The echoes of the scandalous press conference of the leader of the UAF Pavelko, the ambiguous, to put it mildly, position of the International Olympic Committee and its President Bach regarding the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the upcoming Games in Paris, as well as the loud transfer of the Dynamo defender Zabarny to the English Bournemouth - here , perhaps the main topics that prevailed in sports and not only media over the past week.
Hostage to one man's decision
Information about the loudly announced meeting of the "owner of the football bunker" with media representatives in the list of the main events of January on the official website of the UAF fit in a few lines: football” (Uaf.ua, 03.02.23).
Probably, the format of the publication did not imply more extensive and deep reflections on a given topic, and there was no need for this. Those who in one way or another touched this “event” have already managed to tell about everything - about the “numerous” orchestrated questions, about the “relevance” of topics reduced to answers on the principle of “the fool himself”, about the filtration methods of the organizers who collected as many as 17 servants of the pen and microphone, almost a quarter of whom represented the UAF itself.
“Recently, the heads of the UAF have been talking to journalists, one of the colleagues in the middle has shown respect for the screaming inconsistency. The appearance of a corrupt functionary in the world was deafening with pathos. And in the bag, the squishy-dryness passed into the yakіy tіsnіy halabudі. Nowhere near Budinka football, de є lih chotiri conference halls, there was no other month around a container lined with lining, ”observer Vasily Voytyuk shared his bewilderment on the popular“ Shurik website ”(Dynamo.kiev.ua, 02.02.23) .
And he concluded: maybe because it should have become an appropriate background for demagogic reflections, meaningless answers and already familiar accusations from Mr. Pavelko.
However, the author came up with another version: “Perhaps, the next big man Pavelko, by a similar rank, will be promoted to the near future one. In response to the number and size of criminal provadzheny, cited against the football official of that nearest assistant, the prospect of wrong-destination opposes itself in the fringed expanse of the city. Especially at the light of anti-corruption processes, which shook the country in the last hour.”
Despite the certain grotesqueness of such a conclusion, it is difficult not to recognize the factor of the dominant opinion in the Ukrainian media that the entire almost eight-year process of governing Pavelko and the Ukrainian football company brought him to the handle. The nation's favorite ball, as Voytyuk subtly noted, has become like a shagreen - it dries out, frowns, shrinks.
Long before the full-scale war in Ukraine, clubs and even entire tournaments began to disappear. The efforts of the "crisis management team" were reduced to rewriting football laws and regulations. And also - to frauds with artificial grass and playgrounds, to shameless milking of the state treasury, offshore companies, cuts and kickbacks. At the same time, as not only this journalist states, the income of the UAF leadership increased exponentially, while the costs for the needs of the national teams were steadily decreasing.
A separate discussion, in the opinion of the author of the most resonant football publication of the past week, deserves the personnel policy of the UAF. The places of many experienced specialists who gained international prestige for the Ukrainian association were taken by people with Russian citizenship or fake diplomas. And those honored masters who have appeared in Pavelko's circle over the past year or two are more like wedding generals covering the rear of their employer.
What, say, achievements can the Council for the Strategic Development of Professional Football boast of? Or the Committee of National Teams, if the country's main team is left without a coach less than two months before the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying tournament?!
“This is just the tip of our football iceberg,” sums up Vasily Voytyuk. - The main part of the anistroha is not more optimistic, but "kintsy - near the water" is another one of the principles of the functioning of the lower UAF. To which law enforcement agencies should they oppose the specifics of the arguments and evidence. Catch all the statements about fakes and the captivating nature of the replay. When the “hugeness” is falsified, the “previousness” of FIFA and UEFA. Try handicraft directing of “chamber press conferences” (Dynamo.kiev.ua, 02.02.23).
Meanwhile, the topic of the absence of the coaching staff of the national team at the moment is almost the most relevant.
“Ukrainians celebrate June 26 with a match from England. I was the most huffed who would take us there. I understand that there is no option. Well, there is no one to take us to England!.. That is wrong. We can fail the selection and not go to the European Championship. We didn’t have anything like that, two months before the start of qualification, we didn’t have a coach, ”well-known TV journalist Igor Tsyganyk is indignant (Footballhub.com.ua, 01/30/23).
Another aspect of the problem that suddenly arose was voiced by his colleague in the commentary workshop Viktor Vatsko.
“February is in the yard. At the end of March, we will play at Wembley,” he now states. - To get to England, you need to apply for British visas. Question: which of the players should prepare for this game? Will it not happen, like last year, when someone simply did not go because he did not have a visa?
A month and a half before the start of the selection, and we don't know anything about the head coach. Pavelko says that he has a plan A, plan B, plan C. But is it normal when the team becomes a hostage to the decision of one person? (Football24.ua, 01/31/23).
Very curiously, Vacko commented on his absence from the meeting of journalists with Pavelko, carefully filtered by the UAF press service: “I won’t say that I’m some kind of great fighter for the truth, that Andriyuk was not accredited and therefore I didn’t go - as a sign of solidarity and support.
Nobody invited me, and even if they did, I still wouldn't go. For many years I have not been going to such press conferences, where every acute issue is brought up. I compare this meeting with the situation when you play cards with "catalogue". You know that a “katala” is sitting opposite you, and he will leave you with nothing, in any case he will achieve his goal.
In fact, Pavelko again showed everyone that he is a weak manager who is not able to keep the UAF under control” (Ua.tribuna.com, 01/30/23).
In the meantime, according to the Prsport.net portal, “the current head of the UAF was not released on bail and the measure of restraint in the form of arrest was extended. This decision was made by the Kyiv Pechersk Court in response to an appeal filed by the defendant’s lawyer” (01/28/23).
The same resource recalls that a case was opened against the head of the UAF for the disappearance of 1 million euros during the construction of a plant specializing in the manufacture of artificial turf for football fields. He is suspected of stealing budgetary funds and money laundering.
However, Pavelko himself not only disagrees with this kind of statement of facts pending judicial investigation, but, apparently, is also trying to impose a censorship taboo on the return of the media to the sensational topic.
How else to explain the fact that, together with the UAF, its head filed a lawsuit against one of the most active investigators of the corruption scheme, Konstantin Andriyuk? The side of the plaintiff demands a refutation of the next piece of information disseminated by the journalist-respondent. As it turned out, the case against him was registered on February 1. (Prsport.net, 02/04/23).
Andriyuk himself on his telegram channel commented on this attack in the following way: “This is one of the best recognitions of my activity. Father, what I write about Pavelka and UAF is true! If you are afraid of the truth, if you want to shut me up!” (UA-football.com, 04.02.23)
In turn, the media, willingly quoting Andriyuk, remind that this journalist is known for his insider data, which has been shared with the public for years. So, it was he who at one time was the first to publish the glaring news that one of the already former vice-presidents of the UAF had Russian citizenship (because of which he was soon forced to promptly resign from his post).
It was precisely in view of such revelations that Andriyuk was not allowed, among other things, to the last "press conference" of Pavelko. And UAF press officer Alexander Glivinsky even denied him the right to call himself a journalist!
So it is no coincidence that the Ukrainian media community considers the lawsuit of football bigwigs against Andriyuk as an unequivocal attempt to intimidate anyone who intends to approach the topic of corruption in the House of Football. That is why individual journalists and the media are already starting to talk about the possibility of a corporate boycott of the UAF as a measure of their own protection.
On the eve of the start of the qualifying round of Euro 2024 and the final tournament of the youth Euro 2023, Ukrainian football still lacked such discord. And besides, in wartime conditions!
And all because of the attempts of a group of officials who compromised themselves to stay at the top of football power...
The Paris Olympics will become pointless
Meanwhile, serious battles also continue on the international sports front.
As early as February 28, 2022, a few days after the aggressor's full-scale invasion of the territory of sovereign Ukraine, the Executive Council of the International Olympic Committee recommended that athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus be excluded from all international competitions, as well as not to invite officials from these countries to them. This was a completely natural reaction of the IOC to the events that shook the whole world.
But not even a year has passed, the war has not gone anywhere, but only escalated, and the position of the main body of world sports has cracked. How else to interpret the statement released on January 25, which was quoted, in particular, by Gordonua.com?
“Sanctions against Russia and Belarus as states remain in force and no competitions may display the identifiers of these countries, such as the flag or anthem. However, the IOC decided to further study the possibility of participation of individual athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus in competitions under strict conditions” (04.02.23).
Formally, strict conditions mean anti-doping purity and political non-involvement in the events in Ukraine. In fact, the IOC opened a loophole for representatives of the aggressor country and its henchman.
And although on January 31, the IOC hastened to declare that the previously approved sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes were not subject to revision, such vacillation could not but stir up the public of our country.
The tone was set by President Zelensky, who invited the head of the IOC, the German Thomas Bach, to Bachmut "so that he can see with his own eyes that neutrality does not exist." Then, during a telephone conversation with his French colleague Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky emphasized that "Russian athletes have no place at the Olympic Games in Paris."
Finally, I spoke with the Prime Minister of Great Britain: “I spoke with Rishi Sunak today. A very important conversation. We are preparing very weighty things with him. Separately, they touched upon the issue of the threat to the Olympic movement, which arose due to the weakness of the international sports bureaucracy. Because of those who are trying to actually allow Russia the propaganda use of sports. I am glad that the world hears our position that the Olympic principles must be unambiguously protected from a terrorist state” (Ua.tribuna.com, 05.02.23).
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated that "the IOC is ready to trample on the graves of thousands of innocent people who were killed and are being killed by the Russians."
The Olympic issue also arose at a meeting of the Committee on Youth and Sports, whose members initiated an appeal by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments of the countries of the world, the International Olympic Committee, national Olympic committees and international sports federations regarding the isolation of athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus.
Committee Secretary Grigory Surkis, speaking to colleagues, recalled how more than a year ago, Thomas Bach stood on the stage of the National Palace "Ukraine", recently damaged during another rocket attack on Russians.
“Thus the entire Olympic sports homeland of Ukraine gave Thomas Bach a boost, and the President awarded him with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the IV degree – “for special specialty, he introduced the development of the Olympic movement, the affirmation of humanistic ideals and values to olympism.” They all believed that in the person of Bach they knew a right friend of Ukraine, a reliable partner, who would help on the way to victory, and not "set a foot" at the last moment.
It seems that President Bach and members of the IOC Viskonkom have forgotten both about the values of olympism and about humanistic ideals. What propaganda of violence, katuvan, valtuvan, shelling and shooting, like gladly supporting Russian sports, are these new ideals ?! For Russia, sport is not in the pose of politics - it is the fault of promotion. Russian athletes are just a cogwheel of one of the Kremlin's great propaganda machines.
You can’t talk about neutrality, as long as the enemy continues the war, this is the genocide of the Ukrainian people. Any neutral ensign and uniform - soaked with the blood of dead Ukrainians.
Every now and then, like a crop after a crop, Russian propaganda and the “Russian world” try to seep into the name, to the international slogan. The very appearance of Russian athletes on the sporting scales of the greatest equals is a "little twinkle" for international sports, which demonstrates the steps to accept the light of Russian aggression in Ukraine. We can’t let that happen!” said Hryhoriy Surkis (Komsport.rada.gov.ua, 02/01/23).
I did not forget about my previous visit to Ukraine and Bach. True, in an official message, in response to President Zelensky's invitation to visit Bakhmut, he stressed that at the moment he has no such plans. On the other hand, he burst into extensive reflections on the humane mission of the Olympic Movement in a message addressed to the President of the NOC of Ukraine, Vadim Gutzeit, who threatened Bach with a boycott by Ukrainian athletes of the Olympics in Paris. Say, a boycott is not the most reasonable solution in such a situation.
Here it is necessary to remind Herr Bach how he, the 1976 Olympic champion in foil fencing in the team, together with his partners boycotted the next - Moscow - 1980 Games, as well as his whole, and not only, country. Then, it turns out, for him it was in the order of things.
And one more interesting reference with a link to the all-knowing Wikipedia: “Despite the opinion of part of the world community about the need to remove the entire Russian team from participating in the 2016 Olympic Games, the IOC Executive Committee, chaired by Bach, made a compromise decision.
In this regard, in the article “Russophile and Corruptionist,” the influential German publication Die Zeit called Bach “a well-paid Russian sports ambassador.” And Bild noted that even after the announcement of the results of the investigation into the massive use of doping by Russian athletes, Thomas Bach continued to support Russia, claiming that the IOC "had a positive experience" of cooperation with it.
It is clear that doping and a bloody massacre in a neighboring country are two different things. Nevertheless, the pressure of public opinion can and should play an important role in deactivating the strange vacillation in the ranks of the International Olympic Committee. And here every voice, every bayonet matters.
“There is no sport outside of politics,” Andriy Shevchenko, the owner of the Golden Ball, made his statement. - Sports competitions of the Olympic level are an opportunity to broadcast any message to all people on Earth at once. And if athletes from Russia or Belarus enter the arena with or without flags, this message from the Olympic Committee is unambiguous for the whole world - the war is over, you can forgive everything and forget everything.
But the war is not over. It destroys our cities every day, cripples the childhood of our children and takes the lives of the best people. The world must remember this, the world must know that the struggle for peace and freedom continues. I urge the IOC not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete until the war in Ukraine is over and strongly condemn Russian aggression” (Ua.tribuna.com, 02.02.23).
In turn, the 1988 Olympic champions in football Oleksiy Mikhailichenko, Yevgeny Yarovenko and Oleksiy Cherednik sent a letter to Thomas Bach with the following theses: “We, Olympic champions and citizens of long-suffering Ukraine, which is now paying a huge price for the right to preserve independence and its own identity, We categorically condemn the idea of allowing athletes from Russia to participate in the 2024 Olympics.
We draw your attention to the fact that from the first days of the full-scale invasion, the world community has taken a decisive course towards isolating Russia and its citizens, who openly and publicly did not condemn the military aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, not a single Russian sports federation has publicly condemned the aggression, thereby confirming its tacit support for the crimes. If the IOC allows those who support the killing of innocent people to participate in prestigious competitions, it will be a shame for the entire Olympic movement.”
Ex-world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Jean Beleniuk and other athletes and famous people also criticized the IOC and its head.
And the NOC of Ukraine at the Extraordinary General Assembly adopted an action plan to prevent Russians and Belarusians from participating in the Olympics, which began to be implemented immediately. At the same time, on the issue of a possible boycott, out of 112 members, 109 voted in favor.
“Boycott is an extreme step. If we all will work and we will all work, but if we don’t get enough food, then, in my special opinion, it will be necessary to boycott the Olympic Games. Ale tsepitannya will be voted only collegially - by the post-black General Assembly. So that the Olympic Motherland was victorious,” explained Vadim Gutsait (Ua.tribuna.com, 03.02.23).
Polish Minister of Sports and Tourism Kamil Bortnichuk also announced the boycott. According to him, on February 10, there will be a meeting of sports ministers from about 40 countries, including those from the EU, Great Britain, Australia, the USA, Canada, South Korea, and Japan, at which this issue will be discussed.
“Of course, this will be a tough position to oppose the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation and Belarus in the Olympic Games. I would give the IOC a chance for self-reflection without being pressed against the wall yet. We have time for this - the Games will be held in the middle of next year, - said Bortnichuk. “But if the boycott cannot be avoided, then holding the Olympics in Paris will become pointless” (ukr.net, 04.02.23).
Bournemouth as a springboard to the future
On the last day of the international transfer window, January 31, 20-year-old Dynamo Kyiv defender Ilya Zabarny became a player in the English Premier League club Bournemouth. The contract was signed for five and a half years, and the cost of the player, according to insider information, amounted to 28.3 million euros (plus 5.7 million in bonuses).
According to this indicator, Zabarny became the most expensive player ever sold by Dynamo, beating his famous teammates Andriy Shevchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko.
“This transfer once again confirms that Ukraine is rich in football talents,” commented the president of the club, Ihor Surkis. - Illya is a player of the football academy "Dynamo", having worked hard, having shown himself well with the first team, becoming the envoy of the national team. His talent is developing, at once we gave him the opportunity to try himself in one of the strongest championships in the world. Dear radium for Illya, I am writing to my football player.
I want to say goodbye to Mircea Lucescu, to all the coaches of the club, to the mentors of our Academy, as a tribute to Illy Zabarny. I declare that Dynamo will continue its course towards the development of young Ukrainians. This strategy is a contribution to the development of Ukrainian football, the ability to regularly give dynamics to selected different age groups.
Being shriveled with good fortune, I want to acquiesce to our Evil forces, as if I can do right deeds every day. ZSU itself was allowed to stand up for our country, and our football was gradually inspired. To the great borg in front of the Ukrainian military, insanely, some of the losses that Dynamo took away will be directed to the support of the Evil Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, we plan to hold a favorable match from Bournemouth, which will allow us to take donations for humanitarian initiatives to the club” (Fcdynamo.com, 01/31/23).
They do not hide their satisfaction from the signing of Zabarny and in the camp of the English club.
“We’re more than happy to have you join our team,” Chief Executive Neil Blake told Cherry’s official website. - Regardless of those who are over 20, win on the greatest rivalry for the club and the country and having established themselves as one of the most demanded young defenders in the world. We also check that Vin will continue his development together with us, and we know that Vin will be a valuable and important member of our team ”(Football.ua, 01/31/23).
Of course, Bournemouth is far from being a top club, rather the opposite. Floats in the relegation zone, has the worst record in the league in terms of the number of goals conceded. But maybe it's not so bad for Zabarny. Firstly, he was chosen to strengthen the game in defense and was chosen consciously, because, despite his young age, the Dynamo player managed to acquire good press.
Secondly, for sure, he will not be left without game practice and will gain the necessary experience of a new level for himself. Finally, he can become a tasty morsel for more eminent clubs that have shown interest in him from time to time. And, say, the authoritative Tottenham Hotspur does not hide that now they will follow Zabarny with even greater interest.
At the same time, columnist Valery Vasilenko draws attention to how the transition took place: “The parties turned the transfer over so quickly that it remains only to shrug. This is not an epic like Mudrik. Yes, and the same transition of Tsygankov to Girona can be called, if not a series, then at least a serial film. They managed it right away, judging by unofficial, but quite competent information, in a week and a half ”(Sport.ua, 01.02.23).
For efficiency and secrecy, the author is unambiguously ready to give both sides an "excellent" rating. Even higher for the Dynamo team for the ability to bargain. After all, if you believe authoritative insiders, and there is no reason not to believe them, the initial price for the Dynamo defender fluctuated around 20 million. Managed to get a lot more. So Igor Surkis is great, and Dynamo is respect.
“Praise Igor Surkis diisno varto, even finding the right moment to sell the player to the main warehouse of Dynamo,” Egor Danilov notes for his part. - The president of the Kievan had the opportunity to bargain for a long time, even if Zabarny’s contract with blue-and-white loans is secured until 2026, and the offensive litera Ukrainian also has a wonderful chance to join the European club. Ale Surkis vyrivishiv sell the Illu tsієї winter, having taken a serious proposition about how Ukrainians think for themselves” (Sportarena.com, 01.02.23).
Danilov believes that the story of Zabarny can be an excellent example for many domestic football players, because at the age of 18 Ilya managed to break into the Dynamo first team and immediately became its key performer. Of course, Mircea Lucescu played the main role in such a rapid rise of the player: in his first season of work at the club, he did not invite a new central defender, but made a bet on young Zabarny and did not lose.
Under the leadership of Lucescu, Ilya made his debut in the white-and-blue squad, mastered the Champions League, received an invitation to the national team, and played in the European Championship. Zabarny became the leader of the defense of Kiev, showed a mature game beyond his years, was reliable and disciplined. It is not surprising that many well-known clubs began to show interest in the young player. They even called Manchester City and Tottenham. But for now, Bournemouth has provided a real opportunity to play in the Premier League, which can and should become a springboard for Ilya into the future.
Social vector of Kyiv "Dynamo"
Dynamo Kyiv, meanwhile, under the leadership of Mircea Lucescu in Turkey, continues to prepare for the second part of the season. Last week, the first victories in sparring were won - over the Romanian "Unirey" (5:1) and the Danish "Vajle" (2:0).
The players of both teams, dressed in patriotic T-shirts, evacuated from the regions of Ukraine where hostilities were or are being fought, took the players of both teams to the game against Unirey. FC Dynamo invited them from different cities of Turkey, in which the children were forced to live. But in response, during the entire fight, he received sincere support from the stands, on which Ukrainian flags fluttered and from which patriotic chants sounded.
And after the match, the children had the opportunity to personally communicate with their idols. Also, young fans presented each of the players with gifts, drawings and letters. A touching atmosphere reigned in the arena for a long time. Moreover, this action did not become a one-time event. Dynamo will continue to invite and organize the transfer of children to the next fights (Fcdynamo.com, pressing.net.ua, footclub.com.ua, dynamo.kiev.ua, 04.02.23).
In general, charity has been and remains one of the most important areas of social activity of the capital club. As an example, participation in the restoration of the X-ray diagnostic department of the Chernihiv City Hospital No. 3, which became the first joint project of FC Dynamo and the United24 fundraising platform to restore the medical infrastructure.
As part of the memorandum of cooperation, the club transferred UAH 10.2 million to United24, collected through a charity match against English Everton, which took place on July 29 in Liverpool. The funds are intended to restore the X-ray diagnostic building, which was destroyed last year by Russian shelling along with expensive equipment - a CT scanner, an X-ray machine and a photo lab.
Work on the restoration of the building began in November last year, and their completion is scheduled for March 30 this year.
“After the completion of the period of active fighting, the medicine became a source of renewal. From the central budget, we were given money to replace poor windows and doors. It was left with the problem of reinstatement of the X-ray department, which required significant financial investments.
If the United24 platform ordered, FC Dynamo came to the rescue, who saved us 10.2 million hryvnias,” said Viktor Yangol, general director of the institution. “In the name of our team, I would like to thank the club for such a situation, I will help and support that support” (Fcdynamo.com, pressing.net.ua, footclub.com.ua, dynamo.kiev.ua, ukrinform.ua, 31.01.23).
And last Friday, sets of dry soups were sent to the front from the Dynamo Stadium named after Valery Lobanovsky, which our defenders will be able to brew even in front-line conditions and treat themselves to a delicious hot dish.
“Today’s humanitarian vengeance is one of the episodes of a great process,” said Vitaly Sivkov, First Vice President of FC Dynamo. - The skin of this war is to know its place and help us, so that we can bring our Peremoga closer. We vishukuєmo you consume, as relevant for our Ukrainians - earlier, they were sanitary and hygienic, borosno, food products, and today, dry soup sets are made. I two beautiful furries are part of the flow of humanitarian aid, which is organizing the Fund of Surkis Brothers.
“The evil forces of Ukraine to destroy the humanitarian aid themselves in those points, as they require the most. Our military servicemen are sometimes blamed for pampering themselves with a hot passion, and we thank the Surkis Brothers Fund and FC Dynamo (Kyiv) for the devilish humanitarian vantage, which is transferred for the needs of ZSU, ”said Vitaly Murashko, a representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who received the cargo (Fcdynamo. com, pressing.net.ua, footclub.com.ua, dynamo.kiev.ua, rbc.ua, 03.02.23).
Do not forget at Dynamo to honor the memory of the idols of the fans of the past. So, recently, for three days, under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine in Kuwait, a series of events dedicated to honoring the sports heritage of Valery Lobanovsky was held, in which the Vice-President of FC Oleksiy Semenenko received.
Two years ago, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Kuwait Oleksandr Balanutsa initiated the publication of the first Arabic-language book about the legendary coach, who led the Kuwait national team in 1994-1996.
Oleksandr Balanutsa, who is a big football fan and a longtime fan of Dynamo Kyiv, then made a proposal to the president of the Kyiv club, Igor Surkis. Alexey Semenenko, who has worked with Lobanovsky since 1989, oversaw this project and helped in its implementation. So, the pages of the publication were decorated with appeals, photographs and autographs of the famous pupils of the Maitre - the owners of the Golden Ball Oleg Blokhin, Igor Belanov and Andrey Shevchenko.
“I would like to honor the work of the staff of the Embassy of Ukraine in Kuwait. Valery Lobanovsky having shown that the team can work as a blessing mechanism, de skin gvintik can be of great importance. We got the same team at the Embassy. We were beaten up, like this small team mayzhe tsіlodobovo works over them, to turn the respect like the Kuwaitis, so after the other lands, until the war with our state, ”said Alexei Semenenko.
And the highlight of the gala evening on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Kuwait was the actual presentation of the Arabic-language book about Valery Lobanovsky and the celebration of his football heritage. The event was attended by more than 60 guests, including foreign ambassadors, journalists, fans.
The rich program of the three-day Ukrainian visit found its mark not only in the media space, but also at the level of state relations. After international events at the Embassy of Ukraine in Kuwait, the government of this state decided to help our country in the face of Russian shelling of energy infrastructure facilities by allocating funds for the purchase of a batch of generators for Ukraine.
And as a result of the visit, the President of FC Dynamo Igor Surkis received an official letter from the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait with a certificate of respect and words of gratitude to the club for cooperation in the successful holding of presentation events dedicated to the football heritage of Valery Lobanovsky.
“Ukraine and Kuwait shared few similar episodes in the history, culture and history of sports. In the continuation of the remaining 30 years, our friendly lands are planned to celebrate blue and white days on all levels. Shards of the peoples of our lands experienced identical historical scenarios of fighting for independence from the garrison, while Kuwait supported Ukraine on various international maidans.
The head of diplomacy, in this context, is involved in the maximum convergence of the process of rapprochement between the two lands of those peoples. Sport is one of such fundamental elements, and the point of dotik between Ukraine and Kuwait, in particular the decline of Valery Lobanovsky, is an important warehouse of diplomatic work.
In the spirit of good fortune, the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait will renew the words of gratitude for the welcome, as well as the recognition of its readiness until the continuation of the spivpraci,” said Ambassador Oleksandr Balanutsa (Fcdynamo.com, pressing.net.ua, footclub.com.ua, dynamo .kiev.ua, 1927.kiev.ua, champion.com.ua, sportarena.com, korrespondent.net, 30.01.23).
Victor ZHURAVLEV
