Vladislav Radimov: "As a boy from Leningrad, I’ve supported Zenit since childhood"
— Vladislav, welcome to the Zenit basketball match. Do you remember when you first attended a game of our team?
— No, I don’t remember exactly when the first time was. But I remember attending games, though I can’t recall the exact first one. For me, it feels like Zenit has always existed. It’s just a fact of life.
— The team’s roster has changed significantly. Six newcomers at once. Is there anyone in particular you are excited to see? Perhaps you know any of them personally?
— I don’t personally know any of them. But as a boy from Leningrad, I’ve been a fan of Zenit since childhood. I support all the city’s sports teams — volleyball, hockey, and of course football — so I’ve always supported the basketball club as well. Players come and go, but the team remains. As for singling anyone out, I’ll watch today and then I’ll tell you.
— You surely remember Andrey Vorontsevich, a ten-time VTB League champion and three-time EuroLeague champion from his time with CSKA?
— Of course, I know him and have watched his matches. But here and now, he’ll help the team, and how the fans will accept him is something we’ll see. I think the reaction will be fine. Love must be earned, though. If at CSKA he was an idol, a king, and deserved all his praise, here everything starts from scratch.
— You know firsthand what it’s like to be the captain of Zenit, and before this season, Sergey Karasev was named the new captain. In your opinion, what qualities should a leader of the team possess?
— I know Karasev. I even have a photo with him. We follow each other, and we’ve talked a couple of times. I think Sergey has the right qualities, and most importantly, a captain needs to prove his worth not off the field, but on it, especially in tough moments. Karasev knows how to do that, and I think we’ll win titles with him.
— Who do you consider Zenit’s main competitors in the upcoming season?
— I won’t surprise you by naming CSKA, of course. And, naturally, UNICS. As for the others, I think they are slightly below. UNICS, Zenit, and CSKA are the main contenders for the title.
— You played in Spain. Did you have time to attend basketball games back then? Perhaps you fell in love with the sport as a fan during that time?
— Let me tell you a story. I played in Zaragoza, and they have a basketball team there. Around Christmas, in an arena about the same size — no, probably bigger, around ten thousand seats — they would hold a special event. The first half was played by football rules: five-on-five, with small goals. The basketball team played against the football team. Then the second half was basketball. I can’t remember exactly how the points were counted, but I think for football players, the points were multiplied by two, and in the end, it was all summed up. As a Christmas tradition, both teams would give gifts to the fans, and the final score was usually tied. It was a fantastic experience, and I took part in it twice. If possible, I recommend organizing such a match between football and basketball teams — it’s amazing, and everyone will love it.
— You’re from our beloved city, but at the start of your career, you played for CSKA. You’ve experienced playing for both teams. Do you agree that the rivalry between Zenit and CSKA in basketball is now much fiercer than in football?
— I can’t say for sure, but I understand that if these two teams are the main competitors, then the rivalry must be more intense than in football. In football, the primary rivalry is clear: Zenit vs. Spartak.
— The Zenit football team won their match 3-1. What are your expectations for this game against MBA-MAI, and what advice would you give to the fans?
— SKA is also playing in Nizhny Novgorod today. I support all Petersburg sports in any form. As a kid, I went to all types of sporting events with my friends and classmates, and that’s still the case today. The first match of the season is one of the most important. How you start will influence the standings, and it’s much more pleasant to be at the top than to chase after the leaders later. So, we need to win, and after that, we’ll see how things unfold.
