Two victories of football legends in the ATO zone
National team of Ukraine among veterans became a frequent guest in the east of our country. Legends of football, steadfastly following the stated purpose, go to cities in the ATO zone, where, in addition to direct football matches, they meet with military and local residents, giving minutes of joy and hope for the future. Another stopover of the star team under the leadership of Anatoly Demyanenko and Vladimir Lozinski became the Luhansk region, where matches were held in Starobilsk and Novoaydar.
Star cast - to Luhansk region
Even the fact of departure of famous Ukrainian football players from warm and comfortable Kyiv and other peaceful cities to the east of the country speaks for itself. Sensing where the main events in our country are taking place today, where its future is being decided, where the struggle for peace and independence is going on every day, the Ukrainian national team always responds to invitations from cities close to the war zone. The tour is conducted by the team with the support of the Football Federation of Ukraine, the Association of Football Veterans of Ukraine and Agribusiness LLC.
When two dozen men in a jacket with a trident and a soccer ball appeared on the Svatov station at lunchtime, the gaze of passers-by involuntarily turned on them. All famous football players came to Luhansk region in the following composition:
goalkeeper - Svyatoslav Orphan;
defenders - Bohdan Shershun, Vitaliy Samoilov, Vyacheslav Svidersky, Oleksandr Venglinsky;
midfielders - Ivan Yaremchuk, Eduard Tsikhmeystruk, Yuriy Maximov, Victor Ulyanitsky, Vladimir Bondarenko;
attackers - Oleg Sobutsky, Sergey Nagornyak, Yuriy Grytsyna.
Golepad balls on a mini-field
Starobilsk became the first stop of the legendary team. He was chosen three years ago as the site of the new location by Lugansk Taras Shevchenko National University, and practically the entire teaching staff and students moved here. The university football team was reinforced by the military from the 8th Special Forces Regiment, forming a very combatant team. They played in the hall, high speeds, dynamics and beautifully scored balls ... As a result, the legends of football won without difficulty — 7: 5, Oleg Sobutsky was twice distinguished in their squad, twice — Vyacheslav Svidersky, at a time — Eduard Tsikhmeystruk and Vitaliy Samoilov. At the end of the match, each of the opponents was presented with a presentation by the national team, as well as state flags to be displayed in the school and the military unit.
Big football in Novoidar
The fact that our famous veterans are in great shape was shown by the next game, which took place in Novoaydar. The local team is playing in the championship of Luhansk region, and although the results of its performances leave much to be desired, the prospects look very bright. It can't be otherwise, because the football player, ex-player of "Zori", "Metalist", FC "Kharkiv" and "Zakarpattya" Igor Shopin was elected the mayor of Novoaydar. "Football is now one of the few vents for our residents, a meeting place and an occasion for communication," says perhaps the most football mayor of Ukraine. - In our plans — to put the stadium in order, and in the park to build a platform 20 by 40 meters, where everyone will play, including the military, based around us. The visit of celebrities, some of whom I had to compete on the football field, is a very significant and symbolic event, we see that shows and holidays can be not only in Kiev, Kharkiv or Lviv, but also in war-torn towns and villages. Until recently, many did not believe that such an event would take place in Novoaydar, the more pleasant it was to hold everything at the highest level, in a very patriotic, sincere atmosphere. "
The soldiers of the 14th separate mechanized brigade, who are currently serving in the ATO zone, came to the stadium. These are old friends of the veterans national team, last year in Vladimir-Volyn Army received a gift set of a game form and a set of balls. And here it is — a new meeting, a gift exchange, an opportunity to discuss further projects. By the way, this day will be remembered for a long time to the military Igor Samonov, who Oleg Sobutsky and Anatoly Demyanenko were offered to join the national team for the final quarter of an hour. To the credit of Igor, he looked very decent in the company of skilled partners.
The expectations of the spectators and the match itself justified! Commands on mutual attacks began, but every minute more and more the class of collections that eventually won — 3: 1. Yuriy Hrytsyna, Bohdan Shershun and Serhiy Nagornyak scored for the blue and yellows. Anatoliy Demyanenko gave his assessment of the events on the field: “The game turned out well, there were many moments. I think the fans had fun. This is the most important thing, for which we went to Luhansk region, did a lot of work on organizing matches. You can see for yourself, our team is good, there are both young and older players. This is probably its highlight, on the field we are all for each other, for our football and for Ukraine. "
Footballers and the military are one family
Performances at stadiums became the main, but not the only purpose of the visit of the veterans' team to the east. One of the military units showed hospitality, inviting football players and coaches to a friendly dinner and occasionally offering to spend the night in the barracks. Such moments best show the unity of the military and footballers, moreover, the latter did not come empty-handed, presenting more than 300 balls and T-shirts to the defenders of our country. "We have heard a lot about the conditions in which they serve on the front line, and now we have been able to see with our own eyes, eat soldier's porridge together, raise a glass for victory, — Vitaliy Samoilov, a former player of Dynamo, Vorskla and the youth national team of Ukraine, who has been volunteering for many years and providing the military with the necessary material support, shared his impressions. — Impressive fighting spirit, the desire to protect Ukraine. We, ordinary civilians, should honor the military, who sometimes give the front line the most important thing that everyone has, — own life".
They paid tribute to the players and the soldiers who left us. On September 3, 2014, a tragic event took place in the history of Ukraine, when the settlement of Pobeda was shot dead, 18 soldiers were killed. Now on this place is a chapel and a memorial sign, to which Anatoly Demyanenko and Vadim Tsymbalyuk, a young boy who now lives in Volochysk, and who has escaped that terrible day, have laid a wreath from the national team and the whole football family of the country.
The visit of the national team of veterans to the east was a continuation of the tour in support of peace and our military, formerly Popasna, Severodonetsk, Bilokurakine, Mariupol, Volnovakha and other cities, new trips are planned in the near future. "This is our main task, from the fulfillment of which we have not deviated even one step since the founding of the national team, — said FFU Vice President, AVFU President and organizer of the veterans national team Oleg Sobutsky. — The more you visit the east, communicate with the military and locals, the more you want to come back here with a friendly visit, give people a holiday and pay tribute for the protection of our country. With great pleasure, all the famous footballers, despite the injuries of previous years or employment, go east, there was no precedent for any of them to give up. I want to say a big thank you to all our players and coaches for this, we have become a big football family united by one goal. We will continue to work in this direction, try to accelerate the end of this undeclared war, and bring peace and unity to Ukraine. And also to please with skill of the best players of the country of our fans, receiving from football huge pleasure ».
