Taras Mykhalyk was born in Lubeshiv on the 28th of October and no obstacles could prevent him from becoming a professional football player which seems to be his destiny.
His first steps towards success Taras made not in a specialized football school which did not exist in a small town the population of which numbers 5000 citizens. When Mykhalyk was a kid his father taught him some basic skills. Several years later Taras started playing for Lutsk Sports University. Still it was hardly possible for him to become a professional player. Never the less we know it is impossible to escape fate. Once the CSCA Kyiv representative spotted this uncompromising defender, who was 17 years old at that time.
School of life in the capital
At first Mykhalyk’s life in Kyiv was rather tough. As he says, it was a good school of life. Playing for CSCA he did no get big salary as young players in Dynamo do. Still Taras worked hard and played well as right half-back. CSCA head coach Vasyl Evseev even made him the team captain.
Mykhalyk also played for Ukraine military forces team. In 2005 he was offered to play in Ukrainian Premier League for FC Zakarpatia Uzhhorod. He made 18 appearances for this team and scored 3 goals playing as halfback.
The dream which came true
Being 22 years old Taras got an offer from Dynamo Kyiv! Here is what Mykhalyk says about it: “It was my dream to play for the White-Blues. At home we had only 4 TV channels and I watched Dynamo euro cups matches. I always imagined myself wearing the jersey of this great club.”
In December 2005 Dynamo president Ihor Surkis called Mykhalyk and offered him to try himself in the most titled football club of Ukraine. It was a great chance and Taras did not wand to lose it because some 6 years ago he was happy just to come to Kyiv and to watch Dynamo game at the stadium. Anatoliy Demianenko who invited Taras to our club realized that he made a right choice at once. Mykhalyk was very hard-working and uncompromising.
After several years he spent in Dynamo Mykhalyk became much more skillful. One of his best matches took place on July 10 2007. It was Ukrainian Super Cup game against Shakhtar Donetsk. He scored 2 goals due to which Dynamo did not lose (2:2) and won the trophy in the penalty shootout.
Mykhalyk’s authority was also getting stronger. On August 18 2008 Dynamo faced Metalurh Zaporizhya. Our skipper Andriy Nesmachnyi was injured half an hour before the time. He gave the captain’s armband to Mykhalyk. Three months later Taras signed a new 5-year contract with Dynamo.
Unfortunately Taras is being injured rather often, but football is more than just a game for him and he was always coming back to play for his beloved Dynamo. Still life is a challenge and in June of 2013 Mykhalyk became a free agent. Never the less he’ll always be the true Dynamo player…
Oleh Zadernovskyi
* photo by V. Rasner
