Maxim Mihaliov: “ I think that we will become champions”

FC Dacia recruited a new player a few days before the New Year. The team was joined by Maxim Mihaliov who had played for Dinamo Bender, Iskra-Stal Rîbniţa and an Israeli club for half a year. He scored 26 goals in 140 matches of the National Division and secured his team a sensational away win against Sheriff Tiraspol in 2009.

- Maxim, how did your football career begin?

- I was at kindergarten back then. My mom died when I was five, father was working all day long and my brother looked after me. He was playing football and brought me with him. That's how I started training.

- Dinamo Bender took the fifth spot in 2008/2009. Was this season the best in you career?

- I think so. I put in quite a good performance and helped my team secure victories.

- How did you end up in an Israeli club?

- My agent called me and offered me to pursue my career in Israel. I agreed and ended up with the team I did not plan on transferring to. I signed for six months with the squad where Igor Costrov played on loan. Eventually, I cancelled the contract by mutual consent. I was in a strained relation with the president. Everything began from the very first meeting when he was smoking with his feet on the table while I was signing the contract.

Once he called my agent in the 15^th minute of the match after I had sent an assist and told him that I was the worst player of the team.But the last straw after which I left was when he told me that the team had lost because of me while I had sat on the bench the whole game.

- Why did you transfer to Dacia?

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- Well, Olimpia invited me first after that 0-0 tie against them in the Championship. I did not agree because they had worse conditions. My agent called me on Dec. 30 and offered to transfer to Dacia. I weighed all the pros and cons and agreed.

- Did you have any problems fitting in?

- No, I did not have any difficulties. Moldova is a small country and everybody knows each other, I played with Dima Popovici for Dinamo Bender 6 years ago. I have known Matiughin since I was a child because he played with my brother and me. I know the guys pretty well so I didn't have any problems.

- What do you think of the first training camp with the team?

- It's a little bit difficult to train for 3 weeks at the camp. But overall everything is fine. I talked to my wife and she said that it was -13 C back home. It's definitely much better to train with +20 'C outside.

- What do you do at the camp when you have free time?

- We play cards.

- What for?

- For push-ups!

- What is your motivation on the football field?

- To win! Not to score, but to win.

- Do you think that Dacia will be able to win the Championship?

- Yes, I think. I think that we have all the necessary conditions. Plus, Sheriff are not their former selves anymore. I think that we will become champions.