The “Football-hockey” newspaper, publication № 16 (May, 13th)

The Nizhny Novgorod “Football-Hockey-NN” sports newspaper has being published since 1994 and covers the most significant events in the world of football and hockey of Nizhny Novgorod region. And the life of the mini-football community of our region is no exception.  The success of our teams, interesting matches, which were ended with victory of Nizhny Novgorod residents – the whole page of the newspaper is devoted to mini-football. In the April issue the “Football-hockey-NN” newspaper has placed the article about achievements of a mini-football team of the “Berkut” sports club – “On a wave of success” – the interview with Director of the “Berkut” sports club Vladislav Gordeev:

“The inter-regional Football Union “Privolzhie” championship on mini-football among men’s teams came to an end, which was held within the first amateur league of Russia. Six teams took part in the regional competitions last season, including “Berkut” from Nizhny Novgorod, which eventually finished second.

We asked one of the team founders Vladislav Gordeev to tell about silver success:

• Our team was formed in 2006 consisting of employees of the “Berkut” security company, in which I have been working for more than 15 years. As I remember, the first training took place in the “Nizhfarm” sports hall. And there the idea of participating in the official tournament – the Cup of season closing – appeared. We haven’t won some laurels there, but a very strong desire to improve our skills arose. And the question about searching for a coach became relevant immediately. As we know, progress doesn’t happen without permanent training.

 - Did your choice fell straight on Alexander Ivanovich Prosvirnov?

 - Yes, and I’m absolutely sure, that we were not mistaken. Alexander Ivanovich devoted almost all his life to mini-football, played for the “Krona” team, was involved even in the national team of the Soviet Union, so his experience is above price. He helped the team to make further sports growth.

 - As we know, you still have not made a single step back?

 - It’s true. In the 2006/2007 season we ranked fourth in the third urban League, and the next year we were already the fourth in the second, received the Cup of progress from the organizers. In this period two young students of the Polytechnic, invited by Prosvirnov, - Ivan Leontiev and Alexey Chegolin, - discovered their abilities in the team. And in the season of 2008/2009 we won in the second League (a regular part) and came in the first, where we spent the next two seasons, showing seventh and sixth results respectively.

It allowed to come to the Premier League, in which we thoroughly prepared to debut, strengthening the structure, in particular, by Dmitry Shishulin and Alexander Kubyshkin, well known for their activities in the “Football-Hockey-NN” mini-football team. And since the second round Dmitry Dmitriev from VTG was added. In general the debut was a success: the team won the second place, yielded only to the “Bureau – K” team. And in the season of 2012/2013 “Berkut” was already the second in the Premier League! And again new names appeared in the team: Smorodin, Kirillov, Adyasov…

• How did the team become among the championship participants of the inter-regional Football Union “Privolzhie”?  
• Becoming vice-champions, we got an offer from the organizer of the competition in the “Volga region” zone – Sergey Alexandrovich Leontiev. And with the support of the head of “Berkut” Pavel Vladlenovich Kovalev, the team has reached a new level. And again - strengthening of the composition. Domakhin, Rodin, Fomenko, Yushchenko and goalkeepers Tikhonov and Rodionov were invited in the “Berkut” team.
• What goals does the management set for the team?
• Pavel Vladlenovich Kovalev always says: “We have to fight for prize-winning places. I’m not interested in the others”. Therefore, our team is always aimed only at victory.
• Were you afraid, that in the championship of the inter-regional Football Union “Privolzhie” you would have less victory?
• In order to try our hand, at first we broke through the Cup of the inter-regional Football Union “Privolzhie”. It was a kind of intelligence, that showed: the majority of regional teams is what we can do. And the next step up the ladder was made. Risky? Maybe, but we haven’t regretted that it has been done.
• Your team managed to collect many strong players who have already had a certain level of skills. The question is: whereby could you create one unified ensemble from the players?
• In my opinion, first of all, it is an achievement of the coach – Alexzander Ivanovich Prosvirnov. The statistics speaks for itself: 13 wins, three draws and three defeats. Moreover, we could take away points from all teams, including GTS from Saratov, which eventually won the tournament.

In my opinion, we could defeat Saratov team, but the season start was very difficult. We, the debutants, were forced to play right with our main competitors – “gazoviki” from Samara and Saratov. And in this situation it is very difficult to break through the season without point losses.

• How many players did “Berkut” involve in the championship  of the inter-regional Football Union “Privolzhie” and who  especially manifested himself?
• For the season – 17 people. And each of them made their contribution! Each has manifested himself as a mini-footballer, not for nothing the play of our team was called the most spectacular and combinational by many experts. All of us united for the sake of common success.
• Will you be able to keep the core of the silver collective until the next season?
• I think, yes. We will exert every effort for this. In late April we will hold a celebration in honors of the team, and in summer we will declare it in the summer championship, held by Artem Olegovich Andrejanov. I wish “Berkut” will keep its reputation in future – the reputation of the team aimed only at winning!”