Over many years of working in sports journalism, I have been in constant contact with Dynamo fans. I spent many meetings in the Dynamo fan club together with players and coaches of different generations of the famous team.
Photo — fcdynamo.comI spent about 500 Dynamo matches in championships, Cup competitions and European tournaments on the pitch with a microphone, communicating with the fans before the start of the match, at half-time and after the final whistle. This communication brought me great pleasure.
Contests for fans at halftime were memorable. There were various contests with shots on goal and quizzes for erudites with the audience in the stands. And each time the strongest received fancy prizes - club paraphernalia.
I always thought and have not changed my opinion that Dynamo fans are the most loyal and the best in the world. Both in the days of Dynamo's triumphs and in the periods of failures his loyal friends actively supported the team. I have never witnessed a negative reaction, never heard insulting shouts from the fan stands against players and coaches.
It was pleasant when Dynamo fans chanted: "Kyiv is impossible without Dynamo, as St. Vladimir without a cross", "Our flags are white and blue, we root for Dynamo (Kyiv)", "It is easier to scatter mountains than to beat Dynamo"!
Vocal stands
Today, in a very difficult time for the country, Dynamo fans try to support their favorite team. And when the team led by Oleksandr Shovkovskiy plays on the pitch of the Valeriy Lobanovskiy stadium, the stands at this cozy arena are the most vocal. This is my opinion.
Having the strongest support, Dynamo players try to thank their loyal friends with a winning game in every match.
As you know, Dynamo is the 16-time champion of Ukraine. And in the 34th tournament of the elite clubs of the country it fights for the 17th title. In case of success, the third star will "flash" over the Dynamo emblem. If it happens in May 2025, it will be the overall success of the team and its loyal fans.
The FC Dynamo management does everything for the team to remain the most titled and popular.
Hryhoriy Surkis, the long-time president of Dynamo, long-time head of FFU, long-time vice-president of UEFA, honorary member of the executive committee of the European soccer headquarters, is called the heart of the club. And his younger brother and current head Igor Surkis is called the motor of the club.
There is no doubt that we will win the war between Ukraine and the Moscow fascist horde. And Dynamo will return to the NSC Olimpiyskiy. And again the stands of the main stadium of the country will be filled at the matches of Dynamo players.
The fans of the most elite club of Ukraine will return to their fan-sectors. Many of them are defending their homeland at the front. Since March 2022 Sergiy Mykhailenko, the long-time president of Dynamo fan club, has been fighting with the enemy in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
I am sure that the matches in memory of Kyiv fans who did not return from the battle will become traditional. We remember about them!
Friends, let's be patient and once again hear the familiar slogans in the stadiums of Kyiv: "Dynamo is a class, Dynamo is a school, Dynamo is the best club of Ukrainian soccer!".
Oleksandr LIPENKO for Dynamo.kiev.ua
