Anna Vinogradova, who is playing at the All-Russian Spartakiad in the national team of Saint-Petersburg, finishes her playing career. In an interview with Handballfast author Nikolay Spirchagov the player recalled her work experience with Evgeny Trefilov.
— How did you fell after being told about the disbanding of HC Tremp in 2005?
— I was too young then, so I didn’t realize well what had happened. At this time the World championship was held in Saint-Petersburg, and Evgeny Trefilov inquired about about our team’s affairs. He was told at the Olympic reserve school that it was not going well and recommended to take Vinogradov sisters to Togliatti. We went so far from home with Olya for the first time on that occasion. Moreover, we found ourselves at the national team training camp at once — at that time the national team was based in Togliatti, so we came to Fortuna (sport base in Togliatti — Handballfast) and began to settle in the star team.
— Weren’t you afraid to go to Evgeny Vasilievich?
— We wanted to play handball, so we were happy that the national team’s coach payed attention to us and agreed to move immediately. Of course, we saw how he worked, but he screams like that only on the playground. He will always help and advise in life.
I recall, once our father and younger sister stayed with us in Togliatti. It was time for the team to go to Volgograd to the final tour, and Evgeny Vasilyevich invited them to go with us, so we came seeking gold with the whole family.
Then there was another story. Once we went to Rostov and on the way as usual we stopped to eat. Me and Olya didn’t take anything with us for some reason and Evgeny Vasilyevich saw us hungry and bought us cakes.
— Knowing Evgeny Vasilyevich, I am sure he couldn’t pass by your sonorous surname. Did he give you a nickname?
— Hah, I don’t understand why but he called us apothecaries. Sometimes we heard such expression from him (smiling). In the team they called me only "vinograd" (grape), — told Vinogradova.
Photo: personal archive of Anna Vinogradova
