"ARARAT 73" - 40 YEARS AFTER: ALEXANDER KOVALENKO IN MEMORIES OF HIS TEAMMATES
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/722270/ararat-73-%E2%80%93-40-years-after-alexander-kovalenko-in-memories-of-his-teammates.html
10:48, 12 June, 2013
The more we study the details regarding the triumphs of "Ararat 73",
the more new and interesting facts and events come forth, which are
unknown for the contemporary footballers. "Armenpress" opens that
"golden page" in the history book of the Armenian sport.
Both the heroes and witnesses of the heroic triumph of "Ararat 73"
tell new details about the club's achievements. This time the project
is dedicated to legendary Alexander Kovalenko.
YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. "Kovalenko is not the legend of the
Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire USSR football
as well." That's how Alexander Kovalenko's teammates briefly described
their friend. They all stated that Kovalenko was absolutely devoted
to the match; he loved people and always supported his friends. He
was a spirit of friendship of the team.
Alexander Kovalenko was born in 1943. Kovalenko played in different
positions ranging from the defender to forward. He was a famous
football-player, USSR champion, USSR cup holder. He was a legend
of the Armenian football. Kovalenko was considered one of the best
full-backs of the star team "Ararat-73" in 1973. He participated in
281 matches and scored 19 goals in his career.
Alexander Kovalenko died on April 1, 2002.
Nikolay Ghazaryan described Alexander Kovalenko as "a concrete wall"
of "Ararat". Among other things Nikolay Ghazaryan underscored: "He
was our central backward and the fate of the entire defense depended
on this position. We never worried, when he was in the main squad. We
were confident that the defense is safe.
We remained friends beyond the boundaries of the stadium as well. We
used to go fishing together. The difference of our age was not so
substantial, but we considered him to be our elder brother."
When Suren Martirosyan was telling us about his teammate, he seemed
to be addressing words of gratitude to Alexander Kovalenko.
Suren Martirosyan stressed: "Kovalenko is not the legend of
the Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire
USSR football as well. Any team would love to have such a football
player. Physically he was very strong and robust and he could easily
eliminate the opponent's attacks.
Kovalenko was our joy. When we used to come together on any occasion,
he was the first to appear on the dance floor, he was always in the
centre of the dancing hall."
The legendary captain of the team Hovhannes Zanazanyan missed defender
Alexander Kovalenko - "Comrade Alexander", very much.
Among other things he highlighted: "Kovalenko was a great man. He
was a worthy football player for all triumphs. Our rivals had to
face with an impenetrable wall, when he was in the field. He was a
very kind-hearted person. It's also noteworthy, that whenever we met
journalists in foreign countries, he always proudly said that he was
an Armenian, a true Armenian."
(THE FULL VERSION OF THE ARTICLEIS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)
http://armenpress.am/arm/news/722270/ararat-73-%E2%80%93-40-years-after-alexander-kovalenko-in-memories-of-his-teammates.html
"Ararat" players' memories about Alexander Kovalenko were gratefully
written down by Varvara Hayrapetyan
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/722270/ararat-73-%E2%80%93-40-years-after-alexander-kovalenko-in-memories-of-his-teammates.html
10:48, 12 June, 2013
The more we study the details regarding the triumphs of "Ararat 73",
the more new and interesting facts and events come forth, which are
unknown for the contemporary footballers. "Armenpress" opens that
"golden page" in the history book of the Armenian sport.
Both the heroes and witnesses of the heroic triumph of "Ararat 73"
tell new details about the club's achievements. This time the project
is dedicated to legendary Alexander Kovalenko.
YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. "Kovalenko is not the legend of the
Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire USSR football
as well." That's how Alexander Kovalenko's teammates briefly described
their friend. They all stated that Kovalenko was absolutely devoted
to the match; he loved people and always supported his friends. He
was a spirit of friendship of the team.
Alexander Kovalenko was born in 1943. Kovalenko played in different
positions ranging from the defender to forward. He was a famous
football-player, USSR champion, USSR cup holder. He was a legend
of the Armenian football. Kovalenko was considered one of the best
full-backs of the star team "Ararat-73" in 1973. He participated in
281 matches and scored 19 goals in his career.
Alexander Kovalenko died on April 1, 2002.
Nikolay Ghazaryan described Alexander Kovalenko as "a concrete wall"
of "Ararat". Among other things Nikolay Ghazaryan underscored: "He
was our central backward and the fate of the entire defense depended
on this position. We never worried, when he was in the main squad. We
were confident that the defense is safe.
We remained friends beyond the boundaries of the stadium as well. We
used to go fishing together. The difference of our age was not so
substantial, but we considered him to be our elder brother."
When Suren Martirosyan was telling us about his teammate, he seemed
to be addressing words of gratitude to Alexander Kovalenko.
Suren Martirosyan stressed: "Kovalenko is not the legend of
the Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire
USSR football as well. Any team would love to have such a football
player. Physically he was very strong and robust and he could easily
eliminate the opponent's attacks.
Kovalenko was our joy. When we used to come together on any occasion,
he was the first to appear on the dance floor, he was always in the
centre of the dancing hall."
The legendary captain of the team Hovhannes Zanazanyan missed defender
Alexander Kovalenko - "Comrade Alexander", very much.
Among other things he highlighted: "Kovalenko was a great man. He
was a worthy football player for all triumphs. Our rivals had to
face with an impenetrable wall, when he was in the field. He was a
very kind-hearted person. It's also noteworthy, that whenever we met
journalists in foreign countries, he always proudly said that he was
an Armenian, a true Armenian."
(THE FULL VERSION OF THE ARTICLEIS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)
http://armenpress.am/arm/news/722270/ararat-73-%E2%80%93-40-years-after-alexander-kovalenko-in-memories-of-his-teammates.html
"Ararat" players' memories about Alexander Kovalenko were gratefully
written down by Varvara Hayrapetyan