Serhii Smorodin: Oleksandr Babych gave me a chance, believed in me

In an exclusive interview for the club's journalists, the goalkeeping coach of women's "Kryvbas" Serhiy Smorodin talked about the beginning of his professional career in Uzbekistan, playing in "Chornomorets" and his first acquaintance with the "Kryvbas" football club.

- Tell us about the beginning of your professional career, maybe you can remember important matches for you?

- My professional career began at the age of 16, when I graduated from the Uzbek "Pakhtakor" Academy, I played for the Uzbekistan U-16 national team. We then took second place, took silver at the Asian Championship and qualified for the World Championship. There they met with the strong national teams of the Czech Republic, New Zealand and the USA (champions of their continent). At that time, no one expected us to be a big success.

But we made it to the 1/4 finals, where my team met the Uruguayan national team. We conceded the game with a score of 0:2, but nothing terrible happened, because it was also a great success for our country. For this, we received the title of masters of sports.

- How did your career develop after successful matches at the World Cup, did other clubs offer contracts?

- After this success, I was offered to play in Pakhtakor double, but I was not among the main goalkeepers, unfortunately. That's why I was loaned to Andijan. At that time, this club played in the First League of the Uzbekistan Championship, the management had ambitious goals - to reach the Higher League.

At first I came there as the third goalkeeper. In the first round, the main goalkeeper made a mistake, the coach gave the second a chance, he played and not in the best way either. After that, the coach approached me and said: "Well, Sergey, this is your chance, if you make a mistake, I don't know what will happen next!". I remember then, I went out, played confidently, thanks to the coach's support. And he helped the team to leave the First League to the Higher League.

At the end of the season, "Andizhan" met on the field with "Neftchi", the opponent was among the leaders. And after this game I was invited there. Of course, there were many nuances, arguments, because they did not want to give me away, but then everything was resolved.

- When and how did you start playing in Ukraine? Are you interested in hearing about how the colors of FC Chornomorets began to be protected?

- We came together with my wife Anastasia, by the way, she herself is from Kryvyi Rih, on vacation in Kyiv. An agent suggested that I go to the viewing of "Chornomorets". And I could not refuse such a cool offer. By the way, Oleksandr Babich was the head coach of Chornomorets at that time, and he gave me a chance, believing in me.

I remember the first game, during which I was able to show myself well and became the second goalkeeper. He worked from morning to night. Even Oleksandr Granovskyi told me, let's rest, enough training. I understood that I needed to work, then I had great ambitions. But then there were changes in management at Chornomorets, so the team changed a lot and my contract was terminated.

- Tell us about your first acquaintance with FC Kryvbas.

- After "Chornomorets", I played for a year for the Maldivian team, where I injured my back and missed more than six months due to treatment and rehabilitation. And when you miss half a year in football, almost no one needs you. I asked for viewings, but it didn't work out. Then they offered to become a coach of FC "Kryvbas-2". And in 2021, Artem Gagarin called with an offer to train the goalkeepers of the Kryvbasa women's team.

I am happy here! At that moment I felt cool emotions, I can't put them into words. Working at ZhFC "Kryvbas" is adrenaline. The girls just need to be motivated, they are always ready to go out on the field. It is necessary to constantly talk with them, they understand everything. After all, they are young, they do everything correctly in the training process.

Press service of women's FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih