The head coach of Kryvbas, Patrick van Leeuwen, shared his thoughts on the war that Russia continues to wage against Ukraine.
“I understand the situation — especially at the beginning of the full-scale war — when regions such as Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and others in this part of the country often came under shelling. It was very difficult for people to live under such conditions. But now I see that the shelling has mostly shifted towards Kyiv, and the situation in Kryvyi Rih has become more stable.
For me, as a coach, it is important not only to work but also to have the opportunity to live normally and feel safe. And despite the war, the football process in Ukraine continues. Yes, there are alarms, but mostly teams manage to conduct training until the end, and then respond to current circumstances.
So I did not feel any significant difference between accepting an offer from Kyiv, Tel Aviv, or Kryvyi Rih. Before that, I had constructive and frank conversations with the club representatives, received detailed information about the situation, and understood that it is now completely different from what it was at the beginning of the war,” said van Leeuwen.