Vadim Kostyuchenko: “Experience of the best European practices implemented by the FFU is an investment in the future of Ukrainian football”

29.10.2018 15:31

On October 28, a joint project of the FFU, the Football Development of Ukraine Charitable Foundation and FC Real (Madrid) - Open Football Lessons "Champions Festival" took place in Odessa. Volunteers of the Football Federation of Ukraine, coordinated by Yuriy Stepanyuk, and coaches of the world-famous club conducted football lessons, in which, among others, the best football players from all southern regions of Ukraine took part.

In particular, the Nikolaev area was represented by pupils of SDYUSHOR "Torpedo", the Kherson area - CYSS "Kherson", and owners, the Odessa area, - a national team of young football players which structure included representatives of about 10 leading children's and youth football clubs from Odessa and area. Among them - SDYUSHOR "Chornomorets", DYUSSH-11 "Chornomorets", DYUFK "Athletic", FC "Odessa", DYUFK "Balkans" and others.

In addition to the football players, coaches of the titled club and volunteers, the inaugural opening ceremony for the children's football festival was also attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Regional Football Federation, member of the Executive Committee of FFU Igor Shukhovtsev and prominent Odessa football player Valery Porkuyan.

"Young football players, today you are creating a history of children's and youth football development in Ukraine. I am sure that this unique event, which is initiated by the FFU and supported by the head of the Odessa Regional Football Federation Maxim Stepanov, will leave vivid memories for a lifetime. After all, the first "Festival of Champions" is taking place in Odessa with the involvement of foreign specialists - coaches of the most titled football club in Europe, FC "Real" (Madrid), "said Igor Shukhovtsev in his welcoming speech.     

Then the young players trained under the guidance of Real Madrid coaches and FFU volunteers, honing their skills and participating in various exercises and competitions. According to FFU First Vice-President Vadym Kostyuchenko, the practice of attracting foreign specialists to teach children and domestic coaches helps to create a new history of Ukrainian football.

"By involving foreign specialists, we have the opportunity not only to gain the necessary experience from the latest coaching practices, but also to conduct a comparative analysis of different training methods, get acquainted with the many nuances of coaching skills, which at first glance are unprincipled, but they help system of improvement of training work. This is an investment in the future of Ukrainian children's and youth football.

We truly thank the football region of Odessa, which held the "Festival of Champions", attracting the best young football players from the southern region of Ukraine. We systematically analyze the latest coaching technologies and apply them in our work. In particular, the main platform for the implementation and adaptation of the European experience for us is the newly established FFU Football Academy. It is there that young footballers gain experience from the best coaches in Ukraine. By the way, on the last day of October on the football fields of NTK. V. Bannikov, another master class will be held for the pupils of the FFU Football Academy, which will be conducted by trainer-students of the FFU Licensing Center, who will soon receive UEFA PRO-diplomas.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all coaches working in children's and youth football to this master class. Here you will have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the latest technologies and organizational developments in training programs for young football players, "said Vadym Kostyuchenko.