Former Dynamo midfielder Oleksandr Khatskevich shared a story about how he called Kiev head coach Valery Lobanovsky to wish him a Happy New Year. Khatskevich, who played for Dynamo from 1996 to 2004, along with teammate Valentin Belkevich, decided to contact Lobanovsky while celebrating. Surprisingly, Lobanovsky picked up the phone immediately, leaving Khatskevich feeling nervous. However, Lobanovsky did not impose any disciplinary sanctions on him. Khatskevich also provided information about his own career, including his time as a coach for Dynamo and the Ukrainian national team.
Former Dynamo midfielder Oleksandr Khatskevich told the story of how he personally called Kiev head coach Valery Lobanovsky to wish him a Happy New Year.
Alexander Khatskevich played for Dynamo from 1996 to 2004. Legendary Ukrainian coach Valery Lobanovsky led the Kiev team from 1997 to 2002.
The Belarusian midfielder recalled the story of how he, together with teammate Valentin Belkevich, congratulated his mentor on the New Year.
“On December 31, Valik and I started celebrating the New Year early and decided to contact Lobanovsky. Belkevich is more cunning, he says “You call.” I said: “No question.” Alcohol plays there, you don’t feel any barriers,” said Khatskevich.
Alexander did not expect that Valery Vasilyevich would immediately pick up the phone.
“When you need to talk to Vasilyevich, you make a phone call, and his wife Ada Pankratievna picks up the phone. And then she picks it up right away. And then all the alcohol is gone.
He said, “I heard.” And that’s it, I’m already whiter than a napkin. I said: “Can Valera?” He replied: “Sasha, I hear you.” I said: “Vasilyevich, Happy New Year,” Khatskevich recalled.
Lobanovsky did not impose any disciplinary sanctions on Khatskevich.
“And I’m already not happy with the New Year, because on January 2 I had to go to training. I do not want. And he though it seemed like nothing happened, everything was professional.
Maybe after that they started sending me to Dynamo-2 every spring after training, but then there was nothing,” said Khatskevich on the SportArena YouTube channel.
Alexander Khatskevich. Photo: Google
- The 49-year-old Khatskevich played 216 games for Dynamo, where he scored 36 goals.
- Oleksandr worked in the Kyiv club system from 2010 to 2014 and led the White-Blues first team from 2017 to 2019.
- The specialist won two Ukrainian Super Cups as coach of Dynamo (2019, 2020).
- From 2010 to 2011, Khatskevich worked in the coaching staff of the Ukrainian national team. The mentor was an assistant to Yuri Kalitvintsev and Miron Markevich.
- Belkevich played for Dynamo from 1996 to 2008. Valentin died in 2014 at the age of 41.
Read also: “I had several offers from Poland, but…”: Khatskevich could not find a job because of his Belarusian passport
