He dropped 44 kg, runs through 10 km per day, in 54 learned to cook.
62-summer Rafael Habibullin – founding father, director and head coach of the Gazprom-Yugra club, which with 2002 consistently performs in the Super League. And he is also one of the most charismatic people in Russian volleyball. He preaches healthy eating, drives to away matches by car and prefers to communicate directly with players without the participation of agents.
Despite greatly reduced funding, the team from Surgut consistently makes it to the playoffs. And Khabibullin maintains the reputation of a person, which revives careers, reveals no names and gives second chances. He put off a big interview with BO Sport for many years., but now it still happened.
“Plamen is the most expensive player in the history of Gazprom-Yugra”
– Rafael Talgatovic, What is your relationship with Plamen Konstantinov now?? In 2017, you called him a “gypsy horse thief”.
- There was a noise, a! (Laughs) Everyone was discussing the scandal, and Plamen and I were on friendly terms, they remained that way. It was I who dragged him to Russia as a player. Moreover, he fought for it with Alexander Yaremenko, which then formed the composition of Kaliningrad, being an agent. I gave Plamen a contract in 700 thousand euros. No one in Surgut has received so much and is unlikely to receive so much soon.
Then Konstantinov ended up in Greece, but we kept in touch, and I brought him back as a coach. He's a strong man, the smartest person, albeit with his cockroaches. But we understand each other. He doesn't drink alcohol at all, but he can’t live without coffee and cigarettes. They used to sit in my office - there was smoke, at least hang up the ax. Now I don't bully myself like that anymore, and he continues.
– Who communicates with me?, knows my figurative speech. I swear differently, and this was the image, Plamen understood me. Then he called me a people's artist. I was more emotionally affected by that story., what Gazprom-Yugra was called a parasite club. Club, who gave the country and the Russian national team so many players! "Parasite" I, probably, also because, that I am considered an opponent of agents. Actually I just prefer direct contact with the players.
– Don’t want to pay five percent?
- It's not about the money. Players bribe me, who call themselves. We are responsible to each other, without intermediaries. Such players are always my priority, though, of course, and there are contacts with agents. Many of them are quite professional, volleyball people. The same Dmitry Rezvanov is agent No. 1 now. I took him to my team in 19 years old, then he was our representative in Moscow, helped with player selection. Later he recommended him to Yuri Sapega in the Volley Service agency he created..
- By the way, Plamen is the only head coach, whom you allowed to lead the team all season.
– Although Plamen started out very difficult. My assistant Mikhail Pozdnyakov and I spent a lot of effort and nerves on it. I want to say, that Mikhail Leonidovich was a great man and coach, bright memory to him. So here, that season we took only sixth place in the East and got into the playoffs against the third team in the West - Belogorye. Lost the first match in Belgorod, won at home, and then flew with the fans on a charter to the third match. Won 3:2 and sent Belogorye to the playout. I fly into the locker room, straight to Alexey Rodichev: “How do you treat citrus fruits?? Can you divide ten lemons by twelve??». He did it. The guys deserve it.
Plamen is interesting, he can be a sweetheart and make you fall in love with him. I asked him, when we go to Nizhnevartovsk, fall in love with Sergei Savin and he succeeded. But I was counting, that Plamen will remain in Surgut, and Pavel Borsch dragged him to Nizhny Novgorod. Savin also went there., who then did not part with Plamen for ten years.
“I wanted to get Zhenya Grebennikov for the Russian national team - he didn’t mind”
– After you had Andrey Tolochko, Vadim Khamuttskikh, Boris Grebennikov.
- Tolochko couldn’t cope, although it started well. From Khamuttsky, may he rest in heaven, we have fundamental disagreements, but I won't remember them. IN 2014 year I invited Boris Grebennikov, through him I wanted to get Zhenya Grebennikov. Not so much for myself, how much for the Russian team. At that time, Zhenya was not against accepting Russian citizenship. The ransom from the German Friedrichafen cost 200 thousand euros, at that time 8 million rubles. The main question remains - citizenship. Only the federation could solve it quickly, then they weren't interested. At the end of the regular season we parted ways with Vasilievich. Let's count, that I have a difficult character and high demands. I took over control of the team - Lokomotiv passed through the quarterfinals, then in the series for bronze they lost to Dynamo.
– When Artyom Khabibullin becomes the head coach of Gazprom-Yugra?
– I have no intention of leaving him behind.. Children are our weakest points. Artyom worked as a coach at YUKIOR, but in the end I chose family. Currently coaching the Gazprom Transgaz Surgut men's work team, and his wife Lyudmila Malofeeva - female. Haven't talked to him in a while.
– Do you communicate with your son-in-law Oleg Samsonychev??
- Yes, we have a good relationship. After finishing his career, he became a businessman, sews uniforms for children's and adult sports clubs. Sometimes Gazprom-Yugra gives interest-free loans. I, by the way, once acted as his agent. On his behalf, he negotiated with Iskra general manager Andrei Belmach. Raised the contract three times.
- Seems, that you are simply afraid to entrust your brainchild to someone.
- Why?? If the coaches succeed, I trust them. for example, I like, how Alexey Rudakov works. We will see, what will happen next. I had no idea before, what does it mean to not be in the training process, not to be in the hall, don't play the game, but now I'm starting to take it more calmly.
“Fomin calls every year: "How are you, unsinkable?»
– This season you were not on the team’s coaching bench in a number of matches.. What is the reason?
– To some extent, this is a form of protest against the lack of attention to the team from the city. For thirty years we have worthily represented Surgut, but we don't see any help. Let's say, in Nizhnevartovsk the municipality allocates some funds to the team, Samotlor does not pay anything to rent the hall, he is closed for home tours, trainer rates. We have nothing.
conversely, We are the ones who regularly replenish the budgets of two municipalities. We pay for the rent of the hall to the Surgut region. Good, this year we were allowed to carry out major roof repairs to pay rent. Plus we pay the city rent 7,5 hectares of land, which at one time was allocated for the construction of a volleyball center. There is now a new mayor in Surgut, Maxim Slepov., he is also the chairman of the city volleyball federation. I really hope, that the attitude towards the team will change under him.
– Previously, you managed without the help of the city. What has changed?
– I used to be embarrassed to talk about money at all., Considering, what do we have in the name “Gazprom” and “Yugra”. But we were never chic. I remember, Yaremenko calls somehow: "Listen, need paper, that your salary fund does not exceed such and such amount". Then they wanted to set a salary cap, like in the NHL, NBA. I speak, I don’t have that much money in my salary fund, but not in the entire budget. He says: "Yes cold! Seriously? How do you live??».
Now we have four times less money, than it was before. So support from the city is a necessity. Especially, that there are appropriate means, they are allocated every year from the regional budget in accordance with the federal standard, there is no need to invent anything here. The only question is, what are they spent on?. Gazprom-Yugra is the only sports club in Surgut for Olympic team sports, super league player, at the highest level. More than twenty years! Who else to support?
We had strong support from gas generals Yuri Vazhenin and Igor Ivanov, Governor Natalya Komarova did not forget about us. Now there are different leaders at the helm. In May, Ruslan Kukharuk became the new governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, understandably, that he hasn’t gotten around to volleyball yet. In fact, the district subsidy is divided between us and Samotlor. This year 93 million per 81 million, although the costs are not comparable. Gazprom Transgaz Surgut is now headed by Oleg Vakhovsky, who helps us, comes to matches, sincerely cares about the team. But you understand, what times are these now?. Gazprom’s public reports say it all – import volumes have fallen, income too.
– Where are you in terms of budget in the Super League??
- Maybe, at one of the last. We spin and spin, we find players in the major league A, develop our youth, we revive careers, giving someone second or third chances. Dmitry Fomin calls every year: "How are you, unsinkable?». Samsonov said earlier: "I know your budget. How are you holding up in the playoff zone??». Work. With money any fool can, and try without them. I'm sure, that this year we will make it to the playoffs, we will be in the top 12. We're still winning our games. But in such a situation it is difficult to talk about any development of the club.
- IN 2021 year you said, that “Governor Komarova donated the hall and you will no longer have to pay exorbitant rent”.
– Remained at the level of promises. We were kicked and nothing has changed.
– About the construction of a new arena now, probably, and there is no talk?
- Not, of course. You see for yourself, what times. Hand on heart: without Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev we would have nothing at all in volleyball. Our Novosibirsk stone stood for ten years. Everything moved forward only thanks to the notorious World Cup. Then Sergei Tsivilev built an arena in Kemerovo, erected in other cities. This is how life works for us, that without administrative resources, nothing can be built today without the feds.
“Everyone was spinning at their temples, when I took Rajab"
- It's a shame, that oil and gas are produced in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, but Gazprom-Yugra and Samotlor are among the poorest teams in volleyball?
– Ugra is a special territory, she feeds the country with banknotes. Every fourth ruble in the budget comes from here. But the money flows through the pipes to Moscow. Unfortunately, we are also hostages of geography. here, eg, you have people living in Tatarstan, work and die in the republic. They try for themselves, for your descendants. In Ugra, in the North there are many shift workers, temporary workers. They come for a career, for the sake of money, who spend elsewhere, and dream of leaving here for warmer lands. This philosophy greatly hinders the development of the region. Our problem is also, that we are not the capital of the subject. In Khanty-Mansiysk with money, perhaps, it would be easier.
Ugra is interesting because, that a lot of things are being done here not thanks to, but contrary to. I'll tell you, that Samotlor and I are unique guys in volleyball. There were different periods in our relationship, but we definitely motivate each other. They are warriors too, they fight too. At the last Olympics, their student Artyom Volvich was on the Russian team, and the captain was our Igor Kobzar. IN 2016 Yugra residents Kobzar were at the Olympics this year, Volvich and Artyom Ermakov, as well as Konstantin Bakun, delegated by us. A third of the team!
- It turns out, There are no foreign players this season due to economic reasons.?
– Why are they needed today?? There is no direct relegation from the Super League, no one sets serious tasks for me. We have always set goals for ourselves. Today we want to develop young players. Alexander Slobodyanyuk approaches the lineup, gets more game practice, We want to put Dmitry Kurbatov on the wing. Ivan Skvortsov has been returned to the youth team for now, he needs to work on his mentality, and there is huge potential there.
There is a setter Maxim Kirillov. This is a diamond. According to the children at the sports school, he was diagonal, therefore there are technical flaws. But he has excellent physical characteristics, this is Pavel Pankov of another generation. The moment will come, when they will fight for him. But so far the young player lacks understanding, that you need to train hard, watch your weight, take care of yourself.
See, how many players are leaving us for promotion?. This is significant! The same Rajab Shakhbanmirzaev - from the Guinness Book of Records for price-quality ratio. Many were twisting at their temples, when I took it. I spoke, that it will be Surgut Andrea Sartoretti. And where are these people now?? Plamen didn’t believe it either, and in the end he took it to himself. Like Vadim Ozhiganov, who came to us as a 33-year-old setter with no experience playing in the Super League.
– For whom did you receive the largest monetary compensation??
– For Kirill Ursov – 20 million rubles, for Evgenia Andreeva – 15 millions, for Yegor Yakutin the total was 26 millions. Everyone went to Zenit St. Petersburg. In summer 2022 club director Vladimir Samsonov calls: "We need Yakutin. What is the asking price??». And before this, Gazprom cut our budget twice. I speak: «The faithful 16 millions". He said, that this is a question for Gazprom, and the club itself is ready to immediately transfer 10 million, and also give Kirill Ionov and Omar Kurbanov. Need to say, that Peter in the time of Samsonov honestly paid, we have no complaints. Then both payments went through Yakutin.
– Why did Kurbanov end up in Novosibirsk??
- Don't know. He arrived in Surgut, everything was fine. He always dreamed of playing with Rajab on the same team. We have already started processing a medical visa for him to Germany.. Then a call from St. Petersburg - they say, Omar doesn't want to play with you. I think, Lokomotiv, through the federation, asked to give the player to them, I don't see any other explanation.
- There is not enough money, but you are the only club, which still doesn't sell tickets. Could at least recoup some of the costs?.
– If you sell tickets, then you need to provide certain services. There must be access roads, parking, foyer with food courts, children's rooms. All, what is there in Novosibirsk, in Kazan, in St. Petersburg and other cities. We cannot provide all these services.. We don't have parking spaces, no foyer. The volleyball hall is cozy, but for spectators there is minimal comfort. That’s why Vazhenin and I decided at one time, that we will not collect money from viewers. That our arena will be a point of goodness, good mood. When and where we held the World League, didn't sell tickets. Mostly everything was sold through invitations.. Mikhail Podlozny came and was surprised, how we organized a stage with the participation of top teams of literally three and a half people. But that's another story, although she talks about it, how to achieve quality, with very few resources. If you need a master class on efficiency, then it's for us. And the tickets... We play for the people, they pay us with their attention.
– What is Gazprom-Yugra’s strategic goal for the next three to five years??
– Player Reveal, youth development. Our youth team is based in Khanty-Mansiysk, at the Ugra boarding college of the Olympic reserve. They have the best conditions in the country. Venues, restoration complex, medicine, studies - everything under one roof. Powerful theme. I invited Yuri Melnichuk there, Andrey Chirkov and a strong children's coach from Yekaterinburg Ivan Shangin. The three of them work successfully there. clear, that there are also difficulties with recruiting young people due to geography. We have to fight for the guys with Moscow in the person of “Dynamo” and “Fakel”, Kazan, Novosibirsk. Our contingent is beyond the Urals, in the East. There is more glamor in the West, who have a hard time in the North.
You see, everything is connected. To develop youth, we need to get her into the stands first, for volleyball lessons. To do this you need to make quality, spectacular product. There will be a product - there will be results in the form of certain places in the super league. Place is not an end in itself, but an indicator of the quality of the product, attracting young people as well. There are many, many components here, the main thing is to remove our team from this system and volleyball in Ugra will fall apart, big sport as a whole will go down the drain. We're holding him, like the Atlanteans, on your own shoulders.
“Krasikov is the most unfulfilled player”
– The most talented players, who have not reached their potential?
- Vyacheslav Rud is definitely among them. Hostage of big parents. Mom was the head of the office of Yuri Luzhkov, and his father is a representative of McDonald's in Russia. Was too full, that's why it didn't take off. But what talent was it?! More Dmitry Krasikov. The most unrealized player in my practice. Talented, smart, modest Altai boy.
– What was missing??
- He is too kind and gentle. A man goes through several tests in his life. The first is a woman, second - money, third - power or, in the case of athletes, glory. Here in the career of Denis Biryukov we see, that the woman had a positive influence on him - with the advent of a family and the birth of a child, he became responsible, motivation appeared, and he was able to fully open up. Krasikova, of course, and injuries were a big hindrance. He returned to us several times as an invalid, but our physiotherapists and chiropractors put him back on his feet. In 2021, his career was revived after a 4-year break.. Now in Israel he is jumping.
In due time, watching kids in schools, recalled Vladimir Dyachk. The boy is still before my eyes. Left hand, smart girl! A diagonal volleyball would be nice. But he was already playing basketball then, I couldn't lure him away. At one time he played for CSKA, today the executive director of the Russian Basketball Federation.
– Why didn’t you succeed in re-educating Alexey Obmochaev??
– In short, very few people can get rid of bad habits forever. May be for some period, and then they break down. He called me, when things didn’t work out for him with Ufa: “In Kuzbass I lived with Rukavishnikov, he's been buzzing my ears about your diet, about your working methods. Take!». Arrived, looked good the first time. Then I didn’t show up for one training session., to the second, didn't come to the game. Invited him to my place and said goodbye.
– You have three liberos again this season. What for?
– When Obmochaev arrived, Nagaets said: "I want to play!». And we just signed a contract with a promotion - go, work, compete with Obmochaev. Generally, everything was going that way, that we will stop cooperation. At this time, Nikita Vishnevetsky and Ilya Kirillov approached me, I agreed with them. After the end of the season, he suggested Nagaetsu leave, but he decided to stay. Injured his shoulder at the beginning of the season, and the presence of three liberos turned out to be useful.
– You also lost Ivan Korotaev. Where is he?
– We bought it in 2023 from Dynamo.. He came with a sore shoulder, stroked the ball last season. In the summer it was necessary to either have surgery, or engage in rehabilitation. He got lost for a while. We think: Well, professional - probably, is engaged, is being restored. Returns after vacation and can’t hit the ball. And he's in the last year of his contract.. They offered him treatment on the condition of extending the contract - what’s the point in restoring it for others?? As a result, he asked for two salaries and a ticket home. Don't even know, where is he now.
“If it weren’t for the meldonium theme, would take the CEV Cup"
– Nikita Alekseev is not in the Super League now either., which you gave a great makeover a couple of years ago.
– Many people dissuaded me from working with him. But I believe in people. To some extent I considered this a challenge. He came to us in April with weight 138 kg. Started working with him. Yoga from six to seven in the morning, complete control over nutrition - only with us. September is coming, he already 115 kg. We still don't sign the contract, everything is based on trust. The season begins - it's pounding 30 points in every match. Everyone's calling, it is needed everywhere, Almost St. Petersburg "Zenith" invites. But Nikita at that moment showed himself to be a man. We just signed the contract 1 December for three seasons. And he insisted, so that both copies remain in my safe.
After that he says: “Can I continue to take care of my food and body myself??». I immediately said, that he will not pass this test. Only five percent of people can lose weight. And only five percent of these five percent can maintain weight. Of course, it didn’t work out - Rajab finished out the season. Alekseev is a decent guy, but character is missing, willpower. It's not his fault, he's just like that. Everything was in his hands, but the next season he launched himself again and lost the competition to Rajab.
– Who is the smartest volleyball player?, whom you met?
- Oh, difficult question. Probably, everything, who eventually became a coach himself. They are all smart and extraordinary. Bryansk, Vasilenko, Verbov, Volkov, Konstantinov, Prigel, Sogrin, Shulepov. Sometimes they ask me, why so many former Surgut players became coaches. Do not know, maybe I have the talent of a mentor, who can reveal talent, interest in the profession. I had Sasha Volkov as a finishing player for half a season. Made a strong impression, need to say. He was very confident in dialogue, literate, behaved with dignity.
- How do you feel about that?, that some immediately become super league coaches?
- Fine. What's wrong with that?? If you are ready to do this work right away, then do it. If you can't handle it, you will be removed. Someone's breaking through from below, someone succeeds in the super league right away - that’s normal.
– The lost final of the 2016 CEV Cup is the most offensive moment in the club’s history?
- We would take the trophy, if not for the meldonium issue. It was first found in Alexander Markin from Dynamo. He was temporarily suspended, but we didn't know, what to do. Lost away to Berlin (2:3). We had to win at home with any score, could very well do it. But before the return game it was clear, that one player will be subject to doping control.
By a strong-willed decision, I removed Bakun and Brjovic from the game, because the Olympics were ahead in Rio. Plus Semysheva, because this is the future of Russian volleyball. Said, that I won’t force anyone, and he will play, who wants. As a result, morning training, and no one is going to go to the site at all! Only Rodichev said: “I will play in any situation”. Someone was convinced, we still scraped together the composition. But without those three players, as well as those who refused, Apalikova and Kabeshova, flew in 0:3.
Then, remember, volleyball players of Dynamo Kazan allegedly got poisoned together? All candidates for the national team were withdrawn from the decisive Champions League matches. Literally a week later new introductory notes on meldonium arrived, what is the acceptable norm 1000 units. And we had the maximum from Ereshchenko - 300! Only Alekno was lucky - Zenit Kazan had the Champions League Final Four later and they, already knowing the new introductions, played with the strongest squad and won.
“Food is the highest human pleasure”
– When was the last time you flew on an airplane??
- It's been a while.
- Out of fear?
- Not. I flew in at one time, but now I do it when necessary. I just like driving better, than in this big tin can with fellow travelers, which you don't choose. The road is a small life. Your masculinity. You're on the road, you're alone. If also in a good car, then it’s a thrill - you’re relaxing. And I think it's good. Many important decisions are made on the road. Good, I have a phone, There is Internet - nothing prevents you from communicating with people.
Plus adventure. The alternator belt has failed, then he flew into the hole and the rims became square. You have no idea, what about the roads after the Urals. The route Ufa - Chelyabinsk is easy… But the M-7, M-11, M-12 – a fairy tale.
-What do you ride??
– In summer by V-class minibus. In winter on a Mercedes 2015 year GL-class. Not fresh anymore, start to break down, and spare parts are in short supply today. This year I got to Krasnoyarsk and Kemerovo. But last year, after Krasnoyarsk, we had Belarus. I got to Yekaterinburg, abandoned the car in the airport parking lot, flew to Krasnoyarsk. Then back and went by car to Minsk. When they played in Tula, I abandoned my car in Tyumen. Then on the way back I stopped by some land, where did they load the moose for me?. That's where they usually supply me with fish., boar meat, roe deer.
– Due to road accidents we were late for the match?
- Never. If the machine breaks down, you leave it at the nearest station. Then you go on a plane or rent a car - I once had fun driving a Lada Kalina, because there were no other options.
– You used to often make scandalous statements, regularly received red cards during matches. Became calmer with age?
– I actually became a different person, when I started taking care of my diet and lost weight 44 kg. Brain health directly depends on nutrition. Now I'm looking at some colleagues, on the judges, on the players - and I feel sorry for them. We need to take care of ourselves. But people lack understanding, even more often - willpower. If you don't have the right food, you won't have the right body, you won't have health. But there will be no health, there will be no work, no rest - nothing.
– What prompted you to suddenly change your lifestyle?? There was some kind of signal from the body?
– In 2015, I stepped on the scale in Neftekamsk – 124 kg. Mother says: "Raphael, you now 53 of the year. Father died at this age. What will I do, if you're gone too?» Promised, that I'll take care of myself. We started working on health together. She weighed 75 kg, became 50 kg, completely gave up meat. All these car trips were important to me for another reason - I brought her supplies of noble fish, quality rice, pasta. She lived until 90 years old. She spoke, that thanks to me. I started cooking myself 54 of the year. I gradually lost weight to 80 kg. Given my height, the optimal weight for me is somewhere 85-86 kg.
– How many people are in your WhatsApp newsletter?, where do you share dishes?
- More than a hundred. There are governors there, generals, trainers, athletes. Why am I doing this?? Nobody can answer this question for me. This newsletter is my motivation. Stand up in 6 morning and prepare a delicious breakfast, so that people watch it and want to repeat it. Cooking, true, Basically my like-minded person and in many issues our guiding star Olga Pereverzeva, about which you can write a separate novel. She is a certified chef of the famous French culinary academy LeCordonBleu., went to Paris to study, not knowing French, can you imagine? The same thing with yoga - once in India I walked off the street into a yoga school, and left there as an instructor.
She's a talent, which are no longer available in Russia. The main restaurateur of Surgut Alexey Shamin comes to us and admires. She doesn't eat meat herself, but he cooks magically. You know, every woman thinks, that she is a magician, but actually it's not like that. We all know the letters, but Pushkin is alone, we all know the notes, but Beethoven is alone. Cooking is such a gift. Therefore, in France, chefs in restaurants are celestial beings.
Here's the latest example. 3 November was my father's birthday, decided to cook a hare, put him in 7 in the morning. I languished for five hours, then we adjusted it for another 15–20 minutes. Which restaurant will cook hare for you? 5 hours? All these modern trendy restaurants are show business. And we know, that show business is a soundtrack.
Now you come to the establishment, open the menu, and everything is there! The whole book. How can this be? clear, that they feed you semi-finished products. And the food must be fresh, from a knife. In Paris, Michelin-starred restaurants seat 10–15 people. No menu to choose from, and for that, so you know, what's being served today. Our current catering is a disaster for me, all, what they sell in convenience stores is a disaster. One chemistry. Meanwhile, food is the highest human pleasure.
“Our body is the most perfect, what nature has. They should be treasured"
- You understand, that premium products are very expensive and not everyone can afford to buy them.
– Health is much more valuable. Who speaks, what is expensive or says, that there is no time for proper nutrition, he's just looking for excuses. Why do you need sturgeon or nelma? Well, here you have the Volga. what, there is no pike perch or carp? The most important thing is that the fish is fresh. It cannot be bought at the market or in a store.. Only at the fisherman's. In the store she is pumped full of chemicals, to be heavier. You put it in water - it turns even. They do the same with meat.. We must do without intermediary merchants, I only buy from fishermen.
Let's open any of my videos. What's here? Sauerkraut and stewed cabbage, omelet with parmesan filling, stroganina, spinach, salad. All this is available, everything grows on earth. Parmesan, understandably, they brought it to me from Italy. It doesn't spoil for three years. The basis of any meal is the sauce.. The French say: fill the sawdust with sauce, and sawdust becomes food. This year, Zhenya Grebennikov’s wife brought me espelette peppers, it is cultivated in southwest France. I asked through Elena Chernyshova, Maxim Kosmin's wife. He brought to Sosnovy Bor, from there Vladimir Shishkin drove to Surgut. I have many friends in Europe, who send different products, which we don't have.
- It turns out, you feed the whole team?
– We feed the whole team lunch only on the day of the game. Always feeding is unrealistic, there are no hands for this. But all team players go through our breakfasts and lunches. Someone gets into it and becomes a professor themselves. A person must eat wisely 365 days a year. If I feed someone 300 days, a 65 days he will eat anything, it won't make any sense.
Former team players sometimes send me photos, what they feed in other clubs. I speak: “And you eat this crap?». And he answered me: "Talgatych, what should I do?». Cook it yourself! A person should eat twice a day maximum. Go for a one-time meal from time to time. On 70 percent food should be alkaline, on 30 percent – sour. But with us it’s the other way around. Strange meat, strange milk, weird eggs. In our stores, at best you can get water in glass. Yes, and it’s not there - there’s plastic everywhere.
Our body is the most perfect, what nature has, they need to be treasured. Let's say, Are you driving a Mercedes?, fuel is running low. There is no normal gas station nearby, you fill up with some questionable gasoline at a random station. Hop – and check lights up. Iron – even then it complains! Our body’s check doesn’t light up right away. But then you'll get a belly, something will jump out on your face to begin with. Then you have 40 years will have chronic pancreatitis, then gout and so on. We come into this world alone, and we leave alone, no need to count on anyone, but just take care of yourself.
Why don't we live to see retirement?? Because we don't have a food culture. And our monetized medicine is only concerned with the investigation - they take us and lead us to the lid of the coffin.
– Sometimes you look at people, who do not deny themselves anything when it comes to food, - and they look great.
– No one has canceled genetics. We are all, to some extent, hostages of our genes.. But relying on them alone is a mistake.. I won't believe it, that without active exercise you can eat anything and not gain weight. You need to take care of yourself, control weight. The same Max Kirillov needs to weigh not 90 kg, a 85 kg - to be airy, like Christenson, like Ushakov, like Khamuttskikh. Because tomorrow your knee will hurt, the day after tomorrow shoulder, then the vertebrae will spill out into your panties. You gotta be a warrior, work on yourself.
– How do you eat on the road??
– I used to carry something with me. Now I either make do with water, or I get to places, where they will feed you simple, but with natural products.
– Do you drink alcohol??
- I can, why not? Who comes to our dinners, He knows, that it’s wrong to come empty-handed. You definitely need to bring something real from the earth - let's say, carrots or other vegetables. Or a bottle of good French wine. At the end you should write down your feelings.
– You also practice yoga at your club.. Everyone should go to it?
- Not, we look at it completely differently now. If earlier we were ready to make candy from any material, then now it’s no longer interesting. If Olga and I see a person’s craving, if we see, that this is a soul mate, we will help him, we'll pull it up, we will give him direction through food, through yoga. Sometimes you just need to push a person to do it. It’s easy to do this - there are a lot of programs on the Internet. First of all, a person must have an understanding in his head, he must be a fan. This is how Maxim Mikhailov, eg. To him 36 years old, and he works every day, like the last time in my life.
- They say, you also run.
- Bye 10 I won't run km, I don't go home. Let's take a look at the application. So, this year the average distance 8,5 km per day. This is exactly running, not steps. IN 2023 year on average 4,9 Km. My ankle started to tingle there, had to take a break. I also want to start swimming and working out in the gym - arms, pump up your legs. You know, in Kemerovo there is a monument to the miners of Kuzbass on Red Mountain. I go there on foot all the time. Already a tradition. I remember, when I went up there for the first time, my legs hurt so much, my head was spinning, I crawled almost on all fours.
“I fought to snatch Dineykin from CSKA, threatened, that he will become Italian"
– You were born in Tatarstan?
- Yes, in Menzelinsk. But I only stayed there 19 days, then the family moved to Neftekamsk, what's in Bashkortostan. My father was a great leader, worked abroad too, and in Western Siberia. He was the head of the drilling department. Salary like Leonid Brezhnev - 850 rubles. He convinced me to go to the Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas. It was full of his friends, I would have done it without any problems, could follow in his footsteps into the money industry. But I was into volleyball. Played by myself, but due to vision problems, the career did not work out - there were no lenses then. I decided to become a coach and create my own team.
– Where did you study??
– I entered the Moscow Regional State Institute of Physical Culture (MOGIFK) in Malakhovka. Then it was the Mecca of volleyball. The space duo Evgeniy Borisenko - Viktor Radin worked there. The first was a powerful theorist, the second is a strong practitioner, coached Dynamo from the Moscow region. We lived four people in one room, one of my neighbors was Yaroslav Antonov. Offered to stay in graduate school, but the children were already born - I decided to return to Surgut in 1984, but promised to bring his pupil to Malakhovka in a few years.
I brought it to Surgut 300 Czech volleyballs "Gala". White, leather - I still remember that smell. Mom sent me every month 100 rubles for life, plus they gave us food stamps for 4,90 rubles. I ate for a ruble, and put off the rest. With the money I saved I bought balls for 18 rubles, sent them home by train from Kazansky station. In Surgut I distributed them to children's coaches. I found out later, that some of them were put through accounting 25 rubles and also managed to collect money from parents. Children's trainers are like that: not to fat, I wish I was alive.
– You kept your promise - you brought your pupil Malakhovka?
- Yes, in 1990 brought Stanislav Dineikin. This is my favorite volleyball kid, my image component. I looked after him for many years. Dineykin studied in Malakhovka and played for Dynamo Radin near Moscow. Then the team collapsed due to lack of funding, and Stas moved to CSKA. Lived in a dorm at the Moscow Experimental Plant with my TV, mirror, every morning I rode the train. No conditions were created for him. It was no good. They fought him out of there.
- In what sense?
- They didn’t want to let go, threatened with disqualification, quickly drew a bunch of papers. I and Stas himself have always had a fatherly attitude, and he and his parents got along great. I insisted, that he needs to go to Samotlor, who will give him everything, for him to play, to get up. Moreover, Nizhnevartovsk is close to Surgut - in total 200 Km. I had to be aggressive. We came up with, that Dineykin is fictitiously marrying an Italian, takes Italian citizenship, and in a few years he will simply beat Russia. They called me a hooligan and a robber - in those years I was really very emotional. But we achieved our goal - the federation sided with the player.
Federation President Valentin Zhukov became the godfather of this transition. As a result, Dineykin 1996 took bronze at the Russian Championship with Samotlor and went with the Russian team to the Olympics in Atlanta. He went global, and then went on a free voyage. maybe, he didn't pass the test of fame a bit, but, generally, He had a successful career - he became an Olympic medalist, played in top Italian clubs.
“The team was allowed into the second league only after a call from Lukoil”
– We hoped, that someday he will play for Surgut?
– There were such thoughts, but I was only able to create a command in 1996 not on the first try. Tried in 1991 and 1994, but someone always put a spoke in the wheels, and I didn't have enough support. The Federation was also against it, since there was already one team in Surgut - “Torum” by Alexander Kartuzov, who played in the major league A.
19 April 1996 year I received the go-ahead from the director of the Surgut condensate stabilization plant (GBR) Khamit Nurmukhametovich Yasaveev to create the Gazovik working team based on his students. He heard the amount, gave good, believed in me. He also wrote out money for my trips to Rotterdam and Atlanta - so that I could see it live, how Dineykin’s student plays in the final round of the World League and at the Olympics. In Rotterdam they came third, but Stas was recognized as the best striker.
Alexey Berezin from Samotlor wrote a piece of paper, that he doesn't mind and that's great, that there will be another team. President of the regional volleyball federation Mikhail Bekker also supported. Plus paper from Gazprom. I come to Moscow with all this, but the deputy head of the VFW, Yuri Furaev, says a categorical “no”. maybe, the story with Dineykin also had its effect - I really got on their nerves back then. Later, Furaev and I became great friends, and at that moment he didn’t let me into the second league.
- Why?
– Supported by “Torum”. What did Kartuzov tell me?, that you are not against another team appearing in Surgut. I, naive, believed, and then it turned out, what else is he against. After yet another refusal from the federation, I went to the post office on Tverskaya Street. I call Kartuz at home - and you won’t believe it - I find myself in his conversation with Furaev and involuntarily eavesdrop on him. Kartuz says: "Petrovich, I beg you, you are welcome, don't let this Tatar in!». Furaev to him: "Sasha, I do everything possible and impossible. I promise you, he won't exist". I swear, that's how it was.
– What did you do next??
- I told you so, that my father was an honored oil worker. At one time I worked, and drank vodka with Leonid Ivanovich Filimonov, who later became the first minister of the oil and gas industry of the USSR. is he, by the way, created "Samotlor". When father died, in 1989 my mother contacted the ministry, and Filimonov’s deputy, Vagit Yusupovich Alekperov, by a strong-willed decision, wrote back the 469th UAZ to the widow. by the way, cool car in those days, like Land Cruiser now. Alekperov and his father also knew each other. Father was the head of the drilling department, and Alekperov, as the chief engineer of the oil and gas production department, accepted wells.
So here, I'm calling my mom: “The phone number of Alekperov’s assistant remains?». Stayed. I call Lukoil, I introduce myself, I'm telling the whole story. They say: "Don't worry, we'll solve everything, everything will be fine". I'm coming to the federation again, Vladimir Patkin just returned from Japan there, he was then general secretary of the VFW. Called everyone over: “They keep calling me from Lukoil all day long.”, why don't you allow the team??». All documents are available, there is a team, there is a sponsor, there is territory for the arena. I tell them: “In volleyball we don’t have Gazprom yet. Do you want, so that he supports other sports?».
- It turns out, that it was you who brought Gazprom into volleyball?
- It turns out, if you look at it like that. (Laughs) In fact, In parallel with us, the Fakela project developed in Novy Urengoy, they entered the super league a little later. Well, big Gazprom, of course, his own head. Invested in Kazan - got a powerful return. Now St. Petersburg Zenit is a completely different level compared to us. We are here, down, at the regional level. But formally I was one of the first, who connected Gazprom with volleyball.
As a result, we were allowed into the second league, and we held a home tour in Moscow. We started playing as a purely working team. Kobzar Sr. was my only released athlete. The rest worked at Yasaveev’s condensate stabilization plant - some as mechanics, who is the security guard, who is the operator. Three leagues passed in six years and in 2002 reached the super league.
“Verbov always had little health, but the head is bright - the professor"
– Let’s assemble the symbolic Gazprom-Yugra team of all times. 14 players – first and second squads.
– The first setter is definitely Yaroslav Vasilenko. Everyone was shocked, when he's in 2001 year from the bronze medalist of the Russian championship Iskra moved to Surgut. With him we reached the super league. Vasilenko was a big player in his time, reliable, a real comrade. We're still friends.
Diagonal – Konstantin Bakun. After two seasons with us, he went to the Olympics. This is a man, who could decide. In some matches he asked Sergei Antipkin to give everything to him. Bakun, due to his physical strength, simply took out the hands of the blockers. Once we remembered the blockers, then we put Alexander Gutsalyuk and Petya Krsmanovich in the center of the grid.
by the way, Krsmanovic is the only person, whom Olga wrapped up from yoga. Said: "You don't need me, are you okay, there are no questions for you". He has a good body. When he came to us, was worth it 70 thousand euros, and at the exit - 210. Left us for Italy. Then Kuzbass returned him to Russia. Verbov called me, consulted. I speak: "They will have a fantastic time with Kobzar". Basically, that's how it happened, Igor threw it to him perfectly. Then Petar left for Serbia for family reasons., and a year later he returned to us.
– Gutsalyuk also got a promotion after Surgut.
– Misha Pozdnyakov recommended me to take it. I say - a conventional ruble per month. If you beat Proskurnya, multiply by three. Two men agreed, shook hands. For me this is more important than any documents. He started without a contract. As a result, I joined the team and received 3 ruble. Then I took off.
– Who will make up a couple of main players in your dream team??
– Alexey Rodichev and Todor Alexiev. They showed better results, stayed in the top. Rodichev is our child, whom we took in 2009 year and grew to the level of a Russian national team player. He played with us for a very long time, then went to Novosibirsk, now back with us.
– Let’s return to the symbolic team. Who is the libero?
– Difficult choice. We have always had a strong libero lineup: Alex Verbov, Theodore Salparov, Alexander Yanutov, Roman Martynyuk, Evgeny Andreev. Yanutov is a unique man. Started out as a finisher, was captain of the youth team, then he went to libero. He was unlucky, that Verbov appeared at the same time and did not allow him into the national team. In my team Verbov will also be the first libero, and Yanutov is second. Alexey came to us after the 2004 Olympics, because in “Belogorye” there was also Pablo Meana. He always had little health, but the head is bright - professor.
“Kobzar is a warrior, I didn’t doubt him"
– Who is in the second team??
- Here, of course, Igor Kobzar. He played in two Olympics, proved everything to everyone. In Kazan he beat everyone, except Laurent Alekno. I never doubted him. He is a warrior, tank, stubborn guy. Because of this, I suffered in the youth team. Shlyapnikov tells him where to pass - Kobzar does the opposite. In the end they lose and he is unhooked forever. Then Shlyapnikov speaks to the coaches, Alekno asks him: “Where are all your world champions in the Super League??». One Pluzhnikov in a square stands in the 12th team. And at this time Kobzar is folding at Gazprom-Yugra, but he is not a world champion.
– But you broke up with a scandal.
- IN 2012 year we knocked out Belogorye in the playoffs, and lost to Kazan in the quarterfinals. After this, Zenit, with a valid contract, seduced Kobzar with big money. Igor’s father and at that time my assistant Andrei Kobzar insisted on the transition. And I didn't want to sell it, saw an important player for the club. We did not find a common language in this situation, and I sent Kobzars to our youth team. Then our president Vazhenin convinced us not to torture the boy - we leased him to Belogorye, and then to Kazan.
– Who is in the diagonal in the second lineup??
– Robert Prygel. One of our first legionnaires. Prygel is a strong player and a decent person. That's why he spent four years with us. Together with Oleg Sogrin, the fate of the matches was decided with one serve. Sogrin had a power glider, which young people are now trying to do.
- Let's move on.
– Finishers of the second team – Anton Semyshev and Igor Shulepov. Centers – Theodor Todorov and Maxim Proskurnya. An incredible story happened with Proskurnya..
"Not the toms.".
- All in all, the season ends. We have a debt to Proskurnaya 450 thousand rubles. He's in the office today, and tomorrow at 4 morning plane. And he will live in Odessa. I speak: "Max, can, Let's play Debertz?». He's like that: "So you tell me 450 stick out". Convinced. Generally, we play and gradually get there, that no one owes anyone anything anymore. I offer Maxim the last distribution on 450 thousand. I'm talking: “As a teacher and senior comrade, I won't be able to live, if I don't let you get even". He's like that: "Raf, fuck you ***". (Laughs) Left, misbehaved in a rented apartment, I had to do some repairs later. But this story came back to haunt me many years later..
– How?
- All in all, in 2018, Belogorye wanted Semyshev. But they had no money. They started to hesitate - let him come for viewing, we'll take a look at him. Why look at him?? The best young finisher in the country! Started haggling. 15 million - and take it. Then I get a text message, in which they curse me with the last words: so-and-so, how the white light carries you and everything like that. I'm punching the phone number, and he is from Podolsk. I think, wow, Semyshev’s loved ones are behaving. He's just from Podolsk.
I'm calling agent Evgeniy Nirka: “Compensation is no longer 15, a 17 million. More 2 million - for spoiled mood and moral damage". Well, then everyone knows, what happened. Belgorod paid nothing. Documents were processed through the federation and the Russian national team, allegedly Semyshev did not undergo medical examinations at the club. As a result of the scheme, they simply took away a player with a valid contract for nothing.
Then I come once to St. Petersburg for the Platonov Memorial. Proskurnya is coming there: “Rafael Talgatovic, I need to tell you something. I'm so ashamed in front of you. I lived with a friend in Podolsk, we got drunk, and I cursed at you in a text message. Then you divided me into 450 thousand". I speak: "Max, you're a fool! I'm because of you 15 lost a million rubles!». How he managed to write it precisely at the moment of negotiations on Semyshev is a mystery.
– And you often play cards like this for money?
- Not often, I like chess more. Nobody in the volleyball world plays chess better than me. I am ready to play with anyone under any conditions 5-minute blitz.
Collage on preview: Vladimir Chirkov, "BO Sport"; Photo: Roman Kruchinini, zenit-kazan.com
