19 Ukrainian and foreign specialists received UEFA PRO category diplomas following the training courses at the Licensing Center of the UAF.
Today in Lviv, a large group of attendees of the coaching course at the UAF Licensing Center received UEFA PRO category diplomas.
Photo by the press service of the UAF
On January 19, 2021, training for the licensing courses of the UEFA Licensing Center at the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) began with 19 candidates for highest category coaching diplomas. All of them successfully completed the full course and today concluded their studies to receive UEFA PRO-category diplomas.
Photo courtesy of UAF
It is worth noting that due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the courses were delayed by two months. Nevertheless, despite military actions and considering decisions regarding the 2022/2023 season championship, they were successfully completed.
In addition to domestic experts, participants included listeners from abroad, including Brazil, Austria, Serbia, and Liechtenstein. Considering this factor and the overall situation in Ukraine over recent days, the final licensing stage was held on October 10-12 in Lviv at the football club "Rukh." The completion of training during these extraordinarily difficult times was welcomed by UEFA as well.
It should be emphasized that among those who received a UEFA PRO coaching diploma is Rustam Rotan, coach of Ukraine's youth national team.
List of coaches who completed the courses under the "UEFA PRO Diploma Program" (2021-2022)
| № | Last Name, First Name, Middle Name |
| 1 | Belakov Volodymyr Olehovych |
| 2 | Bicyura Viktor Hryhoryovych |
| 3 | Bogatyr Viktor Mykolaovych |
| 4 | Venglinsky Oleg Mykolaovych |
| 5 | Hnatyv Roman Mykhaylovych |
| 6 | Husev Oleg Anatoliyovych |
| 7 | Deykunov Oleg Vasylovych |
| 8 | Jilmar Tadeu da Silva |
| 9 | Zaritsky Mykhailo Yuriiovych |
| 10 | Klimovsky Ihor Petrovych |
| 11 | Kostyuk Ihor Volodymyrovych |
| 12 | Kudzyieva Olena Yuriiivna |
| 13 | Levchenko Vitaliy Hryhoryovych |
| 14 | Lyubenovich Zelko |
| 15 | Nikolinii Carlo |
| 16 | Rotan Rustam Petrovych |
| 17 | Sukiasyan Ervand Garsevanovich |
| 18 | Fedik Ihor Zinonovych |
| 19 | Cymbal Mykhailo Volodymyrovych |
The head of the UAF Licensing Center, Valeriy Shamardin, expressed satisfaction with the work of the new diploma holders: "They worked diligently over these two years—both in microgroups and during feedback sessions. Each conducted theoretical and practical lessons, had internships at clubs. Most importantly, many learned to engage in genuine professional dialogue. They received various grades, but overall their workload was very significant. I emphasized that this is not the end of training. In the future, everything will depend on self-education and acquired experience. There's a lot of specialized literature coming out now, materials are available online, so it’s important to continue improving one's knowledge."
The newly certified professionals themselves are full of enthusiasm and aim to intensify competition among professional league coaches in Ukraine.
Photo courtesy of UAF
It should be noted that the next group of 20 candidates for UEFA PRO coaching diplomas has already completed an interview, and their documents have been sent to UEFA for review. The first sessions with them are planned before the start of the 2022 championship season. As usual, the full course will last two years.
