President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky honors players of U-20 youth team for winning the World Cup

16.07.2019 18:35

Today, July 16, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Ukrainian Football Association, member of the UEFA Executive Committee Andriy Pavelko took part in the ceremony of honoring the players and coaches of the youth national team of Ukraine U-20 - 2019 world champions.

The event, which was held at the Olympic Center in Concha Zaspa, was also attended by First Lady Olena Zelenskaya, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine Serhiy Bubka and winners of the 2019 European Games. 

During the ceremony, the Head of State presented the players of the national team with the Order of Merit of the XNUMXrd degree, and the coaches of the team with documents on awarding the honorary title of "Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine". In turn, the champions' captain Valery Bondar and the team's head coach Oleksandr Petrakov presented Volodymyr Zelensky with a national team T-shirt, a ball with the autographs of all players and a commemorative medal dedicated to the victory at the World Cup. 

Photo by noc-ukr.org

"Such meetings are necessary and memorable for a lifetime, because it is a meeting and communication with the country's president. Of course, I feel positive emotions and joy, it is very nice that the President took the time and was able to come to reward us and congratulate us. It is also extremely nice to see teammates again, whom I have already missed. We can say that our family has gathered, but it is a pity that so little time. Such meetings need to be arranged more often, "said the captain of the national team Valery Bondar. 

Valery also thanked all the fans, the country's leadership and the UAF for their support and assistance in preparing for the World Cup in Poland, which was a triumph for the team. "Many thanks from all the players and coaches of the national team to the President of Ukraine, fans who believed, supported and worried for us, the president of the association Andriy Pavelko for assistance in preparing for the World Cup and a charter for Andriy Lunin, which strengthened the team before the decisive matches." said Cooper. The head coach of the team Oleksandr Petrakov joined the words of gratitude: "I am sincerely grateful to my colleagues from the coaching and administrative staff of the national team and the president of the Ukrainian Football Association for their help and support." Addressing the President of Ukraine, the head coach of the national team joked: "Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, we have become champions during your presidency." 

"I am proud to live with you in the same country at the same time. The state has not done enough for you athletes. We want to change this - the attitude to you and to sports, "- said Vladimir Zelensky.