Stepan Krymov: ‘Rivalry boosts progress’

Lokomotiv youth team has a new arrival - a 18-year old goalkeeper Stepan Krymov. In an interview with the Press Service Stepan tells about his way to the dream, the rivalry between the keepers, and his favourite exercises.

- Stepan, tell us about the way you had to make to find yourself here, at Lokomotiv youth team.

- When I was 11, I started playing for Lokomotiv-2. I tried to get spotted, to make myself stand out. All these years I had a dream to get to the youth team. This winter I finally got an invitation and even went for a training camp in Turkey. I have played in several friendlies but not in official games - I was registered but didn’t play. But I’m just 18, everything is yet ahead. It’s important to work hard and not spare yourself. Soon we’re playing in the friendlies which are part of this training camp, and I hope to make an appearance and play well.

- How many goalkeepers are there in the squad now?

- A lot. Lobantsev and Lantratov are training with the youth team now but in the past season they played for us. Plus there’re Kovalyov and me.

- That means the rivalry is high… How do you take it? Do you feel scared?

- On the contrary! Such rivalry stimulates me, it boosts progress. Off the pitch we are friends and get along well. On the pitch we’re honest rivals, we all try to work hard.

- You’ve had training camps in Turkey, now you’re in Bakovka. What are the impressions?

- Great conditions here! Even compared to Turkey. We’re all happy everything is close at hand. You walk down from your floor - and here’s the medical centre, you walk out of the building - here’s the pitch. It’s really comfortable. Abroad, very often you have to drive to get to the pitch. No such problems here. Bakovka is a very comfortable base: the staff are friendly, we’re fed well, recreation facilities are great - like, billiards. All in all, the ball is round, the pitch is flat - what else do you need?

Great conditions here in Bakovka! Even compared to Turkey

- Good conditions is good, but tell us more about the training process.

- We have two training sessions a day, in the morning and in the afternoon. We’re now just starting having loads after the vacation but they increase every day. But we’re happy, we want to get into our best form by the season start.

- You have just joined from Loko-2. How about the training loads - did they increase dramatically?

- Sure. Not only did the physical strength exercises become more intense, but also a whole set of exercises have been added that are totally new to me. I have to squeeze myself out.

- Elaborate on the exercises - what are your favourite?

- We’re doing a lot of step exercises now, they improve your footwork speed. There’re many exercises for working the ball - not what you expect a goalkeeper to master, right? My favourites are the reflex exercises and bounce games.

- Is there a special team you would want to play against? A principal opponent.

- I think, it’s Spartak. It’s a principal opponent, and the derbies against them are usually very emotional and dramatic. And you can never foretell the result, both teams always have good chances.

- What are your goals for the coming season? And the team’s?

- My own goal is to start playing in official games, to prove that I can be trusted and that I am no accidental pick. The team want to be among the top three and demonstrate spectacular play, of course.