The team that you love... It’s kind of unclear and vague category of love, don’t you think? And the word “love” sometimes is used out of place - you can love a woman, you can love a dish. And the same type of love for each? Well, let’s stop digging this statement . Honestly, I’ve been thinking a lot about whom to write and what to write because there is not just a one team that I loved, there were three of them…So, let’s start from one and then will see what we’ll got…
If you were born in 1966 in Minsk and lived there before the USSR was dissolved, your favorite team was predetermined. Nowadays we have a hockey as a sport number one here, in Belarus, but during my childhood and youth we had football and a team “Dynamo Minsk”. Yury Antonov (popular Soviet singer) once said “ Love lasts long, but life is much longer” The same was with me and I would like to show you how it was like…
Before I begin, I would like to describe historical background of the time when I became a Dynamo fan. Were there any options what team to choose? Of course, you could say! You could have chosen to cheer for Manchester United or Arsenal, Bavaria or Borussia , Milan or Juventus, Real or Barcelona - you have a large variety of choice when you have only two TV channels that broadcast all the foreign championships and Euro Cups... COME ON! Foreign championships? Milan? There are only two (!) channels ( later, there will be three of them) and you can see only USSR championship with local USSR teams and rarely, extremely rarely their games in Euro Cups. I can' t say that it was bad. We loved and appreciated our native teams and the USSR championship was much more better than any local championship of nowadays. There were different teams, different play styles, different national character.
In early 70’s Dynamo Minsk left much to desire. First time I saw a game in the stadium in August 1975 with my father ( rest in peace!) when Dynamo played in the First League against Tavria from Simferopol. I think I can hear the voice of commentator even now as he was reading the information about our rivals - “the debutant turned out to be defiant and insolent...” Also I remember an old Dynamo Stadium where I would spend a great part of my life as a fan and as football player either. There was no extension these days ( it would appear by Olympic Games of 1980 and become the best place to watch the games, but, unfortunately, will sink into the air after the last reconstruction. It' s a shame, but I haven' t visited the rebuilt stadium yet). In my time there were wooden beaches so the fans took the newspapers to put under their ass in order to make the seats more comfortable. Almost all the spectators were men (women were rare visitors ), most of them were workers who loved to drink in order to keep themselves warm ( in August!!!:)). There was a little police in comparison with our days when you can see them on every game.
Why do I pay so much attention to the details? Because it’ s easy to fall in love with the team once and for all as it was with USSR hockey team in September 1974 after the game in Winnipeg against WHA. As I’ve mentioned before, I have three favorite teams - CSCA and team USSR in hockey and Dynamo Minsk in football. When it comes to soviet hockey, I lose any objectivity and say "F*ck you!" to anybody, who dares to say that Gretzky is better than Kharlamov, Maltzev, Mihailov, Petrov, Krutov and so on , and you can put your NHL into your bottom h… This love for the hockey was light and happy. As a hockey fan, all that you need is to enjoy great wins like CSCA- Montreal in Super series of 75/76 or USSR-NHL in Challenge Cup in 1979. When it comes to the football, here I had a long journey from ordinary view the games to that very moment when your life lost any color without Dynamo.
But, let’s return to the game against Tavria. Our team lost. Orlov scored two goals, and I left the game disappointed. Why it had come to this? Our team was better and they were playing on their own field. Later, I would ask myself this question many times, but in your childhood you want to cheer for winners. Dynamo wasn't like that but it was our native team.
Tavira won thanks to their counterattacks. I was 9 years old, but my football coach has already called me “Headless Horseman”. In football I’ve accepted only attack - no matter where you play- on the stadium or on the playground. This quality had stayed with me during my whole life. As a player, I’ve never appreciated the play from defense and as a supporter, I didn't like teams who play that way.
In 1976 Dynamo went to the Big League. My father and I visited the game against Spartak. We rarely went to watch football together. He was extremely busy at work and also he had to help the wife of his late brother who was alone with 4 daughters. Even so, every time when I close my eyes I remember our each visit as it was yesterday. Sadly, that I have to open them ((( On the ninetieth minute our team started their last attack ( there was no such a thing as extra time those days) and a player with bold head Bogovik got the ball and scored a winning goal - 2:1! The whole Stadium gone mad! My father throw me into the air ( I was a skinny bone those years ), everyone was hugging and shouting! Here it was- the first victory that I have seen myself. To hell your Manchester United - Bavaria in 1999, it was Dynamo in 1976.
1976 was also a year when I saw my first international game. Dynamo Minsk played against Dynamo Hanoi and our team gave the chubby Vietnamese a going-over! What else do you need to be happy when you are ten years old? 8:1!! We did great! From this game I remember Kolya Mironchik who came out as replacement and scored a goal ( or maybe two of them?). After several years I would train with him in the same team.
In autumn of 1976 Dynamo crushed out to the First League and I had that childish offense again. Why did it happen to us? In 1977 my father and I visited the game against Kysbass from Kemerovo when I saw Razdaev for the first time. It was a cold rainy day, I caught a flu and my mother (rest in peace!) said that it was the last time for me to watch the football. Yeah, I remember. ...
Well, let’s make my story flow a little bit faster. In fall of 1978 I watched on the TV the game Dynamo Minsk against Karpaty from Lvov. This game was held on Tractor Stadium as Dynamo Stadium was closed for reconstruction for the Olympic games. The price of the victory was the participation in the Big League. Not long ago we hadn’t even dared to dream about that. Bazilevich couldn’t create the team worthy Dynamo Kiev of 1975 and Edward Malofeev was called to correct his mistakes. Today Edward is everything for us, but those days I knew only that he was the only one player from Minsk who had participated in World Cup of 1966 as a player of the team USSR. It was he who showed us the first football miracle 3:0!!! It was a big joy and Dynamo took part in the Big League!!!
Three years from 1979 to 1981 made me the craziest Dynamo fan ever! We grew up, our team played in Big League and it played great! We hadn't won any medals but the whole style of play was awesome. It was fast, attacking and, as you could say, "we can feel the soul of football in it". We loved this team, we knew Prokop, Kurnenin, Baidachny, Borovsky, Pudyshev and the others and understood perfectly the jokes of fans when they were speaking about Alexander Prokopenko things like “Look ! Prokop ran to the store to get some beer!” Fans knew everything but they also forgave everything for a good play.
In autumn of 1980, when the games returned to Dynamo Stadium, I became a constant football fan. It was not just me. For the guys from our playground these visits was like some rite. The tickets to the children’s sector cost 10 kopeikas (USSR currency) and the tickets were always on me. Often I paid for them with my own money. Somebody returned them, somebody forgot. Sometimes we collect money in advance. Now I don't really understand - where have I got that money from? I wasn't working and didn't beg my parents. There were a hard times for us since my father became ill. But still, I have always had the money for the tickets.
The whole journey to the stadium was great! We came out an hour before the beginning, took the trolleybus to Uritskogo or Volodarskogo, then went down across the avenue where our beloved Dynamo Stadium was located. No rummage. No police. Just sit, cheer for your team and then return home with the crowd of fans. The turnout those days was much more higher. In reconstructed stadium with the capacity of fifty thousand seats were twenty or thirty thousands of fans. It was a real show when the whole crowd of fans left the stadium and streamed to the narrow streets. There was no chance to squeeze into the bus after the game so we went by foot, sometimes to the very home. It was not so close but when you are fifteen and full of energy, nothing can stop you!
1982 brought us a real football happiness. The first and the only one happiness, but because of that, I remember it for my whole life. I was sixteen-year-old sunny soul, full of optimism. This year I went to the 10th grade and returned to football (as a player, I mean). Before that I’ve took football classes several times but quit because of my studies and health problems. This year my friend told me about additional casting to Dynamo and I’ ve decided to give a shot. I’m still grateful to Valentin Domashevich for that he took me in my age. I didn’t become a famous player (honestly, I’ve lacked self-confidence and health ), but I had played a lot during my life and it was my football! This relation to Dynamo club in 1982 was like a sign. A T- shirt with letter D on the chest was the most precious treasure for me.
The game of Dynamo Minsk in 1982 had been described precisely for many times, so I won't repeat it. Sadly, but there were no recordings of the games which were held this year. You can see some moments from the games in the movie “The whole team in attack" and I will tell you about the moments that I remember and love.
In 1982 our team began from the game against Dynamo Moscow and Spartak. I remember our field, yellow and full of bald spots (the heating will come later and won’ t be much of help). Two games and two victories with the scores 1:0. The goal during the game against Spartak was scored by Zygmantovich. Now he is an honorable person, the participant of World Cup of 1990 , who defeated famous Maradona during the game with Argentina, but in that time he was an awkward debutant who looked like a divider. Also he had a funny nickname "Son in law" which hinted that he was a groom of one of the Malofeev daughters'. But, as the life showed us, it was only a nickname.
Our team was the leader that year, but we still couldn't believe in this Miracle. They said that we were lucky because of the World Cup, because of tired Kiev, Spartak and Tbilisi who let us go. They also say “He'll be lucky, who works hard” and Dynamo was working extremely hard that year.
The brightest flashback from that summer was the game in Kiev, Yury Kurbyko, who throws the ball in vexation after the second goal and the winning goal of Kondratiev. 3:2! In Kiev.
Also I remember a warm summer evening in August. We were playing football in the yard and suddenly Dima Maslennikov remembered that somebody had said that Dynamo will be training at the stadium this evening. We rushed there. Luckily, I had time to take my album with the photos of our players. We came to the end of the training and saw that Prokop has already gone to the locker room. We followed him and asked to sign our papers. He answered us with his stuttering – “S- s- s- sorry g-g-g-g-guys, b-b-b-but I’ m in a hur-r-r-r-rry”. We were lucky that Vladimir Kurnev was there. He helped us and said “Alex, please, sign this, we’ ll make it on time!” And the best football player in the world (for us it was Prokop, not Platini, Zhiress, Rumeninge or Rossi) with a drop of sweat on his nose signed our papers and answered to Kurnev. – “B-b-b-b-but these g-g-g-g-guys know...” and then he smiled. This phrase was like a password or some kind of aphorism for me and my friend. Often we told this in our company “These guys know...” and nobody could explain what does it mean, but we knew....:)
I remember Zhora Kondratiev who is George Petrovich now. It’s happened after the game against Miner when Dynamo won with the score of 3:0! We were standing near the exit and waiting for the players, papers and pens with our hands. Michail Vergeenko was the first one who we met. He was tired but satisfacted. We asked him: "How was the game? Grachev got on your nerves, did he? " Then came the answer "Oh this Grachev…” with strong Belarusian G. Then young Kondratiev who scored two goals in this game came. Somebody from the crowd of the fans (it was the very time when Dynamo fan movement was born) screamed “Zhora did great!” and Zhora quietly said to himself, but I’ve heard it: "Today Zhora did great, but yesterday Zhora was a jerk!”
Here is the photo with Yury Pudyshev. Find 10 differences. But, honestly speaking, time is the only thing that changed. 1982 and 2016. It is almost a lifetime period, or its best part.
A soviet poet Shpalikov once said:
Is it right or is it wrong
But the truth
Is plain and simple
To the places where you’ ve been
Never walk along.
I think he said that about the memory either, but sometimes it’s right to come back, otherwise, what for it was?
And it would be a shame not to return to the October evening and the game against Kiev in Minsk. Lobanovsky and Malofeev ignoring each other for a long time, but finally Malofeev approached the coach of the rival team and they greeted each other. In future, they would meet again many times, but all that meetings wouldn’t be so friendly anymore. Why do I remember and describe this so precisely? Because of the movie, you could say. No, I saw it with my own eyes in thirty row’s distance. Americans say “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?” or “Where were you when Miracle on ice happened” During the game with Kiev I was sitting at the upper row between the twelfth and thirteenth sector, in the window of the arch which frames the Stadium near the gates. After the training we were held into the service sector then we were ousted to this place and we could see everything from here!
We saw the illumination goal scored by Prokopenko after the pass of Kydushev. Thank goodness, the recording of this game still remained. We have almost paid with our lives for this goal. We have almost flown over the railing when we start celebrating it.
It is impossible to forget the game against Kayrat and goal feat of Yury Kurtnev (Rest in peace!) . We were upset and started to go to the Stadium exit , sad and dull. The scores was 2:2 and the chances for Dynamo to become a champion grew smaller with each minute, but in the very end of the game Yury scored the goal to the far gate. It was the third goal in the match and the third goal made by him. Oh. My. God. We were jumping with happiness.
Also it is impossible to forget the two games against Dynamo Moscow and Spartak. Dynamo Minsk started the Championship with these teams and supposed to finish with them either, but the games were carried over because of the death of Leonid Brezhnev. Please, don’t be sarcastic. The time proved that he was not a main hero of anecdotes but a world-class politician of and a great leader for USSR. I’ve heard the scores on the radio during my TPP (There was such class in the graduation year which was called “Training and production plant”). 7:0 against Dynamo Moscow. !!! Nowadays anyone could say after Pereturin that Dynamo was made a champion. If you think that this is true, what would you say about the victories in Erevan and Tbilisi? The conspiracy theories are the highest fashion these days, but there wereno such thoughts in 1982. Our players were the best and the strongest.
Do you remember what Americans say? Where were you when… My friend and I were watching the game against Spartak at my friend’s home. His name was Andrey Andreychik or just Vinny. His mother usually worked extra hours and we were a frequent guests at his flat. Please, don’t think anything bad. Everything was decently, we just drink beer, but it was rarely. Most of the time we were playing cards and talk. Dynamo was losing, then came 4:1 and after each goal we went out to the balcony and screamed, then 4:3 and that’s it! We are the champions of USSR. I have never felt a joy from the victory like that neither before, not after this day.
Those who hadn't left my literary garbage yet would probably say “Make it brief, Sklifosofsky!” You can’ t be brief when you are talking about your love, even it is the love for a football team. In those years it was a mutual love. We loved Dynamo and it loved us back. As a result the gold in 1982!!!
There were a lot of stories. It was like everything was matched. I lived not far from Registry Office on Serdicha Street where Igor Gurinovich celebrated his wedding. I went to the near grocery store just on time when the guests arrived and I saw Malofeev with his wife, Prokop and the others. I was shocked! They were not far from my house!
I also remember how I got to the Award Ceremony in our Palace of Sport and what it cost to me! I paid a fortune for a ticket – the program of the game Dynamo Kiev against Bavaria! Those, who are into it, would understand. But it was worth it! Vice president of FIFA Koloskov handed the medals and a cup. Prokop was in light suit, there was a wonderful show and I’ve got many signatures! All the players of my favorite team were there, in the hall, at arm's length. Everyone was happy, young, merry and healthy.
What else did remain from 1982? The game remained. Somebody would compare Dynamo of this time to Barcelona, somebody would laugh. I have a different opinion. Dynamo Minsk played football from the bottom of the heart under the Malofeev’s instructions. Dynamo’s play was bright and dashing. In the moment of the attack the players were scattering on the field, touched the ball for one or two times then passed it to the partner. Of course, it is impossible to forget a famous heel! In Kiev, the players were penalized for that but Malofeev had always appreciated the improvisation which brought the fans a great joy.
Couple of words about Malofeev himself. In the time of USSR the coach was not just sitting within of white rectangle near the bench which name in Russian is close to the word “jail”. We could see Malofeev in any spot of the stadium. When he felt that game has gone in the wrong direction, he stood up and started his famous “Detour”. And the situation on the field grew better for Dynamo. Was it some kind of magic? Sometimes we were waiting for this moment and the whole stadium was talking like “Look! Malofeev is coming!” We have also visited the trainings before the games in order to cheer up our favorite team. Also I remember a famous parable of baboons! Those, who don’t know – read the tales of Yury Pudyshev. Thank you, Edward, for our happy football childhood.
In January of 1983 we were passing football test in Dynamo athletic stadium and the champions were passing the same tests with us. Alexander Prokopenko was the best. I’ ve envied Andrew Satsunkevitch, a goalkeeper from other football class, who was training with Dynamo. It was not just me - everybody envied.
Sadly, but the fairytale of 1982 won’t continue. Dynamo visited United States where they played a friendly game with San-Jose. It’s great that the recording of this game is still exists. It is the only game when we can see all the players from the team of champions.
Alexander Prokopenko left Dynamo in Summer of 1983 and never came back. Everybody knows why did he do that. Those one who don't, please, read the book by Vasily Saruchev “ The moment and a destiny” or search through the Internet. Then Edward Malofeev had moved to Moscow where he became the coach of the USSR Olympic team. He brought the team to the World Cup of 1986, but then came Lobanovsky, Kiev and the game with Belgium, but without Malofeev. During that time, a lot of players from Minsk were part of USSR team and it was not because of patronage. Later, Lobanovsky would take Aleinikov, Gotsmanov and Zygmantovich in his team as it was earlier with Borovsky. Dynamo Minsk didn’t fall when its coach left. In 1983 we also had a wonderful season. Dynamo took bronze and tried to take part in Euro Cup. I was so worried that I couldn’t see the first half of game with Grasshoppers in Minsk. I have entered Minsk Polytechnical Institute and as a student I was ought to go to some village in order to pick up potatoes for a month. I saw our first goal of Euro Cup scored by Yury Kurnenin from penalty in old village hut somewhere in Myadel Area. In order to get to this hut I had to escape from the work and go seven kilometers by foot.
Is my story too long for you? Yeah, but, as Oleg Yankovski said, as he played a famous Baron- “It s not over yet!” It isn't, you could ask in horror. Come on, I’ve almost finished. Let's remember the brightest moments.
For example, the game with Sporting which was held on the 7th of November in 1984. Our team fastly recouped after 0:2 in Portugal. There were penalties and the stadium were screaming “Vanya! Vanya!” in honor of Ivan Zheku who was the hero of this game.
The memories of my military service from 1986 to 1988 and my comrades are good and warm. Also I remember the final of the Cup of USSR in 1987. Our military unit was a very special. We didn’t have the leaves at all. Luckily, I was the chief of secret staff and I have managed to get a leave for a day from my colonel. I saw Moscow and Luzhniki Stadium. It was an amazing game! It’ s great that my friend saved the videocassette with the recording of this game. Now everyone can see this game in the Internet thanks to me and Valera Keira. I was the author of the idea, he brought the cassette and our friend from Grodno had managed make this recording available in the Internet. Еnjoy!
After the final I returned to unit down and depressed. It was not fair ! We should have won the cup! I remember how the guys from Harkov, Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk tried to calm me down. They were trying hard for a guy from Belarus. That was the time of the real friendship between the nations.
In summer of 1988 I came back home, continue to attend our football classes and took part in BSSR championship himself. Malofeev came back to Minsk and we were waiting for miracle to repeat. Unfortunately, in 1990 Dynamo could fly from the Big League, but they defeated Pamir in Dushanbe in the last game and remained there. I also remember how in 1991 we were going home after our game and remember that we could be in time to see the second half of the game Dynamo Minsk- Pamir. We’ve made it and saw the goal of Misha Marhel then a fast attack of Dushanbe came and… Unfortunately, by that time I’ve understand, what does “treaty” and “signature” mean.
The fairytale was over, we grew up. ...
I have still watched the games at the stadium , but everything was crumbling and destroying. Not just for me- for everybody. When the USSR was disintegrated, we lost many things which were precious for us like USSR championship and Dynamo Minsk. There still were great players ( Belkevitch, Hatskecitch, Kachuro and so on), the team defeated everybody in local championships, but it didn't look serious anymore. Then the level of the Dynamo’s play became equal with the level of the other teams. Honestly speaking, it happened not because the level of the other teams grew up, the level of Dynamo dropped.
People who were born in USSR and lived there for 20 or more years left a lot at that period. Their childhood, their memories, likes and dislikes…. and their favorite teams as it was with Dynamo for me. (((
Sometimes football veterans are gathering together during the anniversaries. I’ m trying to attend all this meetings either. I remember the 25th anniversary of Dynamo championship with the arrival of team USSR, a sad game in memory of Alexander Prokopenko. Most of the Dynamo players occupy a good positions now, but somebody is not. Unfortunately, nobody became a great coach or functionary. Four of the great team of 1982 had already gone and now they are far far away from us. Rest in peace, Alexander Prokopenko , Victor Yanushevski, Yury Kurnenin, Petr Vasilevski.
There is still a joy from the childhood when you see the game or when you see Malofeev sitting on the bench for coaches. He is not going to his famous detours now, but sometimes he looks like he is about to start it. There must be something that would stay forever in your life as a fan, I have this...
Did I succeed in describing my love? I don't know. It ‘s for you to decide.
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