Kyiv Dynamo’s alumnus, Vladyslav Veletin, shared why he left the capital’s club.
Vladyslav Veletin— At that time, there was strong competition, there were quality foreign players, good players. Plus, I had an injury, underwent two surgeries, and didn’t play for a year. Just six months before the end of the U-19 championship, my contract expired. We finished the season, the contract ended, and the U-21 team was then canceled.
I couldn’t find a new team; even a few trials were unsuccessful. Not because I played poorly, but simply because these were not clubs at the UPL level — not the ones that, as it seemed to me then, matched my level. This was probably one of the hardest periods of my life. Without football, without a team, plus the war started. The championship had already started, the guys were playing, debuting in the UPL, everyone was having a good time, and I was nowhere.
I was allowed to train at the Dynamo base. I came there every day by myself, took balls and trained alone. It’s very hard — football without partners isn’t the same. A team is needed, at least a few people nearby. In parallel, I played at the district level — in Boryspil, for my friend’s team. I played there probably about 15 games, even won some tournament at the central stadium in Boryspil.
It was tough, but I kept working. Then I signed a contract with Kolos. I came on minimal terms — the salary was even lower than the rent of an apartment. But I understood: the main thing was a chance. I needed to get hooked, to show myself in the UPL, — said Veletin on Ihor Tsyhanyk’s YouTube channel.
