The Ukrainian Premier League announced at the beginning of last week the launch of a unique charitable project "Power of the Goal," aimed at reconstructing the sports infrastructure of DYSSh-21 in one of the most remote areas of Kyiv — DVRZ. This project aims to restore the "Dniprovetz" stadium, which was the center of sports life in the industrial microdistrict, but in recent years has not received proper care.
One of the best lawns in Kyiv
Once at the "Dniprovetz" stadium (opened in 1953 under the name "Lokomotiv"), there was one of the best lawns in Kyiv. For a long time (1980—1997), traditional friendly matches with veterans of "Dynamo" were held here, and in the early 1990s, the Kyiv "Dynamo" school held training sessions at the DVRZ stadium — due to the shortage of quality football fields in the capital.
It was here that future Ballon d'Or winner Andriy Shevchenko trained, here began his football journey bronze medalist of the 1994 Youth Euro Valentyn Slyusar, who made his debut for the national team of Ukraine at an older age. Here grew the current players of the youth national team of Ukraine Ihor Krasnopir and the junior national team Artem Kopyl. However, after 2002, the stadium gradually started to decline.
For each goal scored in the UPL Championship, the VBET Foundation, within the framework of the "Power of the Goal" project, will accumulate 5000 UAH, which will be directed towards the reconstruction of the infrastructure of DYSSh-21, and the UAF will help the school with sports equipment. The goal of the project is to create comfortable conditions for sports, organize children's tournaments, support talented young athletes, and promote youth football in Ukraine.
"DYSSh-21 has always been a sports center for the DVRZ microdistrict, but in recent years our stadium, our fields are in dire need of repairs," says DYSSh-21 director Vitaliy Yatsyk. "We have been looking for a way to update the school's infrastructure for many years. Support from the VBET Foundation, UPL, and UAF is, without exaggeration, a chance for us to create comfortable conditions for training and nurturing a new generation of athletes. We are grateful to everyone who has joined this project and believe that soon we will be able to give children the opportunity to train in quality conditions."
Sports for a remote microdistrict
The Darnytsia Wagon Repair Plant district (DVRZ) is located on the outskirts of the capital and has problems with transportation and modern infrastructure. Despite these difficulties, it remains home to over 15 thousand residents.
DYSSh-21 at DVRZ is an educational institution with a long history that provides classes for hundreds of young athletes (football, handball, tennis, gymnastics, scuba diving, water polo...). However, the school's infrastructure is currently in a state of emergency. The reconstruction of this school will open new opportunities for the local community to engage in sports, organize tournaments, and implement programs for the most talented children.
"Our eldest son Ihor trained and graduated from DYSSh-21 when, unfortunately, the conditions were far from adequate," recalls Viktor, father of two sons. "But even in those difficult conditions, the school raised real fighters, and this was the best option we could afford. When we learned that the school would receive a new life — modern stadiums, better infrastructure — our family was truly happy. We have always believed that sports develop children, and we hope that our younger son Danilo will be able to train in a modern, safe environment that will motivate him to achieve new goals."
Rehabilitation and social integration for children
During the war, a large number of internally displaced persons with children settled in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv, particularly in DVRZ. The sports infrastructure can become an important element of stability and development for them and children from low-income families. After all, sports not only support physical health but also contribute to psychological recovery and social integration.
"We aim to create a platform for children's development and help restore sports infrastructure," comment on their participation in the project at the VBET Foundation. "Sport plays a significant role in the rehabilitation and socialization of children, especially those affected by the war. It is an opportunity for them to not only restore their physical health but also adapt to new living conditions."
Investing in the future generation
The reconstruction of the DYSSh-21 stadium is not just an investment in infrastructure, but also a contribution to a healthy and competitive future generation. Modernization will create conditions for engaging in various sports and also promote the upbringing of strong and healthy young citizens of Ukraine.
After 13 rounds of the UPL Championship season 2024/25, its participants collectively scored 234 goals, allowing for the accumulation of 1.17 million UAH for the reconstruction of DYSSh-21 infrastructure.
"The "Power of the Goal" project is a wonderful opportunity for our football community to show that sports can not only unite but also change lives for the better," believes the president of the Ukrainian Premier League Yevhen Dykyi. "Every goal in the UPL Championship now matters not only for the league table but also for the restoration of the sports center in the capital's DVRZ district. We believe this will serve as an example for new social initiatives that will help develop Ukrainian football and support our children in difficult times."
", ' Dynamo.kiev.ua.
