Interview with a Coach
13.10.2016
The coach Oleg Leontiev told in an interview about the life of the handball team “ZTR-Burevestnik (Luhansk region)” after the forced evacuation.
The dynamic game, in which you need to make quick decisions, is handball. The date of inception of the sports game with the ball is considered 1898, and our university began to play it since 1961. That year was created the handball team of LTSNU “Burevestnik”. Due to the hostilities in the territory of Luhansk, the club had to start all over again. The team’s coach Oleg Leontiev told about the experienced emergency evacuation and developing of the team.
- Oleg Viktorovych, since the military operations on the territory of Lugansk region, you leaved the occupied Luhansk and moved to the city of Zaporizhzhya. What was the fate of the team? Were you able to recover its composition?
Yes, indeed, I had to leave Luhansk. Unfortunately, we could not be save the team composition that we had before the war. Some guys left for other countries, someone graduated and left the team composition, but there are others who moved in Kiev and continued handball career. To date, the current team is mainly formed of Zaporizhzhya boys.
- “ZTR-Burevestnik (Luhansk region),” what is the reason for this team name?
In 2015, negotiations were held between the presidents of the two clubs, “Burevestnik”, which is headed by O.I. Babichev and “ZTR” (director -. S.N. Ivanisov. Then it was decided for the team “ZTR-Burevestnik (Luhansk region)” to participate in the Championship of Ukraine among men’s teams (Super League).
- Are there any players in the team who played in the “Luhansk Burevestnik”?
Last year, were five players. At the moment only two persons of the old structure remained. It has nothing to do with the events that are now taking place in Donbas, the players just graduated from the university and left. By the way, one of the team players Ilya Gabora – the student of the Educational and Research Institute of Physical Education and Sports volunteered for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Now he is in the zone of the ATO.
- Where the team plays? Where to ride? Is the game in Luhansk scheduled?
Now we are playing in the territory of Ukraine, in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. We have a good base in Severodonetsk. But, unfortunately, in the nearest future we will not play there for many reasons.
- Are there financing today? Who helps?
Two structures including “ZTR” and the Regional Department of Youth and Sports of the Regional State Administration, the head of which is Anton Volohov, provide financial assistance. It is nice that they are helping us, and do not forget about the existence of our team.
- What was the new season for the team?
Unfortunately, the new season began with the sad news – the Honored Coach of Ukraine Gennady Y. Maksimov died. For many years, he worked as a coach of the team “Burevestnik” and did much for the development of handball in Luhansk.
This season we have already played six games. We have three victories and three defeats. However, the season is long and it is too early to make any conclusions.
- Oleg Viktorovych, what goals and challenges facing players in this season? What are your plans for the future?
You know, we have a young team. Last year, the team won V place in Ukraine from 8 teams, and this is a good result. It is hard to fight for the first and second places, but we did not give up going. The players are determined to win!
This year, three handball players went to study at the Educational and Research Institute of Physical Education and Sports. If in 2-3 years we have team of new players and create a large bone, then we will be able to talk with the administration of the team that would be sponsored by and in the city of Kreminna. But it should be fully funded, because it is very different expenses.
Irina Bakhmet, press center of LTSNU
