The Leather Ball is the first step to big football. What lives the team that became the winner of the most massive tournament

“For a long time this was not: even if not in the top league, but at our level Borisov is a champion!” – without hiding pride for his guys, said after the end of the final match of the Leather Ball, the coach of the CSTDIM team of the Borisov district Alexander Zhuikov. It is difficult to describe the emotions that were boiling on the field in those moments: the guys, like their coach, could not hold back tears. In the decisive match in the older age group, the Borisovites conceded to the Chalices 0: 2, but after they got one goal, and in the last minutes they equalized the score. Then there was a penalty shootout, which, the coach admits, could not watch - turned away. Soon he heard the joyful cries of his guys: they beat the opponent and did what they were going to for many years – became champions. The victory was celebrated together with the fans: it seems that half of the spectators who watched the game from the stands poured out on the field! We visited the guys a few weeks after the triumph to find out what these ordinary Belarusian boys live now, when Leather Ball has become a bright page in the album of memories.

https://vk.ru/presidentsportclub The journey from Minsk to Borisov takes about an hour. Parked near the football fields on Vatutin Street, we pay attention to the bright graffiti – “Since childhood for BATE”. With a conversation about the district center and begin a conversation with Alexander Zhuikov.

- I am not from Borisov, from Mogilev region, Kruglyansky district. I moved here in 2001. He studied in Zhodino, was engaged in all-around GTO (I am a three-time champion of Belarus, became the fifth in the scale of the USSR), played football. Alexander Zakharchenko, at that time the vice-president of BATE, whom he often met on the field, offered to stay in Borisov as a coach. But I didn't come to BATE - to DUSH.

Alexander Zhuikov. In those years that Alexander Vladimirovich worked in the DYUSSH, many players passed through him. For example, Pavel Pashevich, Nikita Supranovich, Nikita Kerolidi and Denis Miloshevsky, Igor Monich, Andrei Bogush, Vyacheslav Shatrava, Evgeny Azersky, Valery Marov, Roman Zhuravkin, Roman Anashkin, Nikita Zakrevsky, Evgeny Chichev, Alina Kozhuhar, Maria Chinkina (the coach’s teams have always had girls) and other players.

- There were times when five of my guys played in the Belarusian youth team in 2001 - I was very proud! And after a while you look – from the set one or two remain in football, the rest are lost

But the main reason why Alexander Zhuikov decided to go from professional football to amateur football, in another.

“Dyuschka” is “dyuschka”: there you need victories, results – all for their sake. And in amateur football, the game is fun. Working with children is also a pleasure for me. The main thing is to teach them to play football, to make them want to come to training. At some point, I realized that my job at school was not mine. Here I found inspiration: I want to play and achieve. So I have no regrets, the coach admits. – Once Yuri Fedorovich Mokhov, a famous goalkeeper and teacher, asked: “What is the most important thing for a coach in football?” Someone said that patriotism, someone - that love of football. The main thing is that the coach has a fire in his eyes. It doesn't matter if he's 30 or 70. As they say, those who want will find opportunities, those who do not want will find reasons.

https://vk.ru/presidentsportclub One team on Vatutin several football fields at once, and life is boiling on them. On the day when we looked at the team of the TsTDim Borisov district for training, the guys from the DYUSSH trained at those located below. On the upper field are the wards of Alexander Zhuykov and his colleague Ilya Kryakushin. By the way, three guys from his team strengthened the composition of the winners of the Leather Ball before the final. Looking at how the boys play square, we discuss the latest trends with Alexander Vladimirovich.

- Yeah, the kids are different today. The amount of information is growing, everyone has gadgets. Of course, the guys want to play on the phone, but my requirements are cold-blooded: if I told them to hand over their phones at nine o’clock, they will bring them, you do not have to run after anyone. They have already accustomed themselves to the fact that gadgets are in second place, - says the coach. - Despite the fact that children spend a lot of time on computers and phones, we have no problems with finding and recruiting children in groups. Recently, for example, I went to Loshnitsa - I saw 4-5 boys there, my colleague also watched a few. They offered to train, the guys said: “We are happy!” And we go to other villages - Nemanitsa, Novosady, Novoselki ... Everywhere there are physical education teachers I know who call and say, 'Come, there are players.' Not at the level of DUSH, but "Leather Ball" - for sure.

With some guys born in 2012-2013, who in a championship “released” from the “Leather Ball”, Alexander Zhuikov has been working for four years. Some pulled up a little later. During the time that they played together, the guys became a team not only on the field.

- They're very friendly. There are no singles, there are no ones who would try to stand out through some wrong actions, too. When we were younger, we used to, of course. And someone could be offended if others indulged without him (Laughs.) Football really teaches friendship. Our guys together in school, on the street, in the summer walk, go to the river. If possible, for BATE matches. Classes are skipped together, too. It happens that parents call with the words: “Alexander Vladimirovich, talk.” It's scary for kids if they're not allowed to train. Correcting grades! Competitions for children of this age are also enough. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the Borisov Cup is held, which gathers 15-16 teams. Children also meet with teams of different districts of the city, with pupils of children and youth schools from neighboring Krupok, Zhodino, Borisov.

The Leather Ball is the final tournament for them. It's a chance to prove yourself. This tournament is considered the first step in big football. Our federation always says: after him, the guys who showed themselves can get an invitation to the DYUSSH and further hone their skills. Now we plan to move on - to enter the republican competitions among young men "Talent League", where the teams of the DYUSS, clubs, for example, "Dynamo", BATE, "Minsk", "Shakhtar", "Dnipro" - we will already compare our strength with them, - Alexander Vladimirovich shares plans.

Alexander Zhuykov has no doubt that some guys can really prove themselves in big football. He sees three or four smart guys who, due to their talent and efficiency, can achieve a lot. However, names are not in a hurry to call: everything has its time. At the same time, the team of the TsTDIM Borisov district does not have their Messi and Ronaldo. The nicknames for guys who practice gears are much easier. Here's Mikhalych. One would assume that this is a patronymic, but no: the boy’s name is Maxim Viktorovich. How this nickname stuck, perhaps no one will remember, as well as the reasons why another player is called Siphon. While we talked to the coach, the guys looked at us with interest. Now is the time to meet the champions.

The goalkeeper of the team Ignat Khmelevsky is 14 years old, he is in the ninth grade. His love of football began eight years ago with Barcelona. Turning on the TV, the boy saw the match of this team and wanted to try himself in the game. It wasn’t difficult: first I played with friends and guys at school, then I got into the team. With the guys with whom he reached the championship in the Leather Ball, together for about three years. The memories of winning the tournament are still vivid, and Ignat shares them:

- The tournament was not easy, but we tried very hard since spring, from the first stages. During the qualifying matches, we knew that we would win, but when we went to the final, there was no such certainty. For me as a goalkeeper, the most difficult was the final match. At first it rained heavily and we were beaten twice. I thought we lost the game, relaxed, but tried not to get upset and encouraged the team. The guys, by the way, did not "pump" - they said: "Just play." Forget about the balls you missed.” We have a really cool atmosphere in the team. Each of the players is my friend. The closest I talk to Lesha Chernukho - we have known for a long time, probably from kindergarten. We are currently studying in parallel classes. The rest of the kids are from other schools, but we're going out to town for a walk.

Speaking of school. The final stage of the Leather Ball fell exactly on the first days of September - the beginning of the school year. Hardly any of the guys are upset about this, although Ignat says that combining study with training, which takes place 3-4 times a week, is not so difficult:

- At school, of course, you have to smell, but it’s okay: you have to be fast and fast! My parents say to me, “Go ahead and we will be happy for you.” What do I want to be? Goalkeeper. Big football is cool. Winning the Leather Ball added confidence. And when the coach said that we will be in the Talent League, the mood and motivation increased

Ignat can talk about each of the guys on his team. But after hearing the question of who is the most cheerful in it, he does not hesitate to point to Alexei Zhavrov

- As a flank player, I have to open up the defense, help in the attack, come back in defense. In terms of the game, we have a captain who “conducts” the field, prompts and guides the other guys. But in the dressing room, I can make a joke, cheer all the guys before the game and maintain the team spirit so that everyone is gathered and play well.

At first, Lesha played football in his yard - there was a field there, a lot of people gathered. Then I went to DJS, but I didn't like it. Then, recalls the boy, came to Alexander Vladimirovich. He was recruited to the team and liked it very much - he has no regrets. Now he enjoys playing himself and watching different teams and championships.

- Of course, I am for Borisov BATE - how can you not cheer for him?! Of the current composition like Egor Rusakov, Nikita Nespromny. The legend is Alexander Gleb. When I watched his games, I was impressed by the technique, the game of this footballer, the calm on the field. When it comes to football, I often watch Real Madrid. This is a high-level team – after all, they won the Champions League 15 times! I also like Manchester City – an attacking team, holds the ball well, in difficult situations, knows how to gather and score. But at the World Cup, I was a fan for Brazil - sorry, I flew out in 1/8 after losing to the Norwegians

It seems that this conversation could continue for a long time, Alexey is very fond of his favorite sport. But the boys are on the field. As he prepares to join the team, he admits:

- I can’t imagine my free time without football. I'm bored at home when there's no training. And there are no other hobbies - everything is here on this field.

For these guys, the performance in the Leather Ball is over: next year they will not be among the participants in the most massive tournament in the country. They have new tournaments and challenges ahead. But Alexander Zhuykov at the edge of the field, we will probably see: under his command, the guys of 2015 train. Winning this season for the coach, by the way, is not the first.

- We won this tournament with the boys born in 2008-2009, when they played in the younger group. By the way, then everything happened almost the same as now. We lost to Fortune 1: 3, in the last minutes we recouped, and on penalties we defeated the opponent. History repeats itself!