Having got the award from club’s official website he thanked his admirers first of all.
- I want to thank my fans for such recognition. It will be a kind of incitement for me to keep on working hard.
“MANY THANKS TO GAZZAEV!”
- How difficult was it for you to become Dynamo first team regular? Is there anyone you’d like to thank in particular?
- It was difficult as Semin didn’t let young players take the field often. We wanted to play on loan for some other team, but older people asked us to be patient. I’m thankful to Valeriy Gazzaev who believed in me and let me play. I don’t know what could have happened to me but for him.
- Which coach is the most “native” to you?
- I was lucky to work with great specialists since football school. My first coach was Mykola Lypovyi. Then it was Viktor Lazarenko. I still communicate with him. He helps me organize different football competitions in Chernihiv. As I played for FC Desna Chernihiv my coach was Tomakh. In Dynamo-2 I played under Kalytvyntsev and Lytovchenko. They’ve learned me a lot. Semin, Gazzaev and Blokhin are great coaches. I’m glad that I worked with all of these specialists.
- Being a kid you played for FC Yunist Chernihiv. Why did you choose this team? And do you still follow Chernihiv football?
- That was my first football school. I chose it as we leaved nearby. I still follow it. I have a lot of acquaintances there, my coaches still work there. I try to visit them when I have time. I also have a lot of friends from this school.
- You have even organized a football competition in Chernihiv…
- My ex-coach helps me with organization a lot. Being a kid I always waited for such competitions impatiently. I remember every game and every goal I scored. And I want children also have such remembrances.
- How did your relations with childhood friends change as you moved to Kyiv?
- Those guys I studied with are still my best friends. We still communicate. You’d better ask them whether I’ve changed. They say I have not (smiling).
- Tell about your way from a humble Polisya player to FC Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine national team first team regular?
- I think hard work played the most important role. One should never stop developing his skills. Of course it wasn’t always easy. Sometimes I had just to be patient.
“I REMEMBER EVERY GAME FOR DYNAMO”
- What is more important to you: your personal career or your club’s success?
- I think these two notions are inseparable. If the team wins its players become admirable. That’s why team’s results must be the top priority.
- Can you imagine yourself playing as centre forward?
- I used to be a centre forward until Valeriy Gazzaev made me play as winger. I also played as striker when Semin came back to Dynamo. So that’s not a problem for me.
- Who are your true friends among Dynamo players?
- I guess it is Maxym Koval. It often happens that my friends leave the team, like Zozulia or Moroziuk for example. But still many good friends are still in Kyiv. For example Kichak who plays for Dynamo-2. I also communicate with Artem Milevskyi.
- Which games for Dynamo and Ukraine national team are the most memorable for you?
- I remember every game for Dynamo. It’s difficult to choose one. I hope it is still yet to come. As for the national side games – the most memorable one was our first Euro-2012 match. It’s difficult to express what I felt that day.
- What does the notion “Dynamo heart” mean to you?
- I grew up watching Dynamo’s games. Everyone supports this team in Chernihiv. My dream was to play for the White and Blues. And as I’m here now I have no right to relax. I must work on to glorify Dynamo like Shevchenko, Rebrov, Shovkovskyi and other players did.
- Against which player was it difficult for you to act?
- In Ukrainian Premier League it’s possible to play against everyone. Speaking about all players I faced in general – it is Dani Alves.
- Is the team unified enough to finish second this season?
- Our team is always unified. We have no problems with each other both during training sessions and in everyday life. We always support each other.
- Was it difficult to watch Dynamo’s last game against Karpaty Lviv as a spectator?
- It was very difficult. I watched the game at home with my wife. She laughed a lot as I was very emotional. It was very unusual to her.
- How do you feel being the leader of the team?
- I can’t say that I’m a leader of the team. That’s up to fans to decide. I just try to play as well as I can.
- The runner-up is likely to be defined in Dynamo’s face-to-face games against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Metalist Kharkiv…
- I also think so. That’s fair as for me. For example if we lose against Dnipro and Metalist (of course I hope that won’t happen) but still finish second, that won’t satisfy anyone.
- Can Dynamo win the Ukrainian Premier League next season?
- Of course we can. First place is my only aim.
“I WOULD HAVE SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS FOR MY FAMILY”
- Do you speak about football with your father? And how often do you visit your parents?
- Sometimes we speak about football but my mother doesn’t like that. She knows that sometimes I should just spend time with family not thinking of football.
- Do you exchange jerseys with other players? And which one is the most precious one in your collection?
- Actually I don’t collect jerseys. They are not important to me.
- Does your wife attend Dynamo’s games?
- She attends every home match and supports Dynamo.
- Where do you like to spend your vacation? Where did you spend the last one?
- I have no favourite country. This year we were in the USA and enjoyed staying there. There are a lot of kinds of entertainment. For example I visited NBA games. It was awesome!
- What would you spend a million dollars for?
- If I earn such amount of money I would spend it for my family.
- Are you self-critical?
- I think I am. Sometimes this trait of character is useful. First of all one should pay attention to his own mistakes.
- What teams do you play for on Play Station?
- I play for different teams. I like FIFA for Play Station very much.
- How do you choose boots? Why Nike and not Adidas?
- I tried a lot of boots. These are the best for me.
- What animal do you associate yourself with? What animal would you choose as Dynamo mascot?
- Let fans choose a mascot. Players are aggressive on the pitch so they should pay attention to such animals.
- Do you have any pets?
- We have a Yorkshire terrier. I also have a cat. I called our dog Leo in honor of Messi and our cat Ronni – in honor of Ronaldinho (smiling).
- What’s your favourite place in Kyiv?
- I think it’s my home.
- Would you like to have another profession someday? Doctor for example?
- Doctor? Definitely no. I always wanted to play football and I’m happy that it’s my profession.
“NOT TO WATCH THE CHAMIONS LEAGUE FINAL BUT TO TAKE PART IN IT!”
- What’s your favorite football club outside Ukraine?
- I watch football a lot, but I have no some particular favorite team.
- What do you think of Real Madrid’s and Milan’s interest towards you?
- I don’t pay attention to such rumors any more. My contract with Dynamo will be valid for almost two more years. First of all I want to achieve something with this team. Of course every player wants to gain experience playing in top leagues of Europe. We’ll see…
- What’s your attitude to the idea of Commonwealth of Independent States league?
- I like this idea, it might be interesting. But still some problems occur. We can’t let football stay only in 4-5 cities of Ukraine.
- Whom do you dedicate goals to?
- I thank God for a chance to score. And all goals I dedicate to my family of course.
- Are you superstitious?
- No, I’m not.
- Andriy, what would your three wishes be if you had Alladin’s magic lamp?
- I think I would have used two wishes and after that I would have asked the lamp to give me three more wishes (laughing).
- What are your plans for future? What do you want to achieve playing for Dynamo?
- I’d like to win the UPL firs of all. And I want to take part in the Champions League final but not to watch it on TV.
Dynamo official website would like to thank all fans who sent their questions to Andriy Yarmolenko. We hope you will be active choosing the best player in April. You will have a chance to ask winner your question and get a present from him! Take part and win!
* interview by Oleh Zadernovskyi, photos by Volodymyr Rasner
