Vadym Kostyuchenko: "The benefits of creating the DUFLU Elite League are recognized by all experts"

13.07.2021 13:00

Photo by duflu.org.ua

First Vice President of the Ukrainian Football Association Vadym Kostyuchenko shared with journalists the official website of the UAF his impressions of the Children's and Youth Football League of Ukraine, which for the first time in history was held in three divisions - Elite League, Premier League and First League.

- I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank all DUFL players, coaches and parents of football players from UAF President Andriy Pavelko, UEFA Executive Committee member, Ukrainian national team head coach Andriy Shevchenko, DUFL President Vitaliy Bort, - said Vadym Kostyuchenko. - I think that the last season of competitions among children's and youth teams turned out to be very busy and successful. There were a lot of interesting and powerful matches. The organization of the competition was at a high level, noticeable progress of young players.

19 institutions from different parts of the country took part in the competitions, which were held for the first time this year in three leagues among children's and youth teams and among U-180 junior teams (first league), the main statutory task of which is to promote and develop children's and youth football. and junior football.

In total, the number of teams that played this year under the flags of DUFLU was a record 452 teams. If on average in the application of each of the teams there were 25 young players, the number of players involved was 11. These figures are impressive!

For, of course, hard and productive work, the Ukrainian Football Association thanks the entire team of the All-Ukrainian Public Union "Children's and Youth Football League of Ukraine" and its leader Vitaliy Bort.

Summing up the season, we have no right not to remember in what conditions the championship of Ukraine among the teams of children's and youth sports institutions was held. Permanent quarantine restrictions related to the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19, made adjustments to the organization of a large number of matches of the championship, but here we note a clear position of DUFL, which in difficult conditions was able to bring the Ukrainian championship ship .

- Summing up the season, what is the most important thing I would like to say? Which of the plans was realized and which may not?

- In my opinion, we managed to realize everything planned by us. Of course, there is something to work on, we are looking for different options every day to improve the conditions for children who play football.

The problematic issues that concern our children's and youth football from year to year have not gone unnoticed during the reporting season. The quality of arbitration, the conditions of some matches related to the inconsistency of infrastructure facilities, and not always the correct behavior of team representatives and the relevant group of fans - these are the problems that need to be addressed. But with the joint efforts of UAF and DUFLU, we find mechanisms of influence aimed at combating these phenomena.

I will note that last season we finally implemented a project to change the format of the competition. Everyone knows that in the 2020/2021 season, in order to increase the level of competition, we managed to form three leagues from the participating teams on a sporting basis. This is, of course, a huge step forward in the development of children's and youth football in Ukraine. Plus, all DUFLU matches are already being filmed, and Elite League matches are being broadcast online. The presence of a video of the game is provided by the requirements of the competition regulations. With this option, you can work on errors for players and coaches, as well as referees.

Analyzing the competition, we are constantly trying to initiate measures to improve both organizational principles in the conduct of matches, and directly scientific and methodological factors. The Committee for Children and Youth Football is currently developing regulations for the certification of children and youth sports facilities. This is something like a regulation for professional level teams, but with simplified requirements for clubs. In my opinion, this document, after its approval by the UAF Executive Committee, will add organizational discipline to all participants of the DUFLU competitions.

Photo by duflu.org.ua

- The creation of the DUFLU Elite League was talked about a few years ago, but this idea was realized only last season. Was it a step forward?

"Of course!" This is a huge step forward for our young players. There is constant progress, because even the leaders of the Elite League have almost no qualifying matches. All experts note the benefits of such a reform, noting the fact of a significant reduction in qualifying matches, even in the first group stage of the competition. And increasing competition in every match is the key to the professional growth of young players. Also, such a reform has clearly benefited our youth and junior teams. The coaches of these teams constantly talk about it.

- What can you say about refereeing in DUFL matches?

- In my opinion, the refereeing was at a fairly high level, the championship matches were conducted by qualified referees. Although, unfortunately, during the season in some matches did not go without refereeing mistakes. But don't forget that DUFLU team games are served by novice referees, and often the referee is only a few years older than the players themselves. The psychological hardening of the referee comes to the fore here, and where, if not in such matches, should we train staff for the judiciary?

- Are there any plans to expand the geography of the final parts of the championship in the future?

- Yes, we have it in the plans. We are working on this issue not only at the children's and youth level, but also at the level of the main team of the country. You see, the matches of the national team are held in different cities of our country, we want it to apply to children's and youth teams, especially in many cities of Ukraine are constantly building new sports facilities, and we are happy to accept proposals for organizing and holding finals. tournaments on the newly built football fields, thus maintaining the status of the object and inspiring its owners for continuous development.

- DUFLU holds its competitions in close cooperation with the UAF Children's and Youth Football Committee…

- This is true. The Children and Youth Football Committee is one of the most productive in the whole UAF. Its members are constantly discussing new trends in the development of children's and youth football, proposing new initiatives and, by carrying out purposeful work, proving their professional ability aimed at reforms in the basic football sector of Ukraine. I have already said that the members of the committee, reinforced by relevant specialists in the areas of work, are working to create regulations for the certification of children's and youth sports clubs. Also, as I have already mentioned, work is underway to establish an effective mechanism for the payment of compensation from professional clubs in favor of children's and youth sports facilities for the training of young football players.

The plans of the committee, as well as the whole UAF, remain unchanged. This is the development of children's and youth football in our country, its popularization, providing decent conditions for the development of young athletes, preparing the latter for the main team of the country.

- You mentioned the compensation for the training of young players. It is no secret that not all clubs adhere to the established norms, looking for ways not to pay for children's and youth institutions. When will a more severe penalty for non-payment of compensation be introduced?

- So far, we in the UAF are not quite sure that tougher measures in this area will yield positive results and will definitely change the situation for the better. We have studied this problem very carefully, looking at it from different angles and from different angles, both from professional clubs and from children's and youth sports facilities.

This is a question, as they say, in our pencil, and it is a very serious question that we are constantly concerned about. There are already clear regulations for the transfer of young players, and their compliance and compliance with all conditions are monitored by the relevant authorities. That's why I want to assure children's coaches who bring up future stars: The Ukrainian Football Association will do everything to make your work a worthy reward!