Oleg Shaitanov: “It is interesting to see what form girls are in”

28.09.2019 16:02

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The head coach of the women's national team of Futsal Oleg Shaitanov spoke about the preparation of the team for friendly matches with Serbia.

From September 26 to 29 in Brovary blue-yellow conduct training collection, after which they will go to Serbia, where they will play two sparring matches against the local team. On the eve of his departure, Ukrainian coach Oleh Shaitanov gave an interview to the press service Futsal Association of Ukraine press service.

— Oleg Nikolaevich, you visited match for the Super Cup of Ukraine between "IMS-NUHT" and "Ladomir". Tell us about your experience with this match.

- For the Kyiv team, this meeting actually became the first official one since April. This is quite a long pause. So, really, the girls made mistakes, especially at the beginning of the match. However, IMS-NUHT looked stronger than Ladomir, so I consider the victory of Kyiv with a result of 5: 3 natural. Although personally I was convinced that the difference in the score will be a little bigger.

It was interesting to watch live the players of the Kyiv team, who are called up to the national team. Indeed, I have not seen them in the case for a long time. Whenever possible, I attended club trainings of teams that delegate teams, but trainings are not official matches. In general, the season has just begun. It is clear that teams need some time to gain optimal condition.

I was also pleased that there are players who are really evolving. For example, Alina Bundyuk, who did not have much playing time during her performances for the student team of Ukraine, now looks much stronger.

— Share your expectations from the new season in women's futsal.

- The 2019/2020 season started with a match for the Super Cup of Ukraine, I would like to congratulate everyone on this event. Ukraine's women's futsal team also starts a new season on October 1. Of course, I would like it to consist of as many bright matches and spectacular goals as possible. I also believe that the intrigue in the championship will last until the last rounds of the second stage. I am sure that all fans of women's futsal dream that the matches of the major league would be very interesting.

— After Euro-2019, which took place in February, the women's national team of Ukraine gathered for the first time. How do you think such a holiday will benefit?

- In the first part of last season we spent a lot of time together: we played international friendly matches, gathered as a student team to participate in the World Cup, the national team took part in the main round and the final part of Euro-2019. The girls played a lot of official matches. In April and May, other teams played friendly matches. In turn, the national team of Ukraine was not going to allow the girls to concentrate on the matches of the domestic championship, the Cup of Ukraine and the tournament of champions.

As for the benefits of this break, the girls took a break from the national team, so I don't think there is any negative point in this.

— Tell us your reasons for choosing your opponents national team of Serbia.

- We had several options - we chose Serbia. This is an athletic team with the ardent support of native fans.

— What is your task at the match in Serbia?

- Considering that we haven't been together for more than seven months, it's interesting to look at the form of the girls and remind them about the national team again. However, the task for these fights is one - to win!

— You have called up two new players for the upcoming matches for the first time. What about them?

- Indeed, during the time that I am coaching the team, Yana Dychko and Victoria Kislova were called to it for the first time. With their game last season, they earned the right to come to the national team of Ukraine. I'm interested to see what they will look like in the game against Serbia with more experienced teams. The team and I will support them, but a lot depends on them!

— What are the plans for the future in the women's national team?

- If this year, with all due respect to our opponents, we do not have top-level teams in our rivals, then from January we will take part in the tournament and friendly matches, where we will play with the leading national teams of Europe and Asia.