Andrey Solozhentsev: “In June 2022 I realized that I want to take gold for WFC”

— Andrey, how and when did women's football appear in your life?

— The beginning of my passion for women's soccer was laid back in 2013. By chance, a February trip by Dynamo Moscow fans to their beloved men's team's training camp in Turkey coincided (both in terms of timing and place of residence) with the Izmailovo WFC training camp.

One sunny day, when the girls were supposed to play a friendly match, we decided to support them and make some noise and create an atmosphere. Emotions were running high! After that game, I realized that I was starting to get sick with women's football. A few days later, there was a match between the WFC and Dynamo fans, after which I already knew exactly one more reason for family quarrels (laughs).

Unfortunately, Izmailovo WFC existed for about another year and a half, and most of their players moved to Chertanovo. So I started going around and supporting the girls at the new club, because at that time there wasn't even talk about creating Dynamo WFC

— So your love for women's Dynamo grew out of your support for Chertanovo?

— Some might accuse me of not being truly devoted to Dynamo. My children's names, Dima and Dasha, start with the same letter as the name of my favorite club, and that says it all!

Yes, for six years I combined going to football matches for men's Dynamo and women's Chertanovo, watched how Chertanovo turned from an outsider into a formidable opponent for any team, enjoyed the game of Yulia Bessolova, saw the confident and reliable actions of captain Yulia Gordeeva, witnessed the first steps of Kristina Komissarova in the main team, worried about them, but in my heart I hoped and believed that sooner or later I would wait for a miracle, I would see the birth of a women's football club called Dynamo.

— And in the end we waited!

— I waited! My first meeting with the girls and the coaching staff took place on 12.02.2022 – the magic of numbers. And again February, and again Turkey, and again training camps... Hotel "Kremlin Palace". The first pass to the territory, the first acquaintance, the first training, the first joint photo with the team, the first autographs on the flag, which would later become a good tradition... My head was spinning, my pulse was off the scale. Here it is, dear, long-awaited, beloved! What I have been waiting for long nine years! WFC Dynamo!

— Tell us about the first matches of the new team, the first away games.

— In the first year of its existence, women's "Dynamo" played in the Youth League, but it was necessary to prepare for the first, truly historic season. As it turned out, it presented many surprises, both positive and negative.

The calendar began with a trip to Krasnodar. Tickets were bought, 23 hours in a reserved seat car behind us. Arrived two days before the game, rented an apartment, met the team at the station... and then news appeared that spectators would not be allowed to the game. What to do? Help came from the club - a huge thank you to the former head of the WFC Dynamo Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Udaltsov.

Then - two home wins, a trip to Kazan, complaints from the stadium security service, and more help from the club. The first away fans already appeared in Samara. The trip to Novoshakhtinsk, where they played Rostov, was marked by the appearance of fans with a drum. Well, and then it all went downhill.

— When did the idea to visit all the WFC matches come up?

— After the trip to St. Petersburg in June 2022, I realized that I could and wanted to win gold for the WFC. But how would my wife feel about this? A compromise was found, for which I am very grateful and respectful to my other half.

The first victories, the first defeats, the first "crackers", the first tears, the first injuries, the first smiles... I saw everything with my own eyes, worried and rejoiced with the team. I thought that nothing could surprise me anymore.

— But...

— But ahead was the trip to Ryazan on August 6, 2022. It was magnificent and grandiose! And to this day, this is the largest outing of Dynamo women's fans. Crazy support from the stands during the match, hugs and a pyro show at the end. And again, it takes your breath away and your pulse quickens from those emotions, from the girls' reaction, from the realization that you are part of this whole performance!

— Did everything go smoothly, or were there moments when the "golden" season could have failed?

— In this regard, I would like to recall the match with Khimki-UOR No. 5, who decided to hold a home game with Dynamo on the reserve field of the Kratovo sports base, and it is not equipped with spectator stands. Here a little panic arose, because the "breakthrough" of the "golden" season was hanging by a thread. Once again, San Sanych Udaltsov helped, thanks to whom it was still possible to attend the match by roundabout routes.

— What do you remember about the remaining two months of the championship?

— The September trip to Perm gave us a visit to a museum, the first taste of local pirozhki-posekunchiki and a meeting with “old friends” from the Izmailovo Women’s Football Club.

Well, October was memorable for the longest trip to Krasnoyarsk and two dizzying, jaw-dropping, incredible victories over Zenit at home and Lokomotiv away. These were very necessary victories in terms of the fight for medals and, most importantly, in the understanding that we are one team, we can fight, endure, give our all on the field and win!

— Do you remember the day that brought the first medals in the club's history?

— A cold and windy day on November 5, 2022 brought us victory over Chertanovo, silver medals and faith in the future, and for me — a "golden" season and Kristina Komissarova's T-shirt. There will be another, "golden" T-shirt, but I will find out about it a little later.

— In 2023, Dynamo debuted in the Super League. What impressions did you have from last season?

— First of all, I would like to tell you about an event that left an indelible impression on me. In the first home match of the 2023 season, I was given the opportunity to make the first kick of the ball. We played with paratroopers from Ryazan. Our team has already included experienced and famous players, as well as legionnaires.

It was nice, honorable and responsible to be among those with whom you will have a journey to the heights of football ahead of you. I passed the ball to Tijana Matic and in the end we won.

— How would you rate the 2023 season overall? What has it been like for you?

— The entire 2023 season was reconnaissance and grinding in, acclimatization to the “adult” championship, finding our game, refining the interactions between the girls, understanding the requirements of the coaching staff. Games with teams from the top 3 were tough, we fought, but lost. That is, there was something to strive for.

We finished 2023 where we should have finished. We beat everyone below, fought with those above.

— How do you like the current season?

— We entered 2024 with a good attitude, having strengthened ourselves with a number of experienced and reliable players. Now Dynamo is a mix of youth and experience, which has begun to bear fruit.

Of course, the victory over Lokomotiv was memorable this season – the first victory over a club from the top three, which was so long-awaited, but at the same time confident. Loko was defeated with a score of 3:0.

However, there is still the second round ahead. How this path will go is unknown. We want medals, the current position of the team in the tournament table suggests that there is a chance. Well, and then we can aim for the championship. We must believe, love football and work hard, work hard, work hard...

— Do you have favorite players on the team?

— Of course, I do, but I will not name them, let them try to guess for themselves.

— What would you like to wish our favorite team, as well as the fans?

— Taking this opportunity, I would like to say a huge thank you for the help to the entire coaching staff, and the staff of the WFC Dynamo for their responsiveness, friendliness and help in any matters. To all the injured - a speedy recovery and return to the field, to all the loaned players - a speedy return to the team! I am proud to know you all!

I want to say to the fans: "Love football, love the Dynamo Women's Football Club, come, cheer, support the girls! They deserve it!"