Olga Smorodskaya: “Emotions help to inspire people by the idea”

It`s not easy to be a strong woman

– After Lokomotiv matches – successful or unsuccessful – you can`t fall asleep for a long time. How do you calm your nerves?

– I read. There are too much emotions and I have to switch over at such moments.

– Is it the only one way?

– Unfortunately nothing other helps me: not communication with relatives, not discussion of the match with colleagues. Only books help to put nerves in order. I have to occupy my thoughts by something and then I can switch off. But when I watch TV, for example, I always  return to the last game more and more. When team plays unsuccessfully, I look for the reasons, where is the problem. It`s much
harder to go through defeats.

– Do you have a wish to watch the match one more time in such moments?

– I review almost all the matches several times.

– Like a supporter or like a president?

– Like the president. But I`m a supporter during the games, and very passionate supporter, who gives neighbors a lot of troubles.

– How does the positive result influence on you?

– After wins the adrenalin, I would say, is plus.

– Who is your lightning rod in case of defeats? In such minutes, perhaps, it`s better not to approach you.

– It`s better not to approach and touch me. And there is no lightning rod.

– You don`t hide that you consider yourself an emotional person. Perhaps, it disturbs you. And when does it help?

– I think that emotions help to inspire people. And there is nothing bad in it. It disturbs, when you can`t hold yourself in check and then regret about it.

– When you make cardinal decisions…

– There is no place for emotions. Never.

– Is it pleasure for you, when people say about you «strong person»?

– It`s pleasure, but I`m very watchful with attention of mass-media. I don`t like to be in the public eye.

– Is it easy to be a strong woman?

– It`s not easy.

– Do you want to show weakness sometimes?

– Yes I want.

– When did you weep last time?

– There were such situations this year. I don`t want to concretize, but it wasn`t easy.

– What can cause your tears?

– Problems with children, illnesses, serious situations with my friends.

– Where is this power from? It`s clear that, many skills are from the nature, but life should broach, train.

– I don`t know. I don`t think that I`m a super strong person. There are people who have strongest spirit than mine. But to my mind sport has taught me to resist, to endure. I`m in sport since eight years and I don`t think about myself without sport.

I stay myself in all situations

– You frequently get into situations, where many things are against you, but you don`t lose your self-control. Is it difficult?

– Surely, I have a confidence in rightness. Sometimes my actions face serious resistance. But if I know, than my actions profit the club, I move forward in spite of resistance. I understand, that it`s a part of my job – to handle misunderstanding.

– Somebody has compared you with Margareth Thatcher recently, who was called the «Iron Lady». Some supporters, by the words, have given you the name «Railway Lady». What do you think about this comparison?

– Normally. Calmly. I don`t tend to be like somebody or to imitate somebody. I stay myself in all situations.

– Can you forgive?

– I can forgive all and quickly. I don`t remember the evil. Except meanness and betrayal.

– Were you betrayed?

– Yes.

– By friends?

– And by friends, and in the office. But I could outlive it.

– Did life give a hard time to you?

– Life gives me a hard time and tests me permanently. 1995 and 1996 were very difficult years for our family, many things changed in Russia. My husband lost his job because elimination of external trade system. We had a small children. And on a such turning point we had to survive. I remember that time, very difficult, very hard. There are no hopeless situations to my mind almost, only hard illness or death don`t leave the choice. From all other stories it`s possible to find the way out with big or small losses.

– It`s impossible possible to break you?

– Why? It`s possible to break any person.

– From an outsider`s viewpoint you make an impression of unbending person.

– It`s a wrong view.

– What does make the man great to your mind?

– I don`t understand what is it – greatness of the man. I bow down only before absolutely unbelievable skills of brain. I think that scientific world gives us examples, when there are breakthroughs in such areas, where usual people can do nothing.
Once the man was sent to space, Christian Bernard made the first heart surgery, DNA was decoded. Tens people had been working with this tasks, but only a few people found right solutions. It always admired me. The same about literature, art. But others I can`t call great.

On the barricades

– I know the story, that in 1991 during the putsh you had dashed to defend White house immediately. And the elder daughter, and husband in the hall asked you not to go, because it was very dangerous.

– It seemed to me, that if Moscow people wouldn`t stand up, we wouldn`t have new life, creation and democracy. And my children could
spend all their life behind the Iron Curtain. It seemed to me, that if everybody thought the same way, many people would go on the streets. And there were a lot of not indifferent people indeed. It`s easy to discuss afterwards, that force wasn`t used against unarmed people, but at that moment it was really terrible. Most of the people were young. And all women were asked by megaphone to go home.

– How had your relatives known, that you`re ok?

– It wasn`t mobile connection, so they had seen me alive and healthy only when I came back home.

– Do your daughters remember this moment?

– The elder daughter went with me on funeral ceremony of three died boys.

– Do you think about the past often?

– Now I have started to come back to the past. To remember how difficult it was when my children were small. I have grandchilds now. It`s a big joy in our family. I see how other children, how the nature prepares them for this changeable world. It admires and astonishes. Early everything was in different ways.

I would have become a top manager in any sphere

– School with a gold medal, university with red diploma – objects of your pride?

– For sure. At that time it was impossible to buy all these for money – only to earn by work.

– Did your parents set you goals or you by yourself?

– I didn`t set these tasks. I just couldn`t do in different ways. I try to do everything on the maximum of my abilities and don`t compete with somebody. Everybody has his own ceiling. But if you start to do something, you have to do it very good.

– It`s impossible to be on maximum every day, every minute.

– Otherwise you face serious failures – or in the profession, or in the family.

– What do you appreciate in other people?

– I very appreciate honesty, intellect and integrity.

– Which skills you can`t stand?

– I don`t like idlers and lazy persons.

– If you hadn`t become a top manager whom you would have seen yourself?

– I would have become a top manager in any sphere.

– Do you understand at once, how the persons treats you?

– Differently. I`m not obsesses with situations who is enemy and who is a friend. Who are enemies? There are people, who try to hinder you or simply detached observers, ill-wishers. I try not to think about it.

– Are you a good psychologist?

– Yes, I think that I know people not bad and some situations I feel very good.

It seems to me that we are on the right way

– What do you think about current situation in Lokomotiv?

– We build the team, seek our game and, how it seems to me, we are on the right way. But there will be many difficulties on this way. It`s important not to lose concentration.

– Do you forgive more to players to whom you sympathize?

– I don`t have players, to whom I treat with bigger sympathy. No and will never be. People do a professional work. Sometimes there are takeoffs, sometimes failures but it doesn`t change my attitudes to players. But I want to mark out one player particularly. Loskov, as a leader of the team, as a professional, plays huge role in team life. I think about him with big respect.

– Lokomotiv players mention your warmth. How does your concern expresses?

– It`s better to ask about it players. For me it`s difficult to comment it. Warm, good atmosphere in the team will surely influence on results on a football pitch. We try to take part in the life of every player. To help him not only with football, but and with everyday questions. It`s nice that guys feel it.

– Club presidents have to progress reviews sometimes. How expressive are you in such situations?

– I don`t progress reviews. It`s a work of coaches.

– You have to say the last word in players transfers. What does become determinative in such questions?

– There are a lot of nuances, each transfer situation is specific and doesn`t resemble on the other. So there is no one versatile factor on all. Each story has its own determinative moment.

My relatives and friends always support me

– You were given the rank of colonel once. What is your current rank?

– I`m private.

– General`s uniform would very suit to you.

– I tried it on, I even have a photo.

– You have an image of crisis management. Are you tired from this role?

– I have used to it (sighs). It`s a hard, but I have got accustomed to it.

– Do you want to be in a calm state sometimes?

– Sometimes I very want it, but not for a long time.

– Which skills should have crisis management?

– I don`t think that it`s a special profession. You need a quickness of reaction, when you have problems on different directions and temp of work increases sharply. Sometimes it`s very difficult to endure such a rhythm.

– What does help you to keep this energy?

– The main stimulus, feed – moving forward of the business, with which you work. It brings satisfaction, adrenalin.

– Kind words don`t hinder even a strong person.

– My relatives and friends support me in all the situations.

– Where it`s more difficult to build relationships – in a club or in a family?

– In the club for sure. Family is a small community cell, which is made with love, but in the club people are united by profession. Everything is more difficult here.

– Which sports do you like else? Let me guess: water polo…

– No. I very like basketball, volleyball.

– But how about the favourite activity of your husband – water polo?

– He has been playing for all his life, but on amateur level, for his own pleasure.

– Do you come to support him sometimes?

– It was very long ago, when he played in tournaments.

– And, by the words, how do you swim?

– I swim good.

All my thoughts are about the club

– You were the captain of volleyball team in the past. When did you play volleyball last time?

– (Sighs). Long ago.

– Do you want to come into the volleyball pitch again?

– I don`t have such possibility.

– How do you spend your free time?

– I like many things: theater, music, traveling. But, unfortunately, I can`t afford to myself these delights frequently. Two times per year as maximum. I have no time absolutely so generally I read.

– Your younger daughter has good manners, she isn`t like «gold generation». How could you give her right guidelines?

– It is said that not parents, but atmosphere in the family, school bring up children. We worked a lot. In such situation it was impossible to bring up idlers. And my children didn`t have nannies and they were responsible for their studying. I checked homeworks, but not regularly, and everybody had to realize his abilities by himself.

– Did you have a time for children?

– I came home lately, but when it was necessary I always was near.

– I have known an interesting fact recently. Your dog of zennenhund breed had borne 11 puppies one time. Where did your place all them?

– I gave them to my friends.

– Do you have many friends?

– Very many.

– Do you want to go in politics?

– No.

– It seems to me that you can lead the people and make something useful for many Russians.

– Now all my thoughts are about the club. I want to thank team and our coaches for endeavour that they show in the last games. The most important is not to relax. It`s only the beginning of the big and difficult road to the peaks of Russian football.

Express-questionare

- Who is your idol?

- I don`t have idols. But there are people, whom I very respect.

- Do you have a dream, which isn`t realized yet?

- Surely, and not one.

- Favourite auto.

- Toyota.

- Favourite dish.

- Fish.

- Favourite drink.

- Wine.

- Favourite team.

- Lokomotiv.

- Favourite movie.

- Saving Private Ryan.

- Favourite book.

- There are a lot of them.

- Favourite fictional hero.

- Ostap Bender.

- Have you ever regretted that you were born a woman?

- No.

- Demerits.

- Emotionality.

- Merits.

- Professionalism.