On 25-27 April, the Hero of Ukraine Andriy Kyzyl Memorial Football Tournament took place on the fields of the Hero of Ukraine Andriy Kyzyl Sports Complex located on the territory of the Ivan Bohun Military Lyceum in Kyiv.
Andriy Shevchenko (left)This year, nine teams took part in the tournament:
- Vice Admiral Volodymyr Bezkorovainyi Naval Lyceum (Odesa);
- Ivan Bohun Kyiv Military Lyceum (Boyarka);
- Chernivtsi Military Sports Lyceum (Chernivtsi);
- Chervonohrad Military Lyceum of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy (Chervonohrad);
- Kryvyi Rih boarding school with enhanced military and physical training (Kryvyi Rih);
- Volyn Regional Lyceum with enhanced military and physical training named after the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred (Lutsk);
- Carpathian Military Sports Lyceum (Nadvirna);
- Lviv State Lyceum with enhanced military and physical training named after the Heroes of Kruty (Lviv);
- Ivan Bohun Kyiv Military Lyceum (Kyiv).
After the group matches, in the semi-finals, the Lviv team defeated the team from Nadvirna 3:2, and the hosts of the tournament were stronger than the representatives of Lutsk 2:0.
In the decisive match, the team of the Ivan Bohun Kyiv Military Lyceum defeated the team of the Lviv State Lyceum with enhanced military and physical training named after the Heroes of Kruty 5-0.
The Ukrainian Football Association is a long-term partner of the tournament. Thus, the UAF donated balls and souvenirs to all participants of the competition, and the team of the Ivan Bohun Kyiv Military Lyceum received a set of uniforms from the association. On the first day of the tournament, the participants also visited the office of the Ukrainian Football Association, where they met with UAF President Andriy Shevchenko, who later took part in the award ceremony for the winners and best players of the tournament.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are now fighting for our freedom and independence. I congratulate the participants of the tournament, you are the future of Ukraine. In a difficult time for the country, you have made a worthy choice, choosing a very important and difficult path for yourself. And as for football, it is a game that is revered by millions around the world. This game unites people and makes them happier. Love this game, give yourself to it and, most importantly, love your country. Glory to Ukraine!" said the UAF President at the award ceremony.
In memory of his visit, Andriy Shevchenko signed a T-shirt and a ball and handed them over to Colonel Yevhen Kamalov, the head of the Ivan Bohun Military Lyceum in Kyiv, for the school's museum.
