Last Sunday, on October 1st, the children's football tournament "Unity Cup of Ukraine" -2023 took place on artificial fields at the V. Bannikov NTK, organized by the UNHCR in partnership with the charitable fund "Rockade," the Ukrainian Football Association, and the charitable fund "Development of Football in Ukraine."

These competitions aim to highlight the role of football as a unique and powerful tool that unites people, supports physical and mental health, and facilitates the integration of forcibly displaced persons into host communities.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

Eight teams from various corners of Ukraine participated in the tournament: FC "Troieshchyna" and FC "Champion" from Kyiv, FC "Dnipro" and FC "Novomoskovsk" from Dnipropetrovsk region, SK "Odessa" and FC "Chornomorets" from Odesa region, as well as FC "Khmelnytskyi" and FC "Starbol" from Khmelnytskyi region.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

According to the tournament results, third place went to FC "Dnipro" (Dnipropetrovsk), second place—FC "Champion" (Kyiv), and first place was awarded to boys and girls from FC "Chornomorets" (Odesa region).

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

The award ceremony was attended by a representative from external relations at UNHCR Ann-Marie Kerrigan-Derish, social worker for integration of refugees in Ukraine and community work with refugees from the charitable fund "Rockade" Dmytro Petrosyuk, as well as first vice-presidents of UAF Vadim Kostyuchenko and Oleg Protasov.

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

Future stars of Ukrainian football were greeted by Vadim Kostyuchenko: "Thank you for choosing football as a pastime, dedicating your time to this game, getting to know each other and communicating. Thank you to your parents and coaches, but most importantly—our Armed Forces, that we have the opportunity to dedicate this day to football. I wish all of you great success in both football and personal life!"

Photos courtesy of the UAF press service

Winners and prize winners of the Unity Cup of Ukraine-2023 received trophies from UAF leaders, while all participants were awarded medals for participation and football balls from the national association.

Also, individual nominations for best players in the tournament were announced:

Best goalkeeper— Platon Lyubimov (SK "Odessa");

Best defender— Polina Ivanchyk (FC "Dnipro");

Best forward— Matvii Krasnov (FC "Champion");

Best player— Adeleyna Vlasenko (SK "Odessa").

It should be noted that before the tournament, organizers arranged an excursion to the Museum of Popular Science and Technology "Experimentarium," during which schoolchildren had the opportunity to see over 300 interactive exhibits dedicated to mechanics, optics, electricity, magnetism, and acoustics.