Shakhtar midfielder Taras Stepanenko commented on the team's arrival in Japan for the charity match.
- "We are grateful to Japan and FC Avispa Fukuoka for inviting us to a charity match. This is very important for our country and Ukrainians, because we know how much Japan supports Ukraine. We are here to demonstrate to the whole world the solidarity of the Japanese people with the Ukrainian people.
That is why we want the stadium to be packed and for the game to be seen all over the world. Special thanks to the Ukrainians who came to meet us at the airport. We are very pleased to see our compatriots, especially as there are people from Donetsk and many children here. We have very sincere and pleasant emotions from this meeting!" Stepanenko was quoted as saying by Shakhtar's official website.