from my side it would be incorrect to estimate work of this or that helmsman. Moreover, there were almost no qualifying matches, everyone tried to show their best qualities. And just as there are no two champions, so on the way to the top someone must get out of the distance ahead of schedule. Although, I repeat, in the matches of the playoff series on self-sacrifice there were no claims against the participants. I would like to see more non-standard moves and home-made moves in their performance, but this is, as they say, another story.

- You focused on the progress of young players. Can you say that any of them will become your ward in the national team?

- First, they will be given the opportunity to prove themselves in the student team of Ukraine, which will perform at the World Cup in Kazakhstan in August. As for the main team, there will definitely be newcomers, but let's talk about them in September, when the national team of Ukraine will hold joint trainings for the first time after the European Championship in Slovenia.

- Why was it decided to fill the first window in the UEFA calendar with participation in the international tournament in Iran, where our rivals in September will be exclusively Asian teams?

- Since it is the turn of the national team of Ukraine to play at the World Cup, which will take place in 2020, we must be ready to face teams from all continents. It is important that our future counterparts at the tournament in Iran show a different style. Japan and Thailand are represented mainly by small players who bet on a quick draw of the ball, high pressure. But the hosts do not lack dimensional futsal players, but they are on "you" with the ball, which allows them to often change tactics. The Iranians are very serious opponents, it is no coincidence that the Ukrainian national team has not yet managed to defeat them. Let's hope that we are lucky enough to correct the statistics in the confrontation with this awkward opponent.

- If last year the national team of Ukraine played control matches mostly at home, now the situation has changed: after leaving for Iran, your wards will play sparring matches with the French in October…

- Of course, I would like Ukrainian futsal fans to be able to see the game of the best national teams live, but not much depends on my desire in determining the place of control matches. And yet I am very pleased that we managed to reach an agreement with the French, because this team is progressing very quickly. It is characterized by high technical training, mobility, rapid counterattacks. And so it will be very interesting to argue with the French.

- Only the third window in the UEFA calendar, in December, will be filled with home sparring. And we should pay tribute to the leadership of the Futsal Association of Ukraine, which managed to invite the national team of Portugal - the current European champion! Do you already know where these fights will take place?

- Several cities are applying for them, but the final decision has not been made yet. Although we can already say with confidence that these matches will be a holiday for Ukrainian futsal fans. The Portuguese national team is a team with almost no vulnerabilities, and its leader Ricardinho is a world star. And it is in confrontations with such an opponent that you can determine what you are really worth…