IN MEMORY OF THE LEGENDARY
Today, April 29 of this year. Former football player and coach of Dynamo Kyiv, former coach of the Ukrainian national team, died at the age of 76
(September 19, 1948 – April 29, 2024)
After reading this bitter news on Shurikleft a comment:
29.04.2024 15:07
The kingdom of heaven, the earth with fluff, rest in peace, dear Mykhailo Ivanovich, You have left behind a bright memory of a decent Ukrainian…
Words about the decency of Fomenko, who has passed into another world, are not a figure of speech, as evidenced by his deeds and actions. I have been convinced of this more than once. I’ll give you an example from back in 2001, when Shakhtar was coached by Viktor Prokopenko, peace be upon him. My old friend wanted me to come to Donetsk and see with my own eyes the Shakhtar base, where, by his own admission, he worked to joy and, as a specialist, I received moral satisfaction like no other club where I had worked before.
In June two thousand and one, I actually arrived in Donetsk, where by that time the winner of the Ukrainian Cup, Shakhtar, met with CSKA Kyiv, led by Mikhail Fomenko. If the home team had won, Prokopenko, as they say, would have put the champions’ gold medals in the Cup, but… the match ended in a goalless draw… At the press conference, it hurt me to look at Victor, he was so upset…
“I did not keep my word given to the president of the club – to win the Cup and the championship,” he told reporters. — So I’m resigning…
“Shakhtar” in that Ukrainian championship, as they say, argued neck and neck for the championship with Dynamo Kyiv. I knew that Donetsk would happen in case of victory! – pending football holiday. True, the team of the club president prepared him and Prokopenko had nothing to do with this and even asked don’t fuss prematurely. But who will listen to GT when the president gave the command!?
I knew how much pressure was put on Mikhail Fomenko, the head of CSKA Kiev, who, as they say, was neither hot nor cold from the result of the match. After the game, shaking Misha’s hand, he told him:
– Heartiest congratulations!
– Thank you,– Fomenko answered quietly.
– And thank you…
-For what!?– He looked at me questioningly.
– For decency, dear Misha.
– How could it be otherwise!?– was his answer.
I will quote lines from the congratulations on the 70th anniversary of Mikhail Fomenko from UEFA Vice President Grigory Surkis:
After completing your active career, you began your coaching career directly next to the brilliant Lobanovsky, and ultimately proved yourself to be one of his most talented and successful followers. It was under your leadership that Dynamo Kiev won its first titles since Independence.
This is also not a figure of speech. Grigory Surkis wrote about this, having a thorough knowledge of the facts, knowing them, as they say, first-hand because at that time he was the president of the legendary club. Here are excerpts from a best-selling book about this:
Lines by Valery Lobanovsky:
«…I noticed that Misha Fomenko at the base does not part with a thick oilcloth notebook, in which he constantly writes something down. “Maybe he keeps a diary,” it flashed then. Everything became clear when this handsome black-haired guy knocked on the door of my room one day and, entering, said: “I can’t imagine myself outside of coaching after I finish playing, I would like to consult with you on this issue.»
«From the first days of our work in Dynamo Kiev, Oleg Bazilevich and I announced to the players that we are not indifferent to their future, that we would be glad to have followers in them and are ready, when necessary, to help in the work that we ourselves are doing. You can say anything in words, but we tried to infect the guys with passion, demonstrate all the pros and cons of the profession»
«In addition to the fact that we “staged” the game, rehearsed it in training, we wanted to become for the guys who were inclined and drawn to coaching, what O. A. Oshenkov, V. D. Soloviev and V. A. were for us. Maslov. We expected (and still hope to this day with new players) to convey to them the best that we can, and to stimulate them to their own search – this is the main thing. We talked about this then with Mikhail Fomenko, and I wished him every success, promising help when needed, adding that the profession of a coach requires remarkable health (you definitely need to monitor your condition), strong nerves (exhausting circumstances in our in fact there is plenty), the ability to fight, defend one’s point of view, not give up and maneuver»
And I, I suppose, according to the laws of association, involuntarily remembered that October evening of 1975, when 27-year-old Misha Fomenko – with the captain’s armband! – brought Dynamo Kiev onto the field of the current NSC Olimpiyskiy for the return match with Bayern Munich in the dispute for the Super Cup.
About this are small fragments of the chapter “The Best Club in Europe!” from my first book in my life:
Taking this opportunity, I’ll tell you about the first lines of this page. There were no journalists in the locker room. This is a strict editorial edit from those Soviet years to make it less in the first person. However, we won’t talk about that today. Let me just clarify what I wrote in the manuscript: Taking advantage of our trusting relationship with Bazilevich and Lobanovsky, immediately after the award ceremony, I entered the locker room with the team. And then, as they say, according to the text.
May 8, 1975 Kyiv, Republican Stadium. Qualifying match for the 1976 European Championship. USSR – Ireland. (2:1). In the national team of the Soviet Union 11 DYNAMO members. There is no analogue to such success of a club team in world football.
From left to right: Vladimir MUNTYAN, Vladimir TROSHKIN (September 28, 1947 – July 5, 2020)Vladimir ONISHCHENKO, Leonid BURYAK, Viktor MATVIENKO (November 9, 1948 – November 29, 2018)Oleg BLOKHIN, Vladimir VEREMEEV, Anatoly KONKOV, Mikhail FOMENKO (September 19, 1948 – April 29, 2024), Evgeniy RUDAKOV (January 2, 1942 – December 21, 2011)Viktor KOLOTOV (3 July 1949 – 3 January 2000).
Early in the morning, having learned such bitter news, I exchanged SMS with Shepel, my old friend, who played with Misha Fomenko in the same Dynamo lineup – 1974, which, let me remind you, became a crystal-golden season for them, when the Cup was won and gold medals for national champions!
– When a person leaves, I don’t know if he needs to be written about, although everyone had the opportunity to write before. I think one thing is irrefutable: the era of gifted people who knew the value of victories and appreciated their hard work in these victories is passing away!!!
As they say, neither subtract nor add. Remember them. With thanks…
Davy ARKADYEV,
April 29, 2024,
Philadelphia.
x x x
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