It is hard to remember the people I communicated with, whom I knew for many years, interviewed, flew together on the same plane to various matches, applauded their game alongside football fans. And it cannot be comprehended that this will never happen again.
Valentyn Belkevich. Photo — V. RasnerIn the hot August of 2014, we lost two wonderful former footballers, coaches, favorites of the fans, Kyiv Dynamo players, Valentyn Belkevich and Andriy Bal.
Valentyn left for another world at the age of 42, Andriy - at 57.
Buried next to them at Baikove Cemetery are Andriy Husin, Viktor Chanov, Viktor Matviyenko, Vitaliy Khmelnytskyi, Yevhen Rudakov, Anatoliy Konkov, Valeriy Zuyev, Volodymyr Lozynskyi, Yuriy Voynov, Oleg Bazylevych, Vadym Sosnykhyn, Oleg Makarov, Mykhailo Koman, Viktor Bannikov. Next to them rests the ashes of Valeriy Lobanovskyi.
At the capital’s “Lisnyi” cemetery are buried Viktor Kolotov, Volodymyr Troshchykh, and Vasyl Yevseiev.
I have often talked and will continue to write about those who, unfortunately, are no longer with us. By their play, these masters brought joy to millions of people, they were their idols. They live as long as we remember them.
About Dynamo and its players and coaches, poems and songs have been written. I present to your attention a poem written many years ago by a great fan of Dynamo, a friend of many players and coaches, the People’s Artist of Ukraine, actor of the Lesya Ukrainka Theatre, David Babaev-Kalnytskyi.
Matches with his participation were often attended by Dynamo players. Unfortunately, David Wolfovych passed away in 2019.
The Team of Our Youth
Years fly by - they cannot be hidden!
And on your wonderful anniversary,
I confess, I more and more often dream
Of the team of my youth!
All life is a game!
Shakespeare, no doubt -
Football was what he meant...
And my life goes by together
With the team of my youth!
Delights, joy, and sorrows
In the company of friends-fans,
And all the wonderful moments -
With the team of my youth!
Loban and Bazil were rushing
Loban passed… “Olezhek, shoot!”
What goals were scored
By the team of my youth!
Valet, Kaneva, Biba, Voynov -
You all are in my memory!..
It is impossible to list all the worthy
Of the team of my youth!
But I want to highlight, not in vain
From the best goalkeepers in the world -
In a green sweater - Makarov
In the team of my youth!
The victorious cry over the stadium,
The stands are brighter than lanterns...
For the first time, became champions
The team of my youth!
Many generations have changed,
But I consider them all closer,
Dearer, closer - without a doubt,
The team of my youth!
All life is football!
So may it all be more beautiful,
Warm us all with victories,
The team of our youth -
The team of my youth!
Alexander LIPENKO for Dynamo.kiev.ua
