Olena Kudziyeva: "I want stronger competition among goalkeepers. We have plenty of options for other positions"

26.09.2024 12:00

From September 28 to October 3, the Ukraine WU-15 women's team will participate in the traditional UEFA Development Tournament in Moldova. Before heading to the neighboring country, our young players held a training camp in Ternopil.

The head coach of Ukraine's WU-15 team, Olena Kudziyeva, shared the latest team updates with the UAF official website:

— All the girls I wanted to see in the team came to Ternopil. I noted them while scouting at the national competitions for 14-15-year-old footballers last spring.

— It’s noticeable that the 20 players called up for the camp come from more than 10 clubs...

— Indeed, for perhaps the first time in this age group’s history, there is no single base club. This is great, as it shows that women’s football is developing across different regions.

— You held a short preparation phase with the team. Which positions still need strengthening?

— I would like stronger competition among the goalkeepers. For other positions, we have plenty of options. In Ternopil, we worked on two tactical formations — 4-4-2 and 4-1-4-1.

— What information do you have about your opponents?

— Apart from the hosts, we’ll be facing teams from Greece and Lithuania. We have the most information about Lithuania, as I even attended their match against Latvia in August. We also have a video recording of that game. Unfortunately, we know very little about our first opponents, Greece, although they seem to be the most dangerous. However, despite this and the lack of match practice, I hope my players will show their best qualities in Moldova.

Ukraine WU-15 Roster

Goalkeepers: Oleksandra Voronina (OFKIP-Polissia Kyiv), Oleksandra Lizenkova (CYSS Podil Kyiv).

Field Players: Kseniya Vorobey, Oleksandra Pychevska (both — Yunist Chernihiv), Anna Lyakh, Veronika Neposhyvailenko, Sofiya Zuieva (all — Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Zlata Voloshchuk, Nonna Hrynyshyn (both — Ladomyr Volodymyr), Yuliya Malosh (CYSS Uzhhorod), Angelina Mikrut (CYSS No. 3 Ivano-Frankivsk), Olesya Kaplun (Football Academy Ternopil), Varvara Komarnytska (DSK Chornomorets-2018 Odesa), Marta Bunina, Arina Paskarenko (both — CYSS Nyva Vinnytsia), Anastasiya Haletska (CYSS Kolos Bar), Yelyzaveta Hirun, Sofiya Yurchenko, Kseniya Shapovalova, Lina Potsykailo (all — OFKIP-Polissia Kyiv).

Ukraine will face peers from Moldova, Lithuania, and Greece. According to the competition regulations, each team will play three matches. The matches will be held at the local football association fields in the city of Vadul-lui-Vodă.

Teams will earn three points for a victory, in the event of a draw, a penalty shootout will take place, with the winner receiving two points and the loser one.

UEFA Development Tournament for WU-15 Teams

28.09.2024

Moldova vs Lithuania — 11:00

Ukraine vs Greece — 14:00

30.09.2024

Lithuania vs Ukraine — 11:00

Greece vs Moldova — 14:00

03.10.2024

Greece vs Lithuania — 11:00

Moldova vs Ukraine — 14:00

All match times are in Kyiv time.