We are a young promising team
Monday, December 26, 2022
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Shakhtar women’s team captain Viktoriia Holovach summed up the first part of the season in the Vyshcha League
– Think about the beginning of the season, how did the preparation for the championship go?
– There was a traditional training camp. Of course, it was not easy because we all had different levels of readiness. Someone has trained individually, the other ones played in Europe. At the beginning of war, it was scary and no one understood how everything is going to be in the future. We have faced strong teams already in the first rounds. After that, we had easier opponents, but the matches were uncompromising and we had to fight for every three points and show our mettle. I am happy that we went on vacation in the third spot.
– Would it be easier for the team to enter the season with different schedule?
– If matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas had been played at the end of the stage, maybe we wouldn’t have made such mistakes from the first rounds. In the opening matches, we faced the opponents who play faster and it was hard for us to reorganize. I am not saying that we would definitely win, but there would be no losses with such a high score for sure.
– How did a large number of newcomers affect the play structure? Did new players adapt quickly to Shakhtar’s playing style?
– Yes, our team did change very much after the previous season. New promising footballers came, and clearly, it is hard to control the game with such team. We were not able to make many substitutions in most of the matches, so the girls played good during the first six months. However, undoubtedly, we need strengthening with experienced players for the second stage.
– Was it tough to switch to competitive struggle in the Vyshcha League after high-score victories in every round in the First League?
– I have played already in the Vyshcha League, we claimed high-score wins performing for Zhytlobud-2. It is more interesting for me to have continues battle with the opponents. And it was important to experience the First League, not so much for me, but for the team. The footballers had to feel each other and develop a line-up because it would be difficult to enter the Vyshcha League at once.
– You spent a lot of time recovering from injury in the previous season. Are the current results determined by the high level of motivation during preparation?
– Yes, I had an unpleasant injury and long-time recovery. Marlos had similar problem and now Shved, I think, treated such injury as well. Then the war has begun and I even didn’t have the time to understand whether I have recovered or not. It was morally difficult, but this falling happened to make me better.
– You became the team captain this season.
– I will not say that I accepted the captain’s armband with surprise. It was given to me by the coach who I have known for a very long time, so the decision was taken. There were no many options among experienced players, probably, me and Lyubov Mokhnach would be able to take such responsibility. There are also Inha Mostova and Tetiana Vyshnevska, but these girls just joined the team recently. Mr. Zaiev has already entrusted me with this role in U17 team. Of course, there are nuances in the captain role, but I try to adapt.
– Did you have to motivate the team? Did you, maybe, cheered them up during the break?
– Usually, the coach is talking during the break, but I could add something. I talked to the team often at the last matches. I remember that one of the girls even asked me to say something in the dressing room. If I feel that it is necessary and I have the proper words, then I try to support the team.
– What made it possible to win in the closing matches of the first stage as they were played against the direct competitors?
– I think this success formed the final result. We talked a lot about these matches, prepared thoroughly, analysed the opponents. The coach also said that many things will depend on these games and it is very important to win when we are fighting point-for-point.
– How did the team manage the loads under condition of staff shortage?
– I can say that only the first two games were difficult for me personally and then I got into shape. We were physically ready and did not get flat in any of the matches. Yes, they beat us in the first rounds, but then we didn’t lose to anyone in this component thanks to a large amount of running work.
– You appeared as a left halfback at the end of the season. Is this something new for you and how useful is such experience?
– I have already played in this position, but mainly in the centre or below the forward. You have to get used to any position, but if the coach saw me there, then it should be done. Most of my goals were scored exactly from this position because I mostly finished attacks acting from the deep. However, the difficulty was in the fact that 60-70 percent of attacks of the team were organized on the right wing.
– Under what conditions Shakhtar will be able to impose a fight on the leaders in the second stage?
– If we recall the first Cup meeting with Vorskla, we can see that not everything was so obvious. If Molodiuk had scored, it is not known how everything would have turned out. You can face any rival. It would be nice to improve in strength; also, we have what to work on. I think we have all the chances to take scores from Vorskla and Kryvbas. FC Shakhtar has a young promising team, debuting in the Vyshcha League and demonstrating very solid results.
– There was a traditional training camp. Of course, it was not easy because we all had different levels of readiness. Someone has trained individually, the other ones played in Europe. At the beginning of war, it was scary and no one understood how everything is going to be in the future. We have faced strong teams already in the first rounds. After that, we had easier opponents, but the matches were uncompromising and we had to fight for every three points and show our mettle. I am happy that we went on vacation in the third spot.
– Would it be easier for the team to enter the season with different schedule?
– If matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas had been played at the end of the stage, maybe we wouldn’t have made such mistakes from the first rounds. In the opening matches, we faced the opponents who play faster and it was hard for us to reorganize. I am not saying that we would definitely win, but there would be no losses with such a high score for sure.
– How did a large number of newcomers affect the play structure? Did new players adapt quickly to Shakhtar’s playing style?
– Yes, our team did change very much after the previous season. New promising footballers came, and clearly, it is hard to control the game with such team. We were not able to make many substitutions in most of the matches, so the girls played good during the first six months. However, undoubtedly, we need strengthening with experienced players for the second stage.
– Was it tough to switch to competitive struggle in the Vyshcha League after high-score victories in every round in the First League?
– I have played already in the Vyshcha League, we claimed high-score wins performing for Zhytlobud-2. It is more interesting for me to have continues battle with the opponents. And it was important to experience the First League, not so much for me, but for the team. The footballers had to feel each other and develop a line-up because it would be difficult to enter the Vyshcha League at once.
– You spent a lot of time recovering from injury in the previous season. Are the current results determined by the high level of motivation during preparation?
– Yes, I had an unpleasant injury and long-time recovery. Marlos had similar problem and now Shved, I think, treated such injury as well. Then the war has begun and I even didn’t have the time to understand whether I have recovered or not. It was morally difficult, but this falling happened to make me better.
– You became the team captain this season.
– I will not say that I accepted the captain’s armband with surprise. It was given to me by the coach who I have known for a very long time, so the decision was taken. There were no many options among experienced players, probably, me and Lyubov Mokhnach would be able to take such responsibility. There are also Inha Mostova and Tetiana Vyshnevska, but these girls just joined the team recently. Mr. Zaiev has already entrusted me with this role in U17 team. Of course, there are nuances in the captain role, but I try to adapt.
– Did you have to motivate the team? Did you, maybe, cheered them up during the break?
– Usually, the coach is talking during the break, but I could add something. I talked to the team often at the last matches. I remember that one of the girls even asked me to say something in the dressing room. If I feel that it is necessary and I have the proper words, then I try to support the team.
– What made it possible to win in the closing matches of the first stage as they were played against the direct competitors?
– I think this success formed the final result. We talked a lot about these matches, prepared thoroughly, analysed the opponents. The coach also said that many things will depend on these games and it is very important to win when we are fighting point-for-point.
– How did the team manage the loads under condition of staff shortage?
– I can say that only the first two games were difficult for me personally and then I got into shape. We were physically ready and did not get flat in any of the matches. Yes, they beat us in the first rounds, but then we didn’t lose to anyone in this component thanks to a large amount of running work.
– You appeared as a left halfback at the end of the season. Is this something new for you and how useful is such experience?
– I have already played in this position, but mainly in the centre or below the forward. You have to get used to any position, but if the coach saw me there, then it should be done. Most of my goals were scored exactly from this position because I mostly finished attacks acting from the deep. However, the difficulty was in the fact that 60-70 percent of attacks of the team were organized on the right wing.
– Under what conditions Shakhtar will be able to impose a fight on the leaders in the second stage?
– If we recall the first Cup meeting with Vorskla, we can see that not everything was so obvious. If Molodiuk had scored, it is not known how everything would have turned out. You can face any rival. It would be nice to improve in strength; also, we have what to work on. I think we have all the chances to take scores from Vorskla and Kryvbas. FC Shakhtar has a young promising team, debuting in the Vyshcha League and demonstrating very solid results.