Association of veterans of football of Ukraine has summed up the results of work for 2018

27.12.2018 15:10

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On December 26, the House of Football hosted a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Football Veterans Association of Ukraine, which summed up the work for 2018 and discussed a number of important issues regarding the current activities and organization of competitions among football veterans in 2019.

The AVFU Executive Committee approved the results of the 2018 competitions (three Ukrainian championships, two Ukrainian Cups, the All-Ukrainian tournament in memory of Viktor Kolotov and Yevhen Rudakov). It should be noted that this is the first year after the reorganization of the format of veteran tournaments, and positive changes are already noticeable. This was emphasized by members of the executive committee, well-known football officials and coaches Oleh Sobutsky, Myron Markevich, Anatoliy Demyanenko, Petro Chilibi, Serhiy Nagornyak, Ihor Hataullin, Volodymyr Troshkin and others.

In particular, the executive director of AVFU Vitaliy Kulibabenko in the annual report noted the increase in the number and expansion of the geography of participants, and with it the sporting level of competition and intrigue in determining the winners. We will remind, in the championship of Ukraine 35+ the winner became "Agribusiness" (Volochysk), in the championship 45+ - "Bukovyna-Retro" (Chernivtsi), in the championship 55+ - "Carpathians" (Mukachevo), in the Cup of Ukraine 40+ - "Pyriatyn -Poltavshchyna ”, in the Cup of Ukraine 50+ -“ Guard ”(Baryshivka, Kyiv region), in the tournament in memory of Viktor Kolotov and Yevhen Rudakov - FC“ Pyryatyn ”(Poltava region).

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After hearing the proposals and analyzing the state of affairs in veteran football in the regions, members of the Executive Committee of the AVFU approved a plan-calendar of competitions for 2019. It is planned to hold seven tournaments: three championships of Ukraine (35+, 45+, 55+), two Cups of Ukraine (40+, 50+), the Super Cup and the All-Ukrainian tournament in memory of Viktor Kolotov and Yevhen Rudakov. In fact, this is not the final calendar of competitions, there may be other tournaments, in particular, those in which teams formed from players of different ages will participate. The tournament schedule will be approved no later than the first of March, after which applications from participants will be accepted.

Particular attention was paid to increasing the number of teams in all-Ukrainian tournaments. This will be done through cooperation with veterans' committees in regional federations, as well as through the media. There is no doubt that the mass participation in veteran tournaments will increase, which is facilitated by the decision of AVFU President Oleg Sobutsky to continue to financially assist participants, withdraw entrance fees, cover the costs of arbitration, travel, accommodation and meals for participants in the final stages of the competition.

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Another priority in the activities of the AVFU is the performances of the national team of Ukraine among veterans. The coach of the national team of legends Anatoliy Demyanenko reported on the achievements of the team in 2018, and also told about the plans for the beginning of next year. The team played 39 matches in different parts of Ukraine and the world, dedicating its tour to supporting the Ukrainian military in the ATO zone, everywhere emphasizing the desire of Ukrainians to live in peace and unity. More than 50 famous performers performed in the national team, thousands of spectators came to the stadiums.

As for plans for the future, in January the team will take part in the tournament in memory of David Petriashvili in Georgia, which traditionally gathers the strongest veteran teams of the Old World. A match with Portuguese veterans will take place in Lisbon on March 21, the day before the national teams of Portugal and Ukraine play in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. In mid-summer in Turin, Italy, the team will take part in the European Masters Games. They are held every four years, and in the previous tournament, in Nice, France, the winner was Ukraine. The geography of matches within Ukraine also promises to be wide - applications for holding are already coming from different regions.

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At the end of the executive committee, the vice-president of FFU, the president of AVFU Oleh Sobutsky took the floor: “First of all, I want to congratulate everyone on the holidays, wish them health and success in the new year. 2018 was a successful year for veteran football. We held all the planned all-Ukrainian tournaments, the veterans' team delighted the fans with games, including in the cities in the anti-terrorist operation zone. The association continued to support football veterans, especially the elderly, by providing the necessary financial assistance.

Communicating with famous Ukrainian players, activists of the veteran football movement on the ground, I am convinced that we are on the right track. Now is a difficult time, fighting continues on the eastern borders. In order for veteran football to develop in these conditions, AVFU, with the support of its general partner, Agribusiness LLC, covered all costs, including application fees, refereeing, accommodation and meals for the participants. This gives certain results, and we are not going to stop there. We are going to ensure that in the championships and Cups of Ukraine all regions of Ukraine are represented by several participants, so that the number of teams is measured in hundreds, and players - in thousands.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches and players of the national team of veterans for an important mission, they are true masters of football and patriots of Ukraine. In 2019, we must give projects a new impetus. Our colleagues are already interested in our experience, we have many proposals for cooperation, tournaments. Having such a wonderful team of like-minded people, I am convinced that the main successes of veteran football are still ahead. "

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After summing up the results of the year, a joint dinner of members of the executive committee and players of the national team of veterans took place. Prominent football figures had something to talk about. The most important thing is that everyone is healthy and happy, and that such a long-awaited peace reigns in Ukraine.

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