Goalkeeper Heorhii Bushchan, who’s spent many years with FC Dynamo Kyiv, did a broad interview for club media after announcement of his transfer to Al Shabab FC (Saudi Arabia).
- Do you remember how old you were when you first joined Dynamo?
- Honestly, over the past few days I’ve remembered almost every day of my time at Dynamo. Of course, I remember the first day too.
- You’ve made 177 official appearances for Dynamo. Do you think it’s a lot?
- I don’t. I started performing for the first team in 2017 and I think I could’ve done more.
- Do you feel as a legend of the club?
- I guess I’ve got a certain reputation. Time will tell. I was doing my best to help Dynamo win. I love this team.
- What are you most proud of over the years?
- I’m proud I was able to prove every day on the football field that I’m worthy of playing for Dynamo, because here you have to win every day. This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life, something that has been passed down since childhood – Dynamo Kyiv must win, there is no other option for us. I’m proud I was in this club and every day I thought only about winning.
- Is there anything you regret?
- Of course there is. I guess it’s about injuries.
- You had a fierce competition with Shovkovskyi, Rudko, Koval. When it seemed you became #1, you suffered that fracture in 2018 and the club invited Denys Boiko. What motivated you to stay?
- Five years ago the level of Ukrainian Premier League was different. There was fierce competition everywhere, not only in Dynamo. Did I want to try myself an another club? I did.
I had game practice with Dynamo-2 in the First League which was a really serious level as well. Eventually my time came and I made my debut for Dynamo under the charge of Oleksandr Khatskevych.
I remember that summer training camp in Austria. We had Maksym Koval and Artur Rudko on the team. At that time I was the third or fourth goalkeeper. I was 23. So I asked the coach to let me play elsewhere and get some practice. He said he hadn’t decided who’d be the #1 keeper and asked to have patience. Fate gives you a chance you can use or not. But then that fracture happened…
- Then the competition became even more intense…
- Then Denys Boiko joined the team. I’m really thankful to him as we always kept each other fit.
- You were the life and soul of the party. Who do you leave this important position in the team to?
- What do you mean “was”? I still am. You know we have competition in this regard, so I guess Dubinchak is glad.
- Did you take any advice from teammates when you got the transfer offer?
- Andrii Yarmolenko was the first to find out. He congratulated me. So did other guys.
- Yarmolenko used to play abroad a lot including UAE. What did he tell you?
- He said I should do my job and stay as fun as I was in Dynamo.
- Dynamo have a number of good keepers – Neshcheret, Morhun, Ihnatenko. Do you think they can meet the standards you’ve set?
- I think mentally they’re ready. I wish them all the best.
- Who gets #1?
- I don’t know who’s lucky. But I must say it’s a pressure as well.
- What kind of advice can you give to Morhun and Neshcheret, who’re going to compete for the starting spot?
- There’s no need for my advice, they know it all. Mykhailo Mykhailov is doing a great job, so they know what kind of qualities they need to use.
- You’ve probably already had a talk with Mykhailo Mykhailov, who raised you…
- I got on his nerves a little. A few times I even thought they would kick me out. People think I’m always in a good mood. But I also have a temper. The guys know that when I’m not in the mood, I can say all sorts of nasty things.
Mykhailo Mykhailov supported me in my choice, and I want to thank him for also contributing to this transfer. Ihor Surkis asked him and said I should be given the opportunity to gain such experience, and that he had prepared a worthy replacement for me. You need to do a lot of work so that you have people who understand the principles of Dynamo football.
- You came to the training camp with the team and there were no preconditions for Dynamo to spend the second part of the season without you. Is that so?
- It is. Actually I came here with a different idea on my mind. I didn’t think of a transfer. Yes, I did everything to prove myself on the European stage for both the club and the national team, I expected a serious challenge, but for a goalkeeper from Ukraine, especially if you are over 25, it’s very difficult. There are regulations that create some restrictions on signing foreigners. There were clubs that admitted that it was easier for them to sign, let’s say, a Brazilian than a goalkeeper from Ukraine. If I were 20-23, things would have been different, because in that case there is time to develop. And I’m already an established goalkeeper, I have my qualities that are not going anywhere, you can only improve them.
- But you were probably getting ready for that mentally for years?
- I was for some time, but after a couple of transfers didn’t happen I told myself I would probably try to become a legend of this club.
- Transfer to which clubs were the most realistic?
- If everything had gone as it should have, Vitaliy Mykolenko and I would have gone to England together.
- They were saying Nottingham Forrest were interested in you…
- They were, but I went to Munich for a back surgery.
- How did you find out about the offer from Al Shabab?
- My agent Vadym Shablii told me.
- I’ve heard Fatih Terim, Al Shabab new gaffer, was personally interested in signing you, even back when he was in charge of Galatasaray.
- I’m not sure about Galatasaray, but I know this coach really wanted to sign me.
- Pavel Nedved, Al Shabab sporting director, was personally negotiating with Dynamo. Have you already got acquainted with him?
- The same day I found out about the possibility of this transfer we had a video call and got acquainted. It was great to meet such a person. When a kid I watched him perform for Juventus.
- Recently Al Hilal gaffer Jorge Jesus said that Saudi league is already one of the best in the world. Do you agree?
- Firstly, there are a lot of good foreign players there, and from the videos I saw, it’s a competitive league. Unfortunately, given the current realities, the Ukrainian league is now slightly inferior in level. I see great prospects, there are good strikers there, and in Saudi Arabia there will be one more good goalkeeper.
- Al Shabab are giants of Saudi football. I guess they won the league like six times, won the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup. But last time they won the title in 2012. Given your winning mentality, when asked about your main goal in moving to Al Shabab, you would probably answer that you want to help the team win the gold again. However, are you mentally ready for the fierce competition that wasn’t there in the Ukrainian league, where, objectively speaking, only Dynamo and Shakhtar are fighting for the title?
- That’s why this league is interesting. I guess this season will be tough for Al Shabab, but they’ve reached the Cup semifinal, so there’s a chance for a trophy.
- We talked about competition. Al Shabab had a #1 goalkeeper who played for many years, but now he has torn his cruciate ligaments, which is why the team is looking for a new keeper. It turns out that there will be competition here as well…
- Without competition there is no growth. So it’s great when there is competition, you are constantly in a good shape. I've always had competition throughout my career, so it’s normal.
- For your career growth the transfer to Al Shabab is a breath of fresh air. Do you think this is not the end and after Saudi Arabia you can still return to Europe?
- I think the transfer to Saudi Arabia is a chance to play with good performers. New country, new culture… It’s not every day that they sell goalkeepers over 30 for this kind of money outside top 5 leagues…
- Did you discuss your transfer with the president of the club?
- It’s always hard for him to say goodbye to Dynamo trainees who made certain contribution into development of the club. I would like to thank him for facilitating this transfer.
- Some say when people move to the Middle East they fall out of the reach of their national teams. Have you talked about it with Serhii Rebrov?
- For instance, Yannick Carrasco still plays for Belgium. I don’t see why they can’t count on me in the national team.
- Which three moments of your Dynamo career do you remember the most?
- I remember how they mocked me after my “wonderful” debut for Ukraine. After that I’m not afraid of anything. Then there was a game against Germany where I failed too, but before that I made some saves and we were behind anyway. Then we beat Spain 1:0. All keepers got sick. I conceded 9 goals in three games…
Later Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to our training ground to congratulate veterans of the club. We had administrator Vadym Kamardin. Sydorchuk asked him to tell me that I would be awarded the order along with the veterans. He just emphasized I shouldn’t tell anyone about it, and told me to prepare a speech. I couldn’t get it why I was the only one on the team to be awarded (laughing). I was so pale at the training session. I told Shaparenko about it, but he knew already and said something like: “Wow, congrats, way to go”. We were told that after the session we had time for a showed after which we would be waiting for the President. As the session finished, I rushed off the field at a light speed. Everyone was laughing. Well done, Sydor…
As for three moments I remember… I guess it’s a league title, my debut and the first day at Dynamo.
- But you aren’t saying goodbye to Dynamo, are you?. Are you considering the option of returning to play with us after Saudi Arabia?
- We don’t know what happens tomorrow. I hope this happens. Actually 31 is nothing for a goalkeeper.
- What would you like to tell Dynamo fans?
- Dear friends! I want to thank you for your support. Many people are texting me these days. I can’t answer everyone, but I really know how you feel about me. I feel it. It was a great pleasure for me to play for you. I want to thank our Armed Forces for the opportunity to play football at this time. Unfortunately, without full stands, but I believe that we will win the war. I’m not saying “goodbye”, I'm saying “see you”. I believe that we will definitely meet again. (pause, holding back tears) I thought it would be a little easier… Thank you, Dynamo fans, thank you, teammates, thank you, management. See you!
