Oleg Shaitanov: “A lot depends on our team”

01.09.2018 17:20

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Head coach of the women's futsal national team of Ukraine — about the Student World Cup and preparation of the team for the matches of the qualifying stage of Euro-2019.

In August, the women's student team of Ukraine in futsal became the silver medalist of the world championship. And already on September 12-15, the blue and yellows will play in the qualifying round of Euro 2019 among women. About both international starts in an interview with the AFU press service said the head coach of the team Oleg Shaitanov.

— Please summarize the results of the student world championship.

- I believe that this championship will forever remain in our memory. Everyone received not only positive emotions from the result, but also invaluable experience of competitions of this level.

— Due to which we managed to achieve such success — to win silver medals?

- It became possible thanks to the team, management and doctors. Special thanks to the latter, without them it would be much harder for us to achieve such a result.

— The national team of Ukraine missed the first in most matches, but still won in all but the final. Share the secret of strong-willed victories.

- Yes, we missed the first, but the attitude to victory, which was in our team, helped to equalize the score, and later to overcome the opponent. However, in the last meeting, apparently, lacked strength.

— The captain of our national team Iryna Dubytska became the best player of the student championship of the world. Can this be called another sign of a successful team performance?

- To be honest, I thought for a long time who to appoint as captain. We held an anonymous vote in the team, and the majority elected Irina. Now I can say that Iryna Dubytska has coped with these responsibilities. And the title of MVP of the tournament is another proof that the amount of work she did on the field was noticed by the coaches of other national teams.

— What was the hardest win at the tournament?

- They were all different, but very difficult. But, in my opinion, the victories over Russia and France (in a series of post-match penalties) are special. The first allowed us to leave the group from the highest place, and the second helped us to understand that we will not return to Ukraine empty-handed.

— What is the main purpose of the training session, which will last from September 3 to September 10?

- She is our only one - to prepare well for select matches Euro 2019.

— You have already conducted a gathering in Cherkasy. How do you evaluate the local conditions for preparation?

- Conditions for training in Cherkasy are at the proper level. They are quite satisfied with the national team.

— What about future contenders in the group?

- You can play with any of the rival teams. Much depends on our team.