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Interviews with Spartacus 2000 Players, Coaches and Staff.

Interview with Spartacus 2000 Captain Alex Ivanov after the game against Aurora Stingers on November 08, 2008 where Alex scored 4 goals. Spartacus 2000 won with very impressive result 12:0.

WM: Hello Alex,our congratulations with the win.You were the captain of the team in this game.What do you feel when you wear a captain band?
Alex: Thank you.I feel good-proud of my team... and I feel more responsible for team to win.
WM: It was the second time you score 4 goals in one game. How does it feel?
Alex: Feels really good! I always aim for the goals and want to target more! And I'm also feel happy when my teammates score from my passes.
WM: Do you have a special motivation prior the game vs. Richmond Hill?
Alex: I'm confident.I know our team became stronger and playing better.I believe we will win.
WM: What is your favorite soccer team, favorite soccer player?
Alex: My favorite team without any doubts is Spartacus 2000, my favorite national team is Portugal, my favorite professional club is Manchester United . My favorite players are Christiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Ronaldinho, David Beckham.
WM:What sports other than soccer do you play?
Alex: Foot hockey because it is pretty much like soccer just we play with tennis ball.
WM:What is the most important thing for you during the game?
Alex: To play, shoot, score and win!

Recorded on Nov 10, 2008 in Richmond Hill, ON

Interview with Head Coach of Spartacus 2000 Eugene Shafronsky

WM: Hello Eugene, so far Spartacus plays very confident in the DPYSL tournament. Four games-four wins. Congratulations! But the real battles with strong teams such as Vaughan Azzurri Battlecats, Woodbridge West, Toronto Eagles, and Whitby Iroquois Gold in the near future. Can Spartacus equally compete with such physically fit teams and show the same time the elegant, full of combinations soccer that Spartacus used to play in the beginning of the tournament?

Eugene: Hello, I will adjust the team for any upcoming games in order to maximize our success, having said that we won't change our style nor game philosophy.

My goal is not to win the league, but through our hard work, which put an emphasis on individual development and game intelligence, to stay a competitive team.

There are more good teams in our league, besides those you just named, and some of them are playing similar style to ours, but, as you mentioned, some prefer more physical style, which unfortunately probably won't benefit their players in older ages.

Our ability to compete against stronger physical sides is uncertain, because in that age size and power have a huge advantage, so eventually it will depend on how physical is the opponent. Our record has no real importance, but to give me a feedback.  

 WM: I know that Spartacus is always striving to play soccer with a lot of moves, passes, crosses, switches of positions  that make game  live and entertaining rather than "kick & run or everybody to the net" style of soccer that still has a place in North American Youth Soccer. How can you keep a balance between importance of the result of the game and growing the skilful team of committed players who really enjoy playing soccer?

Eugene: As I answered in earlier, the only importance of the result is to test our development process and compare it to other programs in Ontario.

We do want to stay on top because we are winners and we might attract attention and potential players, but not at the cost of individual development and game intelligence.

My main goal is to produce good players for the local systems and make my players' dreams to come true.

I know that some are disagree, but I can't play all 15 players in one game, moreover, in some games I would be able to play maximum 10. Like any other team, not all the players are in the same level of development, therefore they receive a bit different attention.

I know that in order to develop, players must play. Our club solved this issue by putting our second team in DHSL futsal league, which is a huge opportunity for our players to increase playing time.

 WM: Many of young soccer players are wishing to be a goalie. As your personal experience of being a goalkeeper of the professional soccer team what are the main skills are essential for the goalie position?

Eugene: Well, today there are 3 main characteristics scouts are looking for (in that particular order): size, mentality and goalkeeping skills. In addition, modern goalkeeper must possess the whole set of soccer skills, such as perfect first touch and the ability to pass/kick with both feet. Also, goalkeeper must communicate with the defensive line and must have a high game intelligence.  

 WM: Eugene, from your point of view what is the perspective of growth of the competitive soccer in Canada?

Eugene: I am an optimistic person by nature, but as for today, the perspective is very low to none. Only one real professional club for the country that has the second world youth soccer enrolment after U.S. is a joke.

Although I am in that system, I know that for many clubs the main objective of enrolment is financial, rather than developmental.

We cannot change the world, but in my opinion, the development process should be done by professional clubs, because they have a genuine interest to raise good players.

Also, the local media doesn't pay real attention to the most popular game (by far from hockey) in the world.

WM: Who was your first soccer coach?

Eugene: It is a tough question. It was 23 years ago, I don't remember his name, but I remember that he was very demanding.

WM: Who is your favorite professional soccer coach? 

Eugene: Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are my favourite. They both have an amazing job in their teams and they both work in their clubs for a long time, so you can see their real influence.

 WM: From your personal experience what is the best age to start playing soccer? For boys? For girls?

Eugene: It is a very simple question: as early as possible.

Recorded on Nov 16, 2008 in Toronto,ON

Interview with Michael Vilas, Spartacus 2000 Midfielder

Interview with Amir Kerimov, Spartacus 2000 Goalkeeper

Interview with Charlie Di Noto-Spartacus 2000 Striker

Interview with Nick Ivanov- Spartacus 2000 defender

Interview with Daniel Lee- Spartacus 2000 best defensive scorer

Interview with Marco Aiello after scoring his first goal for Spartacus

Interview with Victor Lyssiakov - Spartacus 2000 defender