This time we’ll focus on defender Zurab Ochigava, who made his first UPL appearance for FC Dynamo Kyiv in domestic game against FC Dnipro.
His first youth team was Leader from Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. Later he joined FC Illichivets Mariupol and made his debut for this club on September 20 2014 in the match against FC Metalurh Donetsk (0:3). The following season Ochigava started in Kyiv – with Dynamo-2.
Still Zurab performed for Vadym Yevtushenko’s men only in the first part of 2015/16 season (16 matches, 1440 minutes, 1 goal, 6 yellow cards, 1 red card). In spring he featured for Dynamo U-21 (9 matches, 1 yellow card) and won the Ukrainian U-21 League with his teammates.
Ochigava described his first season in white-blue shirt as follows: “In the First League there are a lot of performers, who used to play in Premier League. Still there are experienced players in the U-21 League too”.
At the recent training camp in Austria Zurab worked with the main squad under the charge of Serhiy Rebrov and took the field in each of six sparrings.
- Main squad training process is very interesting. As for my position on the pitch, I played as centre back.
Dynamo U-21 and Ochigava started current season with victory against FC Oleksandria youngsters (1:0). After that he scored the decider against FC Karpaty Lviv reservists and was included into the main squad players’ list for the following game.
18 minutes into the match against FC Dnipro Zurab substituted injured Domagoj Vida. He defended perfectly and moved forward when Dynamo attacked.
Like a true philosopher, before his debut Ochigava stated: “I must do my job and fulfill my duties on the field. Serhiy Rebrov tells me what I should work on and I try to do that. Player can make headway only what it’s hard. I have what to learn from teammates”.
Oleh Zadernovskyi
Copyright © FC Dynamo Kyiv
* photo by S. Rasner
