Amir Gizyatov: «For me, this is exactly want I need»

Reaktor forward Amir Gizyatov, one of the youngest players of the Nizhnekamsk team speaks with the media.

– Guys born in 2007, do not even play in the JHL team yet.

– From the very first days at our Neftekhimik hockey school, I was on the 2006 team. That year there were too many people who wanted to play here, some of the children began training with guys a year older. Last season at school turned out to be very good for me in terms of stats, which is, probably, the reason, why I was invited to Reaktor. Before I signed a junior contract, several clubs made me offers to go play in the JHL. Dad and I thought about it for a very long time. Mom did not want me to leave Nizhnekamsk. We thought about what would be best for my career. We decided to spend the first season in Nizhnekamsk, in order to see how everything works in the youth team.

– Who put you on skates?

– I was young; my dad played some hockey in night league, and I watched this game. There I met Sergei Kasymov. There, he explained me some things about hockey. I started training at a hockey school, our coach was Rodion Gafurov. A few years later, he was replaced by Sergei Kasymov. He gave me a lot of skills and experience. We are still in touch, sometimes I need his advice, I know he will not refuse to help me. We had a great team.

– How did the guys at Reaktor greet you?

– In the youth team, the guys are older. We have a friendly team, there are no clique.

 

– Who are you friends on the team?

– Seva Sokolov and I are the same age, and since childhood we have been training on the same team and living in neighboring buildings. We played hockey on the sand, and my little sister was a goaltender. We played football in the Neftekhimik park. We always went to the skating rink at 31 schools together. The coach there was Niyaz Nazipovich, he also took us under his wing. We all went out together to clear the snow, then played hockey.

– Are you at school now?

– Yes, I am now in 10th grade, studying at school 31. Over the past six months, I have probably studied for six full days. Like for 2-3 lessons per day. This year I came to school for the first time two months after the start of the school year. In order to keep up with the school program, I take on assignments and study while road trips. I did not want to leave after 9th grade; for me finishing 11th grade was a priority, because my teachers are still interested in helping me to get the education, they help me. There are no exams this year, so it is not hard. Next year I will have to prepare for upcoming exams. I want to study at Nizhnekamsk Chemical Technology Institute later. You now, kind of plan B, just in case.

– Who supports you in the stands during home games?

– Parents, my dear sister, my cousin, my grandparents too, my classmate Rail, he is a former hockey player. Grandmother from Kazan always watches games on the internet. I have a large support group.

 

– Do you follow what different telegram channelsand social networks write about you?

– It is nice. I should not focus on it.

– If you put hockey life aside, what do you like to do?

– I am the kind of person who generally does not like to sit and do nothing. My sister is the same – she does gymnastics. When it is the weekend, we need something to do. We used to go skiing, I like basketball and football. In the summer, I love riding a motorcycle. I am saving up for a new motorcycle. I usually spend the whole month of June in the village of Nizhnye Chelny. At 4 am. I go fishing, I help my grandparents, I ride a motorcycle with my friends, we go camping there, and we play football. For me, this is exactly want I need.