Legendary Ukrainian coach Mykola Pavlov expressed his opinion on the feasibility of continuing the matches of the Ukrainian championship in Kryvyi Rih, where the local Kryvbas competes.
Mykola Pavlov"I want to say at this moment that all my thoughts are with the families of those who suffered during the enemy strike (referring to the terrible rocket attack on Kryvyi Rih on April 2, which claimed the lives of 19 people, including 9 children, - ed. note). Nothing can heal the emotional wounds of parents who have lost their children. How hard it is to understand that children are left without a father or a mother. Ordinary peaceful people died, which only confirms the baseness and lack of conscience of our enemies. Hitting a peaceful city, a children’s playground, a densely populated residential area — there are no words to describe what kind of person one must be to do such things.
I express my condolences to the residents of Kryvyi Rih. I have repeatedly had to come to this city as a football player and coach. I have always had great sympathy for these hardworking people and for a city that has given so much to Ukraine.
So at this moment, I want to express support to my colleague Yuriy Vernydub (head coach of Kryvbas, - ed. note), because in this situation, I understand him like no one else — and here’s why. When Russia invaded the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, I was leading Mariupol’s Illichivets. And just like Vernydub with Kryvbas right now, I fought for my team to be able to play in its hometown, for its native people.
I will never forget how, at that moment, the simple people of Mariupol wanted the team to play so they could attend football matches. For them, it was a symbol of normalcy in life, that if there is football, then there is a peaceful life, there is authority, there is Ukraine. And in those difficult times, when the issue arose of whether there would be football in Mariupol, some clubs refused to come to us — Volyn led by Vitaliy Kvarzyany, Chornomorets led by Roman Hryhorchuk. We had to "host" opponents on their own field, although, to be honest, Mariupol at that time was not much different in terms of security from some other cities in the south and east of the country where, nonetheless, matches of the Ukrainian football championship were held.
As a result, Illichivets was relegated from the Premier League. We had no chances — all season we played home matches either in Dnipro at the old Meteor stadium or on opponents’ fields. And later, as if nothing had happened, opponents began to travel to Mariupol and continued to do so until 2022, when the city was "cleansed" of residents, buildings, enterprises, and everything else that was destroyed and bombed by the occupiers.
Therefore, I would like to ensure that those mistakes are not repeated now, and that cities like Kryvyi Rih do not lose football and their team. I ask the opponents to show understanding and compassion to Kryvbas, to support the club in such a difficult moment. Because this city, like any other in Ukraine, deserves its club, football, and a peaceful life.
Today, UAF and UPL strictly adhere to security regulations. The stadium has permits from the OVA and other competent organizations to hold matches. So if we believe that we are brave and consistent, we must support Kryvbas and it will support Ukrainian football, just like in those years when so many good football players from this club played for the national team, showcased themselves in European cups, and so on.
Yuriy Mykolaiovych, you are leading the team at a difficult time and giving it the opportunity to develop and progress. Your work is going very well, and Kryvbas deserves a bright future. Respectfully, Mykola Pavlov," said Pavlov.
