Artem Chobanian

 

 

Football in Ukraine is, like anywhere else, littered with foreign talent. It isn’t just the big two clubs that are reaping the rewards of looking further afield for talent. Without the influence of foreign players, the Ukrainian Vyscha Liga would be a much much poorer place. In his previous piece, our Ukraine expert Artem Chobanian gave us a run down on 3 talented foreign players currently starring in the Vyscha Liga. Here he wraps things up by brining us the lowdown on two more players we may soon be hearing a lot more of in Western Europe.


Ismael Bangoura was born in Conakry, Guinea on the 2nd January 1985. Height 174cm, weight 72kg. First came to prominence in a large league in 2005 as a Le Mans player. Spent two years there and became the third choice striker in the 2006-2007 season. Played 56 matches, scored 18 goals. Bought by Dynamo Kyiv in 2007 for €10 million. He is also the leader of the Guinea national team — played 21 games and scored 10 times.  

The managers and owners of Dynamo wanted Bangoura very badly! Since the time when Shevchenko and Rebrov left Dynamo only Shazkih could be relied upon and scored almost in every match. The club bought and sold players, but couldn’t find anyone with the quality to assist and partner Shazkih. Finally, after Dynamo purchased Bangoura and Michael, Dynamo’s front line became very strong.

In his first game for Dynamo Bangoura scored a hat-trick! He adapted very well in the club. His first matches for the club showed that he had the instinct to decide very quickly whether to play a pass or try to score himself. Unlike many players, Bangoura is equally comfortable using his right or left foot and that’s the coach likes him to switch flanks during a game and confuse the opposition. He’s also not afraid to track back and dispossess opponents.

Bangoura played in 15 matches and scored 10 goals for Dynamo, but then got a serious injury and had to watch many games unfold from the stadium bench. Soon after that, Michael was injured as well, and Dynamo had to return to their ‘old’ scheme with Shazkih and young Milevsky, Rotan, Aliev. But quite soon Ismael was back in the game again and scored on his return against deadly rivals Shakhtar!

Bangoura is still a relative newcomer to the Vyscha Liga and hasn’t yet settled in Ukraine. He mostly spends his time with his Brazilian team-mates, though all the players respect and value him greatly. Influential midfielder Rotan says he likes watching Bangoura at training because he resembles a javelin thrower who runs not only determined to throw/shoot, but also knowing he will do it! Definitely, in a player like Bangoura, Dynamo have finally found someone with all the strengths of a good forward: young, talented, willing to score and, more importantly, scoring goals! A club like Dynamo needs an injection of young and promising footballers, and the five year contract given to Bangoura proves he is one of them. 
 

Papa Guye was born in Dakar, Senegal on 7th June 1984. His height is 192cm, weight 84kg. First appeared for AS Douanes club in Senegal where he spent three successive seasons between 2002 and 2005. Senegal Cup winner in 2003 and 2004. Senegal vice-champion in 2004.


Papa Guye’s godfather was the coach of “Volyn” Vitaly Kvarzyany. He and his agents were searching for a tall defender and were lucky to find Papa. At first Papa was very gloomy and shy, but that soon changed when he began to adapt to Ukraine. When he was given his first pay-packet, bigger than he had ever had before, he became so confused that couldn’t find the words to thank the team managers. But very soon he began repaying their faith by playing well and finding his place in the team.


Metalist Kharkiv coach Miron Markevich wanted to buy Papa Guye in 2005, but Volyn and Metalist only managed to agree on a price in 2006. Papa himself once confessed that he was happy to play for a stronger team, but afraid of not justifying the hopes of the fans and managers.


His apprehension was groundless. From his very first matches for Metalist he became a real bodyguard of the defence zone. Along with Obradovich, Ganzarchik and Bordian, Papa Guye protects the goalkeeper from attacking threats and very often Papa leads the game running with the ball like a real forward, or locomotive — a nickname his team mates often call him.


Last year Papa Guye created a stir in the UEFA Cup when Metalist were drawn to face a very strong club — Everton FC. The first game was very difficult for Metalist. The defence was in a serious trouble on more than one occasion and the goal was bombarded with dozens of shots. Papa and the other players did what they could and despite Everton’s brilliant play managed to keep their net safe, letting only one goal in. In the match in Kharkiv, Papa Guye was supreme, winning all the tackles and never letting the Everton players win any ball in the air.


That year was full of expectation for him and his team mates, but Metalist dropped out of UEFA Cup, and now find themselves hoping to secure third place in the championship and try their luck in Europe again. Papa Guye’s excellent play hasn’t gone unnoticed. He and Andrei Rusol were recognised as the best defendersn in the Vyscha Liga and awarded special prizes.


Papa Guye is only starting his career as a professional footballer and all Metalist Kharkiv fans hope he will help the team to achieve better results in the league and also in Europe. However, the real fear is that given more exposure in European competition, the rest of Europe will quickly find out just how good Papa Guye can be.