Hero of the 16th round of the Second League Bogdan Semenets: There was an offer from another club, but at the last moment Sizikhin called

Semenets’s hat-trick was a decisive contribution to the crushing victory over Kremlin-2 (5:0), and this ordinary match had a huge impact on the standings. Chaika, having caught up with Druzhba on points, displaced her from first place in head-to-head matches. This is only the third team that managed to rise to the top in the current championship.

So Sport Arena, together with the PFL, chose its laureate. The hero of the sixteenth round in the second league, Bogdan Semenets, in an exclusive interview with Sport Arena, shared his impressions of Chaika’s performances, and also recalled his first steps in football.

“One for all and all for one”

— How important is it for you to be recognized as the best player of the tour?

– First of all, team success is important to me, and personal achievements are a nice bonus. I am glad that I was chosen among all the players in the Second League, but without the help of my partners I could not have achieved such a result.

– Chaika currently leads the Second League. What factors influenced the team’s result? What, first of all, is the strength of the Seagull?

– Thanks to a good team, we achieve results. One for all and all for one. It is worth noting Sergei Sizikhin, who gathered a team of like-minded people. Chaika has a fusion of experience and youth. The results are encouraging, but the whole struggle is still ahead.

– Can we say that the match against Kremlin-2 provided an opportunity to improve positional play? What else positive did you take from this confrontation besides the result?

– When the air raid warning dragged on, the desire to play gradually disappeared. We thought that the match would be postponed, but we were still able to play. Thanks to desire, they were able to show their best qualities, although at first they were in a hurry. The air raid also had a negative impact on the opponent. The quick goals helped us feel comfortable.

– Does the tactical scheme allow you to make good use of your speed data?

— We have a variable team that can play in different tactical schemes. Everything depends on the course of events on the field. We started the championship with three defenders, but rebuilt and played 4-4-2. During the match we can use different tactical formations. It all depends on the situation on the field. I try to bring as much benefit to the team as possible.

– In Chaika there is someone to give a quality pass to. Perhaps this makes life easier for you as a striker?

“I had periods when I couldn’t express myself on the field at all, but thank God everything has changed now. It’s nice to play with partners who can give quality and timely returns. Even our defenders give assists. Game connections improve from match to match.

“I studied at a rural school. The physical education teacher saw certain abilities in me.”

– In this match you scored a hat-trick. Which of the three heads did you like best?

— First of all, it’s worth noting my third goal, when we intercepted the ball in our own half of the field. Vecherko passed the ball from deep, and I moved from the left edge and sent the ball into the far corner with a dribble shot from my right foot. Enjoyed the combination. I haven’t scored from outside the penalty area for a long time.

— Do eight goals this season match your ambitions or would you like more?

– You always want to score more. The team must have one scorer (laughs – Y.K.’s note). I don’t plan to stop there. I will work even harder in training.

– Do you remember your first steps in football? Who brought you into football and helped you realize your potential?

– I studied at a rural school. Physical education teacher Vasily Golodishin saw certain abilities in me. He recommended me to Berezhany. Vasily Vasilyevich Bunyak worked there as a coach at that time. It took me an hour to get from the village by train to training. He played for the local team and scored a lot at the children’s level.

When I graduated from high school, I moved to the sports class. I studied there in grades 10 and 11. When I entered the Pedagogical University, I played for FC Ternopil, for the students. The path to football was given to me by a physical education teacher, now deceased. He took us to Berezhany for competitions among schools. I remember that period of my life with warmth.

– In the 2012/13 season, you became the second scorer in the Second League with 15 goals in FC Ternopil. This must be one of the memorable periods in your career?

“It was a productive period for the young football player. I played in a team, there was a close-knit team there. Everyone knew each other well. There were no problems with adaptation.

– FC Ternopil then played 80 matches a year. How did you manage to maintain this crazy schedule?

– We played the Second League, the Cup, and there were also student competitions. Didn’t experience any problems. Everyone was hungry for football and trying to prove themselves.

“The goal against Shakhtar will remain in my memory forever”

— You also played quite a few matches in Poltava and Helios, but you failed to prove yourself. What do you think is the reason for this?

– I think that I didn’t have enough time to adapt to a different style of play. Ternopil played more vertically, in power football. These teams tried to control the ball and combine more. Nothing worked out for me at Helios. During the entire season he scored only once.

— Of course, the most productive period for you so far has been your work in agribusiness. Do you feel that you were able to fully unleash the potential in this team?

– I just “broke through” into Agribusiness. I’m happy that I was able to show my best side in this team. It was a good period in my career.

— The Cup goal against Shakhtar is certainly the most important for you so far. Can you remember these emotions again? Maybe they even caught star fever somewhere?

– The goal against Shakhtar will remain in my memory forever. My goal brought the team to the semi-finals. I don’t know what star fever is. I understood that I still needed to work a lot. I was filled with positive emotions.

— Does Oleg Sobutsky really live by football? What impressions did you have from communicating with this person?

“I would like there to be as many presidents like this as possible.” Sobucki lived football every day. The team could lose, and the president would pay a bonus because he liked the game. This is rare in football. I wish him all the best and thank you for your cooperation.

“Mosol, Kurilo, Perduta, Crucian carp, Grusha, Chernenko – these are the guys I had to play with”

— Which coach made the greatest impression on you?

— First of all, I would like to mention Sergei Sizikhin. This is a professional who gives his all to football. For Sizikhin, there are no trifles in football. His tips are very valuable to me. He talks with each player and tells them how to play in a given situation. It’s a pleasure to work with such a coach. The coaching staff prepares responsibly for each match.

– Which of the current football stars did you manage to play with?

— First of all, it is worth mentioning Kurilo and Mozil, who are now playing in the UPL. We played with Kurilo back in Ternopil. I would also like to remember Perduta, with whom we studied at the Ternopil Lyceum and played for the Youth Sports School. Grusha, Karas, Chernenko are now performing in Obolon.

– Can you count your period in Buzovskaya Niva as an asset or did you still strive for more? Why didn’t you and the team move up in class and remain at the Second League level?

— In the first part of the season, he mostly came as a substitute and scored only one goal. In the spring, he scored three goals in seven games. I think this is a decent figure. When a coach takes a team to the First League, they don’t always leave him behind. The managers decided to make significant changes before their debut in the First League. I was shocked by these changes. The new coach didn’t see me on the team. They decided not to renew my contract.

– Perhaps you had any offers from First League clubs? Why did you choose Chaika?

– There were no specific proposals from the First League. There was an offer from Skala 1911, but at the last moment Sizikhin called and invited him to join his team. My wife supported me, it was my choice, although if I had played for Skala 1911, it would have only been a three-hour drive home. I thank her for her support.

— Can the current Chaika move up in class this season? Does a competitive championship provide additional motivation?

– We don’t have problems with motivation. You always want to play at the highest level, to compete with stronger players. Of course, the team needs strengthening, but this depends on the leadership. Our goal is to finish in the top 3. We will try to win every match.

BLITZ

• Born in Kotiv, Berezhany district, Ternopil region.
• Pupil – FC Ternopil
• First coach – Vasily Vasilievich Bunyak
• Favorite Player: Lionel Messi
• Favorite club – Arsenal
• Goal in football? I strive to play with Chaika in the UPL. We will try together with the team to first get promoted to the First League

Yaroslav Krokha