Youth of "Prometey" continues the training process in the new hall in Slobozhanskyi. The press service of BC "Prometey" spoke with the player who has been with our club for the third season in a row - Ihor Klimov.

- Igor, let's start the conversation with your basketball journey. Tell us how you got into basketball, at what age, who was your first coach? Why did you choose exactly basketball?

- My first coach, Serhii Volodymyrovych Noviychuk, I am very grateful to this man for everything he did. I got into basketball thanks to him and Kateryna Glukhova, who also worked as a coach at B.Lytvak SDYSSOR, and she suggested that my parents take me to this school for training. At first, of course, I didn't really want to visit it, because I didn't play much in training, but then I got involved, got hooked and continued.

- You are not the first season in our team. Why did you decide to stay with Prometey now?

"Prometey" is a big family that will never leave people  in a difficult situation. As soon as I received a call from our president Volodymyr Mykhailovych Dubynskyi, I didn't even think about it, because in such a difficult situation as we have in our country, this is the best offer and a huge chance to reach another level. Many guys have re-signed, everyone knows each other well and get on well with each other, almost like a family, only basketball one.
 

- The previous season, for "Prometey" and all Ukrainian teams, ended, to put it mildly, not as we all would have liked. What was the most memorable from those days? What were the thoughts? What did you feel?

- The most memorable thing is that Volodymyr Mykhailovych did not leave the second team without support, he gave jobs to all the guys who are originally from hot places, and the opportunity not to return. It is more or less safe to be in Dnipro. It's better than turning back there.

-How did the war affect you personally and your life? What is your attitude to what is happening in Ukraine?

-If to speak about basketball, there was a note of incompleteness, unfinished business. We had something to show up last season, we claimed a medal in the High League, but the rashists thought differently... The war turned my world upside down. Eternal suffering due to air alerts, huge stress for loved ones and relatives, cannot be expressed in words, and when Odesa was under shelling, there always was a lump in my throat. I spent the first month in Dnipro, working in the Dmart store, after that I went to Odesa, when everything calmed down a little, I began to restore my regime and condition, prepare for something, even without knowing what for, I volunteered and, as much as I could, helped our Armed Forces.

- How did you react to the news that "Prometey" will still play this season?

- At first, there was a little surprise, but then it became interesting what would happen next. When the club applied for the EuroCup, I was generally shocked, to be honest. Such a level in such a difficult time, I didn't even believe it at first.
 

- What can you say about the composition of the updated team? Do you know many of guys?

- About the updated team, I can say that they have gathered good young guys, many of whom cut their teeth the "Khimik", some have played in the youth National teams, some in the High and Superleague. We communicate well with the boys, we often played against each other, we all know each other well. I think this season we have assembled a very decent squad and we will be able to compete and win.
 

- What are your plans for the new season? What are your goals?

- Our team's goals are, as always, the highest. Our president immediately made it clear that we should take the medals. And we have everything for this - a good young team, a coach with a lot of experience and a staff who we had a very good relationship with last year. And an interesting fact, I signed the contract even before I found out who will train the youth, I was so eager to rejoin “Prometey”. On behalf of myself and last year's youth team, I would like to say a big thank you to our previous coach Dmytro Markov for working with him for two years.