For the fourth season in a row, Illia Sydorov will perform together with "Prometey". About his new goals for himself and for the new season, the unexpected finish of the previous one, the war in Ukraine, his participation in rallies in support of the Azov defenders and the gathering of the Ukrainian National team - all these in a pre-season interview with Illia Sydorov.
- Illia, now you are in the the National team of Ukraine. Please share your impressions of the gathering.
- The beginning of the gathering was slightly delayed due to the fact that everyone arrives at different times. For now, we have an engaging training session, to get back in shape a little, because we had a 2-week break. It is not as much as usual when we return to the National team after long breaks in the game. So far 5 on 0, defensive tactics. We are waiting for the majority of the players to arrive, another 5-6 people.
- This is already the second gathering of the National team this summer. Did you have time to rest? Did you have time to recover? And how do you feel from a physical and mental point of view at the moment?
- Everything is fine. Yes, it is a little unusual, because usually the National team is for a month at most. And now we gathered on June 1 and until the middle of September were in the national team, with a small break. Three and a half months, that's almost like half a club season. We discussed with all the guys, it is somewhat unusual, yes. However, there are many of us, there is no such crazy workload as in the club. No matter what, 8 main players play in the club, they are the ones who have the main workload. There is a big rotation here, there are always 15 players at training, relatively speaking, there are three “fives”, so physically everything is in order.
- This EuroBasket can be your first. Do you have special expectations for this tournament?
- I'm really looking forward to it, I hope to get into the final roster. We have a very interesting group. To play against Greece... If Yanis is there, you can ask a photographer to take a picture of me, then hang the poster on the wall. Also, of course, there are other national teams with strong squads. Especially as it is the first EuroBasket for me, I don't know how it all happens from the inside. A huge number of high-quality basketball near us and in other cities. I really want to immerse myself in this atmosphere, and, of course, to represent the country at such a time at such a grand tournament.
- You remembered Janis. In addition to him, are there any other rivals against whom you would really like to go to the same court? Many NBA stars plan to come to EuroBasket, among them are superstars - Janis, Nikola Jokic, Luka and so on.
- We will have a friendly match with Slovenia. I hope that Luka will play, so there is a possibility that we will meet very soon. Croatians have a very strong team. Something isn’t quite right with them lately, but amongst the greats, they are definitely TOP 5 in Europe.
- Let's return to the topic of the National team later. And let's make a comeback in much less pleasant hours and minutes. The previous season for "Prometey" and all Ukrainian teams ended, to put it mildly, not as we all would have liked. What is the most memorable thing from those days? 5 months have already passed. What might have changed in your head, in your thoughts? What do you actually think?
- When the war started, we were in the National team, then after 2-3 days we joined "Prometey" in the Czech Republic. And somehow everything was so emotionless in those first 10-12 days, while "Prometey" was still there. Then the news that the club is shutting down, but still somehow everything passed in one emotionless wave. Then we started to come to come round - two or three weeks after I arrived at the Czech club "Jindržihuv Hradec". There are already some memories of this time. Because at the beginning, everyone just walked and looked at one point during training. At Prometey trainings it was a bit distracting because it was clear that the legionnaries boys were all worried, but still, these are not their problems. Therefore, in the team, 50 / 50 with foreigners, we were a little distracted. It was sad to hear the news that Prometey was closing its season. Sadly. After all, it was possible to show something further. However, basketball then took a back seat. Now also, of course, the terrible things continue, but everyone has already recovered from the initial shock.
- How did the war affect you as a person?
- I can say that now you understand and realize that in order to be, relatively speaking, happy, one suitcase, a wife and a child next to you are enough. There has been such a revaluation of values, terrible things are happening, and you understand that you need to appreciate what you have.
-The other day you took part in the action that took place near the Russian Embassy in Riga. What is this protest? What happened? And why did you decide to join it?
- I have an acquaintance - the wife of one of the defenders of Azov, I follow her on Instagram. She leads an active social life, has been asking to stop all this, to save them, knocks on all the doors. I saw her repost from the Save Azov Families page. The boys and I were already in Riga, we had training only the next day. I wrote in the team's joint chat, offered to go, all the guys who were in Riga responded. Of course, this is the least we can do in this situation, it is social activism so that more people can be seen and heard.
- Let's go back to club affairs. What was your first reaction to the news about the relaunch of the Prometey project, when you found out that the club will be, and will play at a high level, as usual?
- I will give a little insider information. My wife and I were at the store, shopping for groceries, when the manager of the club called. I called him because I had a club TV in my apartment. My parents were taking things out of the rented apartment. I said "Dima, they are leaving, they can bring the TV." We talked about this, about that, he says: "If suddenly there are any offers, then don't sign up yet, we have grandiose plans, so far no one knows how everything will look, what will happen and what will come of it, but pass it on to the guys." We phoned some guys, said: "Take a break, take your time to sign." When we came to Italy with the National team, it was already officially announced that "Prometey" would play. I spoke with the club's management - with the president Volodymyr Dubynsky, with the CEO Pavel Chuhno. Everyone said that Neno wants to see me in the team. And somehow the negotiations went very easily. The club believes in me, the coach gives me playing time, the team plays in the EuroCup, so I didn't have to think whether to sign or not.
-You were the first signed player announced by Prometey. Is there a sweet or symbolic moment in this?
- I wouldn't say so. A group of Ukrainian boys already knew that we were all definitely in the team. It just so happened that formally I was the first to sign the contract. But we knew that the club wanted to re-sign us and keep the "core".
"Prometey" will play in two new tournaments at once - the EuroCup and the Latvian-Estonian League. The EuroCup, of course, is a more prestigious tournament, more familiar to the general public. Did you dream, were you keen to play there? Is this a new career challenge for you?
- I think all players who play in Europe, including me, dream of playing in the NBA. But you need to adequately assess your strengths, this, one might say, is unattainable, although never say "never". None of the players dream of playing in the EuroCup, everyone wants to play in the Euroleague. But I understand that the EuroCup is the closest step to the Euroleague. Therefore, of course, when I heard that the club would play in the EuroCup, saw the composition of the team, plus there is a huge regular season - 18 matches, I was very happy.
- Your thoughts on participation in the Latvian-Estonian league are also interesting. You are almost at home in Latvia, you are spending a lot of time this summer in Riga with the Ukrainian National team, so you have seen the basketball infrastructure. Are there any specific expectations for this tournament?
- Good infrastructure, just unreal. For example, the Olympic centre, where we train. A small gym for training, and in the next door there are four more similar gyms next to each other, through the screens. Arena Riga is a supernova; it can accommodate a huge number of spectators. As for the league, it is difficult to say anything, I know VEF, Kalev, Ventspils. There are five or six really strong teams.
- My Latvian colleagues say that "Prometey" is the undisputed favourite of LEBL, if there is a serious attitude to the tournament.
- In "Prometey" there is no other way.
- Let's talk a little about Riga. It can already be called the home of Ukrainian basketball, away.
- Yesterday we drove from training with Pavlov, Zotov, Tkachenko. And I'm like, "What's going on anyway? Why do we have a National team gatherings here? Why are families here? Why do we have rented apartments here, in which we live?". You know, it doesn't fit in my head. But the fact that many people support us, even at the rally they approached us to take pictures, at the matches with Georgia and Spain they approached us and said: "It's great that you are here, it's great that there are your games, and Ukrainians have somewhere to go."
- The roster of "Prometey" has already been formed. 12 players are already known, 6 of them, including you, played for the team last season. Was it important for you as a player to see familiar faces? What can you say about the composition of the updated team?
- Of course, it is very nice that the "core" was preserved. We understand that it is very difficult to save the entire composition. In Europe, it is not easy to keep even 6 people for the next season, especially in a situation like ours. It takes a lot of effort. I'm glad both DJs are staying. After all, it is always easy for Ukrainians to understand each other, there are no problems in the sense of relations, discipline. It's good that there are guys left who can hold the locker room together, help find a connection between Americans and Ukrainians. I think it is a huge plus that Neno took people who already know the system, know the requirements and will be able to pass them on to the guys who were not in “Prometey” last season.
- What do you know about the newcomers of the team?
- I know that Clavell is an incredible player, an excellent scorer, an athlete. We crossed paths with Hogue the previous season, when he played for Cluj. I've seen comments saying it's hard to have so many people wanting to score 20 points each, because it doesn't happen like that, two will score and three will be unhappy. Therefore, the team really needs people who will do a huge amount of work in defence, on rebounds, and at the same time do not worry if they score 6-8 points, but the team wins.
- We hope that everything will be fine, and you will go to EuroBasket. And accordingly, you can theoretically skip the start of the "Prometey" gathering. Isn't that a problem?
- I think we have a large number of people who will miss the start of the gathering, including the head coach and Balvin, who will be with the Czech National team. Clavell will be with Puerto Rico. Usually, when you get together on August 1, you are already tired of one another by the start of the season. Let's see how it will work if we gather in the middle of September and immediately join the season.
- Does the fact that several Prometey players are together in the National team help restore lost ties at the club level?
- I wouldn't say that Ukrainians lose some kind of connection with each other, even playing in different clubs of Ukraine. It is clear, that there is a derby, some principled rivals in the championship of Ukraine, but I do not remember any misunderstanding or conflict between Ukrainians, even between those who play for the main competitors.
- What are your plans for the new season? Which goals are you setting for yourself?
- Of course, I think that in the Latvian-Estonian league there is only one goal - the championship. All players understand this. And regarding the EuroCup, we will try to move from game to game. I am sure that it is necessary to get into the playoffs in any case. And with the Eurocup system, it's a kind of lottery, here you can make noise so that you reach the final, because in one game anything can happen, you can reach the final. It is clear that the level of teams is approximately the same, there are several grands. However, we did see last year's playoffs. I'm confident if you take a hundred people and say - draw me the entire grid, maybe two or three would guess. "Partizan" was eliminated in the first round. "Gran Canaria" thought that they had one leg in the final, yet lost to "Andorra", which was relegated from the ASV. We definitely need to get to the playoffs, show ourselves, represent the country in such a big tournament, so that they talk about us. I am sure that we will be talked about. Everything should work out with our players and coach Neno.
-According to tradition, a few words at the end for Prometey fans and for fans of the National team.
- Of course, a huge thank to everyone who finds the strength and emotions to come to see games, a huge number of people watch the broadcasts. Thank you very much for this. We are waiting for you at the games. We really feel your support while in Riga, there are a huge number of Ukrainian flags. There are not enough words to thank you. And we are also awaiting your support at the Prometey games. I know that there are a lot of Ukrainians in Latvia and Lithuania now, distances here are short, so I hope that it will be possible to come and support us. We, in turn, will give 100% on the court.
