Sport24.az
The new goalkeeper of "Sabah" club, Stas Pokatilov, a football player of the Kazakhstan national team, gave an interview to the "Sport+" TV channel of his country. Sport24.az reports to gol.az that he answered questions about his transfer to the new club and other topics.
- Stas, first tell us about your transfer to "Sabah". How did the option with the club come about?
- I can say that I spent the whole of December and the beginning of January in negotiations. At first, there were negotiations with "Aktobe", but it didn't work out because the head coach preferred another goalkeeper. Then the management of "Sabah" contacted me and I started negotiations with them. We came to a general agreement in about a week and started working together.
- Previously, there were reports that clubs from the Turkish and Lithuanian championships were interested in you. Why did you choose Azerbaijan?
- To be honest, this is the first time I've heard about such interest from you.
- The head coach of "Sabah" is Vasili Berezutski. Can his personality be called a key factor in the transition?
- Yes, of course, Vasili Berezutski is an ambitious and promising coach, and in any case I will be interested in working with him. But probably the main factor in my transfer is the goalkeeping coach, Aleksey Antonyuk. I will be interested in working with him. Because as a goalkeeper, I will communicate with him more. Aleksey Valerievich and I contacted before I came to Baku. I really liked his vision of our joint work and future plans.
- The press writes that "Sabah" has taken you on loan. Does it turn out that you have an active contract with "Tobol"?
- No, my contract with "Tobol" has expired and I have moved to "Sabah" as a free agent.
- There was information that "Kayrat" wanted to bring you back in the winter. Were there any negotiations with the Almaty club?
- No one contacted me, no one called. I didn't have any negotiations with "Kayrat".
- What are the goals of your new club this season?
- I haven't talked to anyone about this yet. Because I joined the club a few days ago. But from what I've heard, their goal is to take a place that allows them to play in European Cups and win the Azerbaijan Cup.
- Do you think that your transfer will somehow affect your prospects of becoming number 1 in the national team?
- Of course, a lot will depend on my game and what form I am in. In the future, of course, this will be determined by the decision of the coaching staff led by Stanislav Salamovich Cherchesov. I note that no one in the national team is guaranteed a place in the starting line-up. In any case, I would be glad if the coaching staff considers me ready to help the national team.
- Your main competitor in the club for a place in the main squad is the goalkeeper of the Azerbaijani national team, Yusif Imanov. Given that you have just joined the club, how do you assess your chances of competing with him?
- Healthy competition has never harmed anyone. It would not be correct to assess my chances. I will show my full strength on the field to prove that I deserve to play in the main squad. But as I said before, the coaching staff makes the final decision.
