FC Naftovik-Okhtyrka head coach Anton Sikun talked about a difficult year in the history of his city and team.
Photo: fcnaftovyk.com.ua— Thank God, our stadium was practically not damaged - it survived, only the windows were shattered after the explosions, but this is something that can be fixed. But the city of Okhtyrka became one of the first places where military operations began. This war brought a lot of destruction, and worst of all, human losses. However, thanks to the efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular the 93rd separate mechanized brigade "Cold Yar", and the territorial defense, our city withstood and in the end won the honorary award of the President - Hero City of Ukraine.
The football players and coaches of the club tried to escape as best they could. Families were taken away. Many experienced the hostilities directly in Okhtyrka. By the way, among the sports assets of our city and region are those who went to defend the homeland. By the way, we prepared regularly a year ago, we already held several control matches. No one would have believed what happened on February 24, 2022. After the beginning of the full-scale phase of the war, everything in sports froze - it was not before, Okhtyrka threw all her efforts into the reconstruction of the city in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster and to start all services.
It was scary to look at our city, but gradually life returned to it. And part of this return to normality is football. When we were told that the team would play in 2022, we called all the football players - some stayed in the city, some evacuated somewhere to Western Ukraine, but most of the players expressed their willingness to play for Naftovyk in all competitions, the coach said.
