Andrey Pavelko: "Cup of the Undead" is a unique tournament that will help the veterans of the ATO after surviving the horrors of the war "

22.03.2018 22:13

Photo of FFU press service

Today, March 22, the House of Football hosted a presentation of the All-Ukrainian tournament for veterans of hostilities who received serious injuries and injuries, the "Cup of the Unconquered". 

The event was attended by the President of the Football Federation of Ukraine Andriy Pavelko, the Presidential Commissioner for Rehabilitation of ATO Participants Who Wounded, Contused, Mutilated or Other Diseases During the Anti-Terrorist Operation, Vadym Svyridenko, Oksana Gorbach , the hero of anti-terrorist operation, the participant of "Igor Neskorenykh-2017" and the annual marathon of the US Marines Dmitry Blokhin and the adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmitry Grishchenko.

The Undefeated Cup tournament is an initiative of the Presidential Commissioner for Rehabilitation of ATO Participants Vadym Svyridenko and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, supported by the Football Federation of Ukraine, taking over the functions of the competition organizer. The tournament will be attended by combat veterans and active servicemen, employees of the security and defense sector of Ukraine, as well as volunteer formations who have a certificate of participation in hostilities and received injuries, mutilations, contusions or other diseases during or as a result of service in the area. hostilities in anti-terrorist operation, during peacekeeping operations with participation of Ukraine. 

Photo press service of the FFU

Presenting the project, FFU President Andriy Pavelko noted that this is a unique tournament that will help ATO veterans to undergo physical and psychological rehabilitation after the horrors of the war. "It is a great honor for us to help our anti-terrorist operation veterans, real heroes of Ukraine, defenders of our state. Therefore, the Football Federation of Ukraine is very pleased to support the initiative to hold the "Cup of the Unconquered" and will be happy to help organize the competition, "said Pavelko. According to him, FFU will bear all the costs associated with the purchase of the necessary sports equipment, cups, medals, diplomas, certificates, pennants, commemorative prizes, souvenirs to award winners, prize-winners, participants and the best players. Also, the winning team of the tournament will have the opportunity to reach the final of the Champions League, which will take place in Kiev at the NSC "Olympic" on May 26. 

"I am confident that holding the first Cup of the Unconquered tournament will be one of the brightest football events this year. In addition, the Football Federation of Ukraine is initiating football competitions among participants of the national "Unconquered Games" - a crucial tournament among veterans of hostilities who received serious injuries or injuries. And we hope that next year football will become the official sport of this project. This is an honorable mission for the Football Federation of Ukraine and the entire football community of our country, "said the FFU President.

Vadym Svyridenko thanked the Football Federation and the Ministry of Defense for supporting his idea and noted that holding the Unconquered Cup tournament will help many ATO veterans who survived the war and still cannot find themselves in a peaceful life. "I know that for many veterans it is a dream to take part in such a tournament, go out on the field and play a match with their teammates. Please join this project and support our teams! ” - Vadim Sviridenko called. Also the hero of anti-terrorist operation told that competitions will be carried out among participants on two categories: 1. Persons with amputation of one lower extremity at any level with preservation of function of the second extremity. Players move with crutches, without pathology of the vestibular apparatus and with preservation of vision. 2. Persons with no lesions of the lower extremities or with partial damage to the lower extremities, who move independently without additional means (walkers, crutches).

Photo of FFU press service

In her turn, the coordinator of the Undefeated Games project in Ukraine Oksana Gorbach drew attention to the availability of opportunities for organizing football matches and competitions for ATO veterans: “If in different regions of the country we face significant difficulties in organizing the training process in certain sports represented at the tournament "Games of the Unconquered", football fields and grounds are everywhere. ATO veterans can gather there, play matches, which helps them to undergo rehabilitation after returning to a peaceful life. It is very important that such sports activity of our heroes received support in the form of the initiative to hold the "Cup of the Unconquered". We also support her and we are confident that the tournament will be successful and will be supported at all levels. " Also, the coordinator of "Igor Neskorenykh" in Ukraine said that the idea of ​​submitting an application for international competitions among veterans of hostilities in Ukraine is currently being discussed. "To obtain such a right, Ukraine will have to take care of the necessary sports and logistics infrastructure," said Gorbach. 

In turn, Adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmytro Hryshchenko thanked FFU for cooperation in the project "Cup of the Unconquered" and called on concerned citizens, NGOs, government and business to join in supporting the heroes of the ATO at all levels. 

Dmytro Blokhin, another hero of the Anti-Terrorist Operation and a participant in the 2017 US Marine Corps marathon, also noted the importance of playing football for veterans of hostilities. "Football is a multifaceted game in which you can develop speed, coordination, technique of working with the ball and interaction with other players. All this has a very positive effect on the psychological state and feelings of ATO veterans who survived the war. Teamwork gives them a sense of what they need and the opportunity to feel supported by other players. In general, caring for others helps a lot. You need to live for others, help your friends, and then you can overcome any difficulties, ”Dmytro Blokhin is convinced. 

It is planned that The final of the All-Ukrainian tournament for combat veterans who received serious injuries and mutilations, "Cup of the Unconquered" will be held on May 19, 2018 at the capital's STC. V. Bannikov.