On International Women's Day, we decided to talk with Anzhelika Khocholava, the coach of the women's youth team of FC Sochi, a six-time champion of Russia in football.

We talked about women's football, psychology and working with young football players.

Anzhelika, tell us a little about yourself.

   — I come from the Krasnodar Territory. For a long time I worked as a coach in Moscow. I was an athlete instructor at the sports school "Chertanovo", a coach at the SHOP No. 27 "Sokol". As a player, was a member of the Krasnodar Territory national team, the Moscow national team, the junior national team of Russia.  Played in the qualifying matches of the European U16 Championship from 2010 to 2011.

How did football come into your life?

   - As a child. I always spent the first half of the day with the girls, and the second half with the boys, playing football. For me, this is the best sport in the world, and I never even once doubted that I would choose this way.

Why is women's football developing so rapidly now?

- FIFA, UEFA, RFU are making great efforts to ensure that women's football develops in all countries. Including RFPL clubs are required to have women's teams in the structure. This is due to the fact that women now have the opportunity to engage in more brutal types of disputes I think it's great that women are supported in this.

Let's move on to coaching. What is its peculiarity with the players of the women's team?

   - Probably psychology. With girls, the work is a little different. We need more time to bring a girl to football, to fall in love with this sport, and the process of education requires a more flexible approach. When the girls come to us, we smooth out many moments. Does not come to training 1-2 times — we tolerate. Because we want to be understanding. Another example: parents do not want a girl to play football: "studying suffers", "this is not a women's sport", but over time we show that girls can play football, compete with boys, and in general football helps to realize themselves, develop important qualities and, if desired, can become a way for them to achieve success, recognition at a professional level.

   How should young footballers behave outside the football field?

   —The most important thing is to lead a healthy lifestyle. I'll tell you a funny case. The football players and I came to the stadium to support FC Sochi in the match with CSKA The girls came with chips, crackers, soda. The coaches and I are in shock, and the parents say, "come on, it's okay, what's wrong?". Yes, we all eat fast food and in every family not without it, but within the framework of sports, we must exclude these undoubtedly harmful things. After all, the pupils are the face of our children's and youth teams.

That is, it's better not to come to training with soda?

- Of course (laughs).

On parenting forums, moms worry about long hair. They think that they will need to be trimmed. It's true?

— This is a very big misconception. Everything is purely individual. Let the girl look the way she wants.

Why should parents of girls pay attention to the youth sector of FC Sochi?

— As we said earlier, women's football is becoming more popular, girls are becoming more disciplined. There is a high organization in terms of the educational and training process. The girls will have regular competitions: the teams of the Southern Federal District will participate in the away, home games of the Russian Championship, the girls will be provided with equipment and the opportunity to study for free. Solid plus

How to get to the viewing?

- Make an appointment to watch on the phone, come to training and that's it. The plus is that we are currently recruiting, not selecting. We work with almost everyone. Now there is a chance to make history and become those who will stand at the origins of the development of women's football in Sochi.

Congratulations to Anzhelika Ilyinichna, all the pupils of FC Sochi and the female part of the club staff on the International Women's Day! May you be surrounded by heat, tenderness, care and love!

You can contact Anzhelika, ask questions and make an appointment for viewing by phone: 8 (977) 475-42-47