Sport Arena, together with the PFL, determines the best players in each round. In the 10th round of the Second League 2024/25 this is Alexandria-2 winger Yaroslav Bazaev, this time playing as a defender
This is a vibrant tour and it has many heroes. Isn’t Orinchak’s next double worth attention, thanks to which Probiy beat another debutant in the competition – SK Olkhovtsy? And the remarkable solo performance of young Botskiv, who successfully replaced the main forward of Rukh-2 and scored two goals against Uzhgorod? Are there many other strong players?
But the PFL and Sport Arena jury had their own arguments in favor of our choice. Firstly, the newcomer of the Second League, FC Alexandria, defeated the rating favorite of the season – Gornyak-Sport, which had been playing at a higher level for 10 years and retained its main features of its first-league squad. Secondly, a young player scored a double for the team, playing his debut full season among adults. Thirdly, he scored two goals while playing as a flanker. Wingback, as it is fashionable to say now.
The hero of the tenth round, Yaroslav Bazaev, shared in an interview with Sport Arena his impressions of the team’s victory over Gornyak-Sport, spoke about the work of his team’s coach, and also noted the team’s ambitions.
– Yaroslav, FC Alexandria-2 defeated an opponent who had recently played at a higher level. You scored both goals while playing lower on the wing. What are your impressions from this match?
– It’s great that everything worked out in our favor in Alexandria. Gornyk-Sport was a good irritant for us, and I’m glad that, along with everyone else, I was recognized as the best in the Second League tour. It’s inspiring.
– Already in the opening of the match you converted a penalty and opened the scoring. How do you have such composure at 20 years old?
– I don’t feel any pressure. The coach and the team trust me to take penalties. I work on this element of football in training, hone my shots and transfer everything to the game.
– You made your debut in adult football on November 6, 2023, in a lost (0:1) match against Dnepr-1…
– This is the most memorable day in my career, which I will remember for a long time. Not much time has passed since that day, I hope my level will continue to grow from game to game. And there will still be plenty of memorable matches.
– What is Viktor Bytsyura’s coaching philosophy? The coach only took over your team in the summer.
– We are now at the top of the table in our group. And this is important. I think the philosophy is very simple. The coach’s task is to educate us as players for the first team. And now we enjoy football, everything works out for us. The players are progressing, and I feel progress too. But there is still a lot, a lot of work ahead.
– In stoppage time before the first half, after Galoyan’s pass, you again brought your team ahead. Are such fast attacks the trump card of Alexandria-2?
– I won’t reveal all our trump cards (smiles). But yes, this includes quick attacks.
– Does the captain’s armband help you or, on the contrary, add excessive responsibility?
– Yes, this is, first of all, a great responsibility to partners, to oneself. But when I go out on the field, I understand that I have to encourage the guys when something doesn’t work out. But we are a team, a friendly team and we always help each other.
– Alexandria-2 has not lost three matches in a row. Are you in your best shape now?
– Our team is in good shape now. But there is room to grow and progress, I believe that everything will be fine for us.
– With what expectations did you approach the match against Gornyak-Sport, which had a solid undefeated streak before this round? What did the coaching staff focus on?
“The coaches prepared us for a difficult match, for fighting on every inch of the field. In the standings we were only a point behind Gornyak-Sport and this was exciting. And we needed this victory more than ever.
– Alexandria-2 takes third place in Group B. What goals do you set for yourself for this season?
– There are no global goals, but we all strive to grow to the level of the first team. And this is the most important thing for us.
BLITZ
- Born in the Kharkov region, in the city of Balakleya
- I am a graduate of the Olympic College. Ivan Poddubny in Kyiv
- As a child, my first coach was Viktor Konstantinovich Sobkiv. And from the age of 12 in college he trained with Dmitry Anatolyevich Semchuk
- I support Real Madrid
- I like Ronaldo’s game
- Of course, I dream of playing at a high level – in the Champions League or Europa League. My dream is to get into the Ukrainian national team. And I believe that it will become reality
Yaroslav Krokha
Source: Sportarena
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
