On the eve of the New Year, FC Dynamo (Kyiv) launched the project "Magical Mail of Football Santa," where children in love with the game of millions wrote letters with their wishes and dreams, explaining why football and Dynamo hold a special place in their hearts. Hundreds of letters were received, from which football Santa selected the best.
19 authors, along with their parents, were invited to the Dynamo Stadium named after V. Lobanovsky, where a tour of the legendary arena awaited them, including a look at the club’s achievements and trophies in the museum, as well as an hour of training with professional coaches at Dynamo’s base in Koncha-Zaspa, to become closer to their beloved club.
16-year-old student Kateryna Shestopalko, who is studying journalism and dreams of writing about football and Dynamo in particular, also voiced her dream. The official website of the club decided to give her the opportunity to try her hand on its pages. Thus, we present to you Kateryna's material about the event.
In the morning, 19 children and their parents gathered near the majestic stadium, eagerly waiting for the start of the tour. It became clear right away that today would not just be a trip, but a true immersion in the history of the great club Dynamo. The tour guide led the participants around the arena, sharing the true soul of this place. After that, everyone proceeded to the Dynamo museum, where the children not only excitedly examined the medals and cups won by their favorite players but also learned the stories behind each of these exhibits.
Here, every object is a piece of the history of Ukrainian football, preserving the strength of generations. After the museum tour, the children moved to the conference hall, where they had the opportunity to feel like head coaches being interviewed. Could there be anything more inspiring for children who dream of playing professional football?
But the real magic was yet to come - Dynamo's club buses headed to the legendary club base in Koncha-Zaspa. During this time, parents and children engaged in conversations, sharing impressions and future plans, discussing what it’s like to be part of this big football family.
So, I inquired about the parents' opinions on supporting such events. The mother of one young player answered without hesitation that she fully supports such initiatives. According to her, it is extremely beneficial for the children, as they live football, cheer for their favorite teams, and regularly attend Dynamo's home matches.
A young fan also shared why he decided to write a letter to Santa. He mentioned that he has been rooting for Dynamo for three years and eagerly looks forward to every match. For him, it’s not just a game, but an entire event.
The first stop was the gym, where the children learned how professional football players train. The next stage – training with academy coaches. Here, each boy had the chance to try himself in the role of a real athlete, working with professionals. Coaches are not just mentors; they help reveal the potential of every participant, regardless of their skill level.
Senior coach of the younger and middle youth teams Yurii Yastrebinskyi explained that the role of a coach goes beyond sports activities. According to him, a coach is not just a mentor but also an educator and a teacher. The coaching profession is multifaceted and requires not only sporting expertise but also the ability to shape character, boost morale, and instill discipline and responsibility in the young. According to the coach, children participating in today's event will gain important lessons for their future development. They will understand what particular areas need improvement, whether they are training at another sports club or just attending a school club. This will give them the opportunity to accurately assess their strengths.
The main goal of today’s event was to engage the children and help them understand that football is not just a game, but also a great responsibility. The task for the coaches was to awaken a desire in the children to develop and possibly become professional football players in the future.
The atmosphere at the training ground left no doubt: this is a place where future professional footballers begin their journey. The young players received an incredible boost of energy and motivation.
During the hour of training, each participant pushed their limits, developing both individual skills and team interaction. But most importantly, they did not just gain new knowledge; they also felt part of a large football family, to which each of them dreams of belonging.
The children became even happier as they got the chance to meet the Dynamo U19 youth team, which was preparing to leave for a training camp in Turkey. Interacting with the future stars of the Kyiv club was interesting and emotional – autographs, photos, questions, and answers. The young Dynamo players added even more positivity and impressions to the guests at the club's base.
Thank you, Dynamo!