Myron Markevych: “I am younger when I dive into a friendly company of the veteran national team of Ukraine”

18.08.2018 14:11

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Myron Markevich, Chairman of the Committee of National Teams of the Football Federation of Ukraine, happily wears a T-shirt of the veterans' national team in his free time, traveling with the "dream team" cities of Ukraine and the world. The 67-year-old specialist told the FFU website about the secrets of sports youth and the role of the national team in the country's football life.

- It is a great happiness for me to play together with the players I once coached or who played against my teams. It's like a young man's soul when I go out on the football field again. Full stadiums gather at the national team match, and we try to give the spectators a holiday and a good mood.

- The fans applaud when the ball reaches you. Everyone is wondering how you keep a great sports form at such a respectable age?

- I am often asked this question, but I can't say anything original. The recipe is universal, the main thing is to follow it constantly. This is a moderate consumption, I try not to eat anything extra. And the second - regular sports. I regularly exercise, I run constantly. I advise everyone to take care of themselves, their health.

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- How do you play in a team where some players are a few decades younger than you?

- Great, we do not have any misunderstandings. Here are all real masters, wonderful professionals. Everyone speaks the same language, supports, jokes. In general, the atmosphere in the team is a topic of separate conversation. I am years younger when I immerse myself in this friendly company, I hear humor, witty jokes.

- The national team has played more than a hundred matches in two and a half years. Which of them do you personally remember?

- I will single out two categories. Of course, these are our travels abroad - the USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Spain. Everywhere we are welcomed, meetings with the diaspora are organized, matches are played at the central stadiums. Ukraine has many friends in the world, we try to represent the country in the best way through football, we talk about our problems, that the war is going on in the east.

I will also single out trips to Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Recently we were at the forefront, held a match in Krasnohorivka, met with the military and border guards in Maryinka. There really is a different world, a different life. When there is an opportunity to go east, I try to postpone all business and join the team.

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- Did the national team of veterans take a place in Ukrainian football that remained empty for many years?

- You could say so, before that no one had a case before. Veterans of Dynamo, Karpaty, Metalist played, and the national team really lacked. We should thank the Football Federation of Ukraine and its President Andriy Pavelko and, of course, Vice President Oleh Sobutsky for this. He spends a lot of energy and money on this team, from morning till night he makes sure that everything is at the highest level. He is doing a great job, for which all football veterans and fans are grateful to him.

- Is there a city where you personally would like to play for veterans?

- We have already played so many matches, we have visited almost all regional and district centers. There is a desire to invite the national team to Vynnyky. It would be a real celebration for local players and spectators.

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