The Ukrainian Football Association announces the start of its first national coaching course for obtaining a UEFA S-license, which will for the first time combine components of lifesaving education regarding the risk of explosive remnants of war (EORE).

This hybrid educational initiative will begin a pilot 12-month program to develop mass football/EORE activities, which will be conducted by instructors from Spirit of Soccer for candidates on this course (Spirit of Soccer uses football to educate those living in conflict and post-conflict areas about the dangers of landmines and other explosive remnants of war). These courageous coaches will continue to disseminate lifesaving EORE messages through football activities in four carefully selected post-affected communities for children and coaches.

Activities will begin today, April 4th, on International Mine Awareness Day, by the Ukrainian Football Association with support from former national team player and coach Andriy Shevchenko, who is also an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, one of the project’s partners. Laureus Sport for Good uses sport as a powerful and economically effective tool to help children and youth overcome violence, discrimination, and disadvantage in their lives.

His images holding a standard mine warning sign give a clear message: “No mines.” These images will be included in the free EORE material.

Andriy Shevchenko together with the Ukrainian Football Association will lead an appeal to current and former players and football communities to support this lifesaving initiative through play not only in Ukraine but around the world.

Vadym Kostyuchenko, First Vice President of UAF, explained the importance of launching this program at such a difficult time: “Football has been and will always be a sport that unites people. We need to remember that. After devastating bombardments, our hospitals, schools, and football fields are now minefields. We will need to restore our infrastructure for mass football, and we must protect our fellow citizens from potential danger.”

Scotty Lee, founder of SOS, noted: “Our program over 25 years has effectively reduced child casualties and mortality by providing lifesaving EORE messages through professional football coaching programs in 14 war-affected countries, reaching more than one million children. After implementing the EORE program in Bosnia and Kosovo (from 1996 to 2001), I never thought I would be involved in such programs again in Europe.”

Currently, SOS runs four football EORE programs in Cambodia, Laos, Colombia, and Iraq, reaching 80,000 players per year. Ukraine will be the 15th country to host this program.