A friendly match between Ukraine veterans and Armed Forces teams held in Kyiv

01.10.2024 20:22

Today, a friendly match occurred at the V. Bannikov Training Complex in Kyiv to mark Ukraine's Defenders Day. The game was played between the teams of football veterans of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The event was opened with speeches from the First Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF), Pavlo Boichuk, the head coach of the national veterans team Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, and a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Invictus Games medalist, and head of the NGO "Rehabilitation of ATO Veterans through Sports," Artem Lukashuk.

Photo by Dan Balashov

"On behalf of the Ukrainian Association of Football, I would like to congratulate everyone on Ukraine's Defenders Day! I also want to take this opportunity to thank all those who took up arms to defend our land. We remember each one who sacrificed their life for Ukraine. Thanks to our defenders for your courage. Glory to Ukraine!" said Pavlo Boichuk.

Photo by Dan Balashov

Before the match, several individuals were honored by the UAF for their significant contributions to the development of football and the support of veterans. Among the recipients were:

— Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, head coach of the Ukraine national veterans team;

— Oleh Sobutskyi, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and founder of the national veterans team;

— Andriy Biba, head of the Association of Football Veterans of Ukraine;

— Serhiy Drobot, Kostyantyn Kalisetskyi, Maksym Burenko, Oleksiy Hopta, Vitaliy Mamchenko, Vladyslav Sydorenko, and Viktor Klymenyuk, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Photo by Dan Balashov

The match consisted of two halves, 40 minutes each. The ceremonial kickoff was made by Illia Tyshchenko, a veteran of the 92nd Brigade named after Ivan Sirko, and Hryhoriy Kozachenko, a soldier of the Kraken special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Photo by Dan Balashov

In the end, the national veterans team claimed a 7:4 victory.

Individual awards were presented to:

— Best goalkeeper: Serhiy Pohorilyi (Ukraine national veterans team);

— Best defender: Oleksandr Ryabchuk (Armed Forces of Ukraine);

— Best forward: Artem Lukashuk (Armed Forces of Ukraine);

— Best player: Volodymyr Lysenko (Ukraine national veterans team).

Photo by Dan Balashov

The Armed Forces of Ukraine team received silver medals, while the victorious veterans' team was awarded gold medals. As a sign of respect and support, the veterans also presented the Armed Forces team with a jersey signed by the entire squad.