Hero of the 17th round of the First League Pavel Fedosov: There is an opportunity to work as a fitness trainer, I enjoy it

Chernigov lost six matches in a row and ended up in last place in November, and the match against Gornyak-Sport was of great importance. Tigers forward Pavel Fedosov produced a performance of a level that he had never performed for this team before. Even before the break, Pavel almost scored from the penalty area (the goalkeeper parried his header under the crossbar), but in the end, maintaining his trademark speed, Fedosov played to the end in two optional moments and scored two unlike, but well-executed goals.

So Sport Arena, together with the PFL, had no doubt about the winner. The hero of the seventeenth round in the First League, Pavel Fedosov, in an exclusive interview with Sport Arena, shared his impressions of the long-awaited victory of Chernigov, and also recalled various moments in his career.

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

— Of course, such recognition is very pleasant for me, because it motivates me to work even harder and reach new heights. I will try to bring as much benefit to Chernigov as possible.

— Chernigov lost six matches in a row before the last round, although there were some pretty good games. How difficult was it to find motivation during this long losing streak?

– Psychologically, it is very difficult to constantly lose. I believe that we should be higher in the standings. It is important that we do not give up, but, on the contrary, work even harder. We play for our fans, for our hometown, for the military who protect us. It’s much more difficult for the military now, so we have no right to despair in our own abilities.

— On the eve of the match with Gornyak-Sport, your team had significant problems with its lineup. How did this affect the team’s performance?

– Of course, we don’t have such a long bench, so every loss is painful. However, there was also a positive, because Andrei Lakeenko returned from injury, played very reliably in defense and joined in the victory.

– What did the coaching staff focus on before the game with Gornyak-Sport? Did you understand that this is your real chance to finally rise from last place?

– It was very cold during the match, so such weather conditions could not but affect our game. They understood that they had to be patient and wait for their chance. They were confident in their abilities and counted only on victory. We are happy that we achieved the desired result. There were not many chances, the emphasis was primarily on reliable defensive play. In the second half, we understood that the game was going until a goal was scored.

– At the end of the meeting, your speed helped the team win a very important victory. Remember the episodes with goals that really came out hard?

“I played to my strengths and brought the team an important victory. I am pleased with myself in this match, but, of course, I still need to work a lot to achieve progress.

– Perhaps you can’t count this part of the season as an asset? Did you expect more goals or is this still a good enough result for you?

— I always try to score as many goals as possible, but execution lets me down. There is even more benefit to bring to the team, but unfortunately, not everything is successful. I will work even harder to play better and more efficiently in the spring.

— In your opinion, what was missing for Chernigov to achieve the best result in this part of the season?

– We had many injured players, and this could not but affect the results. Also, in some matches luck was not on our side, and sometimes we lost points in the last minutes. It is important to draw the right conclusions from these failures.

– Remember your first steps in football. Who helped you realize your potential at a young age?

— First of all, it is worth noting the first coaches who help each young football player lay the foundation. The work of children’s coaches should not be devalued.

— You are a student of the Yunost Youth Sports School, where you played from 2009 to 2013. What do you remember most from that period? Perhaps they played together with the guys who in the future would make themselves known throughout Ukraine?

“Unfortunately, none of our students play at the highest level. Now there are four more football players playing in Chernigov, with whom we started training at the Youth Sports School Yunost.

— In July 2013, you tried your hand at Dynamo Kiev, but two months later you moved to the amateur club YUSB. Why didn’t you manage to gain a foothold in the famous club?

“I just wasn’t ready to play at the highest level then.” Did not meet the requirements of the Kyiv club coaches. I couldn’t show my best qualities, but I didn’t give up and continued to work.

— During 2014-2015, we played 38 matches for the Bila Tserkva club Arsenal-Kyivshchyna and scored 5 goals. How difficult was the transition to professionals for you and how productive do you consider this period?

– I didn’t have any problems, because I was already mentally and physically prepared for this level. I believe that this period in my career was the most important for me, as I could grow professionally.

– At the beginning of 2016, we moved to Riga, Latvia, as a free agent, but played only four matches. Why was this foreign voyage so short? What didn’t work out for you in a new country, in a new team?

— I wasn’t ready for life in a new country, I was homesick. I was also hampered by microtraumas, but at some points I also underperformed. If I had treated myself professionally back then, I might have achieved more in Riga. However, it was a useful experience for me and now I don’t make such mistakes.

– You and Arsenal Kyiv won the First League. Which of your former teammates would you like to mention? How powerful was this team?

– It was a very strong team with a close-knit team. First of all, we can note the players in the center of the field. Artem Stargorodsky, despite his age, demonstrated very solid football. He is a true professional who always plays until the end.

– Probably, after the championship you had completely different plans? Maybe there were offers from UPL clubs?

– There were conversations, not concrete proposals. Unfortunately, I suffered a cruciate ligament injury, which significantly affected my career. In general, I had a lot of different injuries. In difficult moments, parents and friends helped.

– Which club do you think was able to maximize their potential?

“I haven’t fully revealed it yet, but I’m striving for it.” There were good moments in each team, but I was never able to show my best. These were objective and subjective reasons. I definitely didn’t say my last word.

– You are now one of the fastest players in the PFL. How do these qualities help you?

“They can’t help but help.” I always try to play to my strengths and improve from match to match.

– As far as we know, you work as a fitness trainer in your free time. Tell us about it?

– Now I’m studying for this specialty, I train a lot in the gym. I got the opportunity to work as a fitness trainer, and I enjoy it.

– What goals do you set for yourself for the near future?

— I try to work on myself and become stronger every day. I am moving forward to new heights.

BLITZ

• Born in Chernigov
• First coach – Nikolai Vasilievich Lipovoy
• Favorite club: Real Madrid
• Favorite player – impressed by the play of Bellingham and Holland. I try to take something useful from Holland’s game.
• Goal in football? I strive to play at the highest level so that I can become like Vardy in the future.

Yaroslav Krokha