A friendly match took place at the sports complex of the Ivan Bohun Kyiv Military Lyceum between the lyceum team and a star-studded Ukrainian football squad from the UAF. The football meeting was dedicated to the completion of the reconstruction of the sports complex named after Hero of Ukraine Andriy Kizil.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Among those who attended the ceremonial opening of the sports event were President of the Ukrainian Football Association, UEFA Executive Committee member Andriy Pavelko, head of the lyceum, Hero of Ukraine, Major General Igor Gordiyukh, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vadym Gutzeit, and first vice-presidents of UAF Oleksiy Mykhaylichenko, Anatoliy Demianenko, and Vadim Kostyuchenko.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

“The state leadership, under extremely difficult conditions, entrusted us with the education of future officers for the Armed Forces and other security structures. We honorably carry out this mission. Over eight years since the war began, we are closer to victory than ever before. Our motivation is much greater because the entire civilized world stands with us. It's important to do everything possible so that our victory is final, and peace reigns in independent Ukraine.”— Igor Gordiyukh stated in his speech.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Andriy Pavelko thanked Igor Gordiyukh for the fact that the capital's educational institution instills in its students a love of sports, and football in particular: “It was here that the tournament in memory of Hero of Ukraine Andriy Kizil began. I am confident that together we are raising healthy generations for the future of Ukraine. I hope today boys will be energized by star footballers so they can win both in sports and their chosen military service.”

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

The UAF president awarded the lyceum's head with a medal “For Significant Contribution to the Development of Ukrainian Football.” In turn, Igor Gordiyukh presented his famous badge named after Ivan Bohun to the UAF president. Andriy Pavelko, Oleksiy Mykhaylichenko, and Anatoliy Demianenko gave young lyceum students footballs, sports equipment, and sweet gifts.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

The match, with the main referee being Dmytro Kubyak from Odessa—a neurosurgeon who was captured in Mariupol and spent five horrific months in Olenivka—featured a lineup of star veterans of Ukrainian football: Olympic champions Oleksiy Cherednik and Yevhen Yarovyy, Oleksandr Aliyev, Andriy Annenkov, Vitaliy Lisitsky, Volodymyr Yezersky, Edmar, Yevhen Lutsenko, and Serhiy Fedorov.

The opponents played two halves of 20 minutes each. The stars of Ukrainian football emerged victorious with a score of 6-3.