Head coach of the football club “Rukh” Vitaly Ponomarev commented on the appointment to a senior position in the main team:
– Many thanks to the management of the club for the trust. Of course, this is a responsible mission, because now the team is in a difficult situation, we need to solve the problem. Therefore, it is clear that it would be calmer to play in the U-19 championship, where we are in first place. But you need to constantly grow professionally. I know these guys, who are now in the main team, well, I’m sure. I think that they are capable of solving serious problems. We understand that this is a young team that will make mistakes. And yet, first of all, you need to solve the main task – to stay in the Ukrainian Premier League.
– How long did you think about the proposal of the club to lead the main team?
“This is a new challenge for me. Of course, I dreamed of such an offer from the club’s management, as every coach dreams of constant professional growth. For me, the double motivation is that many guys went through our U-19 team, I know them all well, and this is almost 80 percent of the entire team. That’s why I wanted to work with them. I believe in their abilities. I am convinced that these players still have room to grow professionally.
– It is clear that one cannot expect cardinal changes in a week, but what kind of football do you want to see played by your team?
– We will play the football that our U-19 team played – aggressive football. We want to act from a position of pressure. Of course, not everything will work right away. But we will definitely try to play attacking football.
– How will your role, as a coach of the main team, extend to the preparation and play of the junior team, which also has very serious tasks for the season?
– We will continue to cooperate with Mikhail Dyachuk-Stavitsky. He will have a new coaching staff. There is no doubt that they are on a mission to win this UPL Under-19 Championship. Yes, it is not an easy task, although we are in first place, 6 points away from Shakhtar. But there are still 13 matches ahead and a rather difficult calendar. However, I have confidence in the coaching staff that was appointed today. They are ready to take on the highest challenges.
On March 22, Vitaliy Ponamarev was officially appointed as the head coach of Rukh Lviv. Previously, this position was held by Leonid Kuchuk.
