Alexandru Vremea - I have an objective, and I will reach it

We all know that Moldova is a rural country. And we all know that Moldova has many football talents. We also know, that besides some exceptions, all these talents disappear and give up too soon. We introduce Alexandr Vremea, the symbol of the "Sfintul Gheorghe" club and a living example of how should a football player grow and develop in our rural country.

Alexandr Vremea lives, studies and plays football in his home village, Suruceni. Although he doesn't visit the capital very often, we met in Chisinau. In the process of working on the site, we meet and talk with many football players, but in this case we have to admit that Alexandru made a strong impression on us. He is 18 years old but he works hard to reach his aim, established 8 years ago - to become a football player. He is a kind of ideal, a very good example on the subject: " To be born in a Moldavian village and to become a great football player". On a certain moment of our dialog, we asked: "Did you ever taste beer?". Alexandr looked surprised and answered: "Are you kidding? Of course I did!". He is a common youth with a strong intention to become a good football player. He will have an excellent career.  

- When did you start playing football?

- I began playing football in 2003, from the foundation of Sfintul Gheorge club, in my home village - Suruceni. Before this, I had been playing in the team of my first trainer - Vladimir Lungu. There was nothing in the place of our stadium. We used to train on the playground near our school.

- Why football instead of box, for example?

- I had an elder friend who was playing football. I began training with him. Regularly I also began training with our actual trainer - Mr. Caraman, when he formed two youth teams.

- How was the development of the Sfintul Gheorghe club in the beginning?

- We had a hard time... I remember Mr. Caraman returning from Chisinau with footballs. Later, he began leaving them at my house, so I was the one who used to bring them at the trainings.

- The guys from those two groups were also from Suruceni?

- There were boys from our village and from neighborhood villages - Nimoreni and Danceni, and some guys from Chisinau. At that time the club didn't have its own minibuses. We used to go home and to the trainings by regular busses and minibuses.

- What happened later?

- Later came Mr. Reniţă and the club started its development: own minibuses, own stadium, own equipment, all necessary facilities...

- When did you realize that you are not simply training, and that you really will become a football player?

- I guess from the moment I began training with Mr. Caraman. From the very beginning he established some restrictions in comparison with the habitual life style, which I follow even nowadays. I never gave up football trainings, I mean that I had a serious attitude towards football from the beginning.

- Who determined the role of halfback: you or your trainer?

- The trainer. In my childhood I used to play as a forward.

- And then you started playing in the youth national championship...

- Yes, but in the beginning I had a hard time (laughing)... We used to lose dramatically...8:0, 6:0 and even worse.

- How long did this last?

- More than a year. Then we started to lose with a more worthy score, and then we had drawn games and even victories.

- What is the reason for that in your opinion? Maybe the team had new players?

- No, we did it ourselves...It's the result of our trainings.

- And what was the next step?

- We won the championship for our age ( we are born in 1990)

- Did you have this task from the beginning?

- No, we made progress from match to match and in the end, when we understood that there was a chance to win, we finally did it, outstripping Sheriff.

- Do you remember that game?

- Of course. When we played against Buiucani, after the first time the score was 0:0. In the second time I scored the first goal, and in the end we won 4:0. Sheriff also won its match, but we scored more goals. I remember my strong emotions after the game. At that time our trainer was Victor Botezatu, the actual trainer of the Sfintul Gheorge reserves.

- And what was after that? The A division?

- Yes. It was a new level for us. I was nervous. I was 16 years old and I was the youngest in the team. We lost the first match against Buiucani 2:4 , but I scored a goal.

- Playing in the youth championship against Sheriff and Zimbru and other teams, did you have a special attitude towards a certain team?

- I guess it was Buiucani. At one time we used to play our home matches on their artificial field and we met quite often.

- And now, in the National League who is, in your opinion, the most important adversary?

- I wouldn't say that it is the most important, but I would mention Zimbru.

- How many goals did you score in the A division?

- About ten. In the beginning I was in the reserves of the team, because I was the youngest. Then I started playing in the first team and then I even became the captain.

- Did you give scoring passes?

- Yes, I had a lot of passes, I can't remember the figures. If we compare the games from the A division, we can see that the situation is the same: we had a hard time from the beginning, we had more failures and we managed to get just 9 points in the first lap. In the second lap we were more self-confident and more experienced and we got 24 points. I was sure from the very beginning that we would be at ease during that tour, and I was right. I am sure that we will feel the same in the National League.

- How would you characterize your present team?

- We play in this team just a few months. Before the championship I was sure that we won't be whipping boys, no matter of the specialists' predictions. We already play a certain game, we manage to control the ball very well, and sometimes we miss it because of the lack of experience, individual mistakes, and youth.

- Let's make a little digression. On the stadium we saw that you already have your own supporters. Are you often recognized by fellow villagers?

- Oh yeah! They stop me in the street; they ask me about the team, about our games. If I score a goal - they congratulate me. In our village there is a group of men who come to support us even at guest matches.

- When did you understand that you can play in the National League?

- After the guest match against "Sheriff". I was worried...I was playing on their main arena for the first time, and for the first time - under artificial lighting. But I also remember the first match against "Nistru". I had been waiting for that match a very long time, it was actually my début in the National League and I had a great desire for self-affirmation. Did I sleep well the night before? I guess I did. Although I didn't score during that match, I think I the match was a success. I knew "Sheriff" before; I even went to them for a checkup.

- Really?

- They invited me between the laps when we were playing for the A division. I had been training there for 5-6 days, but they said that I need to gain shape.

- Are you studying now?

- Yes, I'm studying in my village, in the 11^th grade. I guess all the teachers know that football is uppermost in my mind and they understand me. I am very much obliged to them.

- How are you getting on in school?

- It's all right. I have eights in general.

- In what championship would you like to play?

- I don't know, anything but the Moldavian one. (laughter in the hall)

- Why?

- You know...no promotion perspectives, the financial issues...

- What is your parents' attitude towards your profession?

- Mother had never stopped me from playing football. My father had been abroad for a long time and he didn't know that I am seriously involved in football. Even when he was sending me boots and other football equipment he was thinking that I was playing in the street with other guys, as an amateur. Once, when he came home we were playing a home match against "Gagauzia" and I scored a goal. Our fellow villagers began congratulating him, asking him about me. I guess than he realized my serious attitude towards football. He even showed a living interest for my passion for football.

- Do they understand that nowadays football can become a very good source of income?

- I guess they do. In the beginning they were thinking that football is just a temporary hobby, and after my graduation we would think about my future career.

- Would you like to play abroad?

- I think I need half a year more to play here. I need to gain shape.

- You have a firm delivered kick. Is it an inherent ability or the result of your trainings?

- I don't know...It might be an inherent ability and it might be the result of my work. But I wouldn't say that I am very powerful and that I have loaded legs.

- What match in the National Leagues was the most fundamental?

- I guess all matches are fundamental.

- Usually, do you recover quickly after a match?

- No. I analyze in my mind every mistake several times; I am trying to understand how to play other matches without making mistakes.

- Were you glad to be invited in the U-19 combined team?

- Of course! Who wouldn't be? Besides we played the first match against Poland in my home village - Suruceni.

- How did Poland show itself?

- They were big, but slow, we were smaller - but quicker.

- You were invited for trainings for the qualifying lap in the European Championship. However, you didn't fly to Luxemburg? Was it disappointing?

- Yes, as it is for each football player. But I have no complaints. Anyway, for me it was a success. I wanted very much to go, to be the first homebred player "Sfintul Gheorge" in the first team of the official game. Mister Goian had explained to me that the fact that I was invited in that team, was already an important step in my career, but I was still a beginner, so he decided to count on a more practiced player, that had been invited earlier and that had had a certain experience at the international level. I agreed with my trainer.

- Did you watch that match of the youth league?

- Of course. We lost to Turkey 1:0, to Germany 5:0, but we won in Luxembourg. Turkey and Germany passed into the next lap.

- How to you spend your free time? By the way, are people playing jokes on your surname?

- Sometimes they do. First I used to pay attention to this, but know I even don't remember. During my spare time I do usual things: Internet, television, music.

- What about girls?

- It's ok. For a football player there are a lot of temptations that can lead you astray, but I am trying not to fall into them. Firstly I need to work on my career. I have a goal and I do my best to reach it.

- What are your favorite internet sites?

- Moldfootball.com

- Did you have many of interviews during your career?

- No, but it happens sometimes.

- What is your attitude towards this?

- It's a part of my job.

- How do you think: why not all the guys that start to play football become football players?

- As I said before, in the daily life there are a lot of temptations that can lead one astray. Also, sometimes I notice that the parents are more willing to see their child a football player, than the child himself. From 10 boys that have a good start, maybe just 1 will become a football player.

- What playing style do you prefer: high-speed, athletic or technical?

- The high-speed and the technical one.

- How would you appreciate your playing skills? What are you doing well and what should be practiced more?

- The speed and the technique are Ok. I wouldn't say that I'm physically weak, but I would like to work more on my physical condition.

- You are often scoring goals from different positions. Is this the trainer's plan, or is it your decision?

- It is the trainer's decision. He says: "You can do this. You decide depending on situation"

- How would you explain the goals that you score from different positions and standards?

- I feel when the kick will be a good one, and when not. I kick the ball only when I know that I'll score.

- Did you have this confidence when you scored goals to Sheriff?

- Yes. It was a good combination, I went forward and I made my way. It was great; I scored into the top corner of the goal. During the fist guest match against "Sheriff" the ball hit the horizontal bar after a long blow.

- Do you feel that you are succeeding and that you have a chance to go far?

- I believe in this! Many people ask me if I am not tired of football, of permanent constraints and physical efforts. I can't just leave behind the whole work that I've done during my trainings, especially because that I do succeed. I like to work hard and I feel that football is definitely for me.

 P.S. The day before the vacation, "Sfintul Gheorge" players had different tests. Alexandr Vremea had the best result on each test.