Three out of ten conducted Ukrainian championships in the U-19 age category could not be completed. Two — due to war with Russian occupiers, one — due to a pandemic. But the crisis that Ukraine's football faced in 2022 is the worst of all those experienced during this time.

The children and youth football system in Ukraine received a very painful blow. Under the boots of occupiers, football bases, training fields, DYSHS (youth sports schools), and academies disappeared. Many children found themselves abroad, where they are gradually adapting to new conditions. The count is already in the hundreds. And it will only continue to grow, considering that the youth championship organized by DYFL for boys aged 14-17 years in three leagues (elite, first division, second division) did not take place in the season of 2022/2023.

Photo shakhtar.com

The only all-Ukrainian tournament in the youth football sector that remains relevant — the U-19 championship under the auspices of the UPL. It started on August 22, and tomorrow the second round will begin. We have already seen twelve out of sixteen teams (the match between "Dnipro-1" and "Oleksandria" was postponed to November 15, while the match between "Minay" and "Lviv" is still undetermined).

And we have witnessed three victories with a crushing score. All three — from last season's prize winners: "Ruh" demolished newcomer "Metallist" (8-0), "Shakhtar" crushed "Metallist 1925" (5-0), and "Dynamo" confidently laid "Ingulets" on their backs (4-1).

Most likely, these three teams will lead the main battle for prize places in the season of 2022/2023. At least, even a superficial analysis of the potential of the participants of the new U-19 championship points to this.

The current champion "Ruh" has not lost any key players born between 2003 and 2004 from its squad. And in the summer, Vitaliy Ponomaryov added to it even better graduates of their powerful academy for those born between 2005 and 2006, plus one player each from "Dynamo" and "Volyn."

In "Dynamo," Igor Kostyuk also received a very strong reinforcement — graduates of the club's academy for those born in 2005 who almost entirely played for Ukraine's youth national team. And another debutant is Roman Salenko's son, who came from Vishhorod's "Dinaza" where he had already played with adults in the second league. By the way, Salenko is not the only son of a famous father in this U-19 championship. Alongside him in Kyivans' roster — Oleksiy Husev, and you can find familiar surnames in other teams as well.

"Dynamo" has also suffered some losses. The leaders who played at the UPL level are Nazar Voloshin, Maxim Dyachuk, Kiril Popov, and there is no longer a technical foreign player Sambi Diallo (13 goals in last season's championship).

Some strong football players are also missing from "Shakhtar"’s roster — Anton Hlushchenko, Maxim Derkach (excluding those born in 2002 who have already outgrown the U-19 championship). But there is a strong reinforcement for miners. Part of them returned from Mariupol, part came from the academy. Oscar Ratulutra and his team are guaranteed to compete for the title.

Photo fckryvbas.com

Will anyone be able to break into this trio's battle? Last season, challengers for the leaders were "Metallist 1925," "Zorya," "Vorskla," "Dnipro-1," and "Oleksandria." Plus, before the start of the season, few knew the potential of newcomers — "Metallist" and "Kryvbas."

But already in the first round, where two Kharkiv teams suffered two defeats with a combined score of 0-13, does not add much optimism to fans of both "Metallists." Although if we look a little deeper, it is unreasonable to expect too much from a newcomer to the U-19 championship — the squad was assembled with players born in 2006. This was a very strong team at DYFL level, but they are only 16 years old (and two of them were born in 2007), so it is hard to demand that they compete on equal terms with those who are several years older.

Almost the same situation exists in "Zorya." Only seven players from the previous squad remain, all born between 2003 and 2004, while the main summer reinforcement came from Dynamo's U-16 team led by Oleksiy Drozdenko — one of the most productive in our children's-youth football. The Kyivans' U-16 team was also very strong, but these boys will find it difficult at the U-19 level.

Photo nkveres.com

Seven football players born between 2006 and 2007 entered Dnipro-1's roster — all from their academy, while only four players born between 2003 and 2004 remain from the previous squad. There is also no main sniper of the team in the roster — Daniel Kivindi (14 goals last season), and several other very talented boys are missing.

"Metallist 1925" has suffered enormous losses as well (only five players born between 2003 and 2004 remain from the previous squad). Roman Melnyk is building an entirely new team.

But "Vorskla" and "Oleksandria" have lost significantly fewer players with experience in previous U-19 appearances, and they can be considered potential competitors for last year's prize winners. Much will depend on the quality of summer recruitment and coaching.

From the rest of the participants (the rosters of "Lviv" and "Minay" have not yet been published), it is unlikely to expect great ambitions. However, in "Kolos" and "Chornomorets," there are still well-developed structures that can yield results. The situation with "Veres" and "Ingulets" is more complicated. And "Kryvbas," which has just returned to major football, is currently in the process of reconstruction.

All prize winners of the Ukrainian U-19 championship

* — The 2013/2014 season was not completed due to the war.

** — The 2019/2020 season was not completed due to quarantine.

*** — The 2021/2022 season was not completed due to the war.

We remind you that in the UEFA Youth League for the season of 2022/2023, "Shakhtar" (as a U-19 team of a Champions League participant) and "Ruh" (as champions of Ukraine will play through the Champions Path — via a knockout system).

The players of "Shakhtar" will find out their opponents today, with the first match scheduled for September 6-7, and the last group stage match on November 1-2.

For "Ruh," the draw will take place on August 31. The first round will be played on September 14 and October 5, while in case of a positive result in the second round, Lvivians will play on October 26 and November 2.

Play-off matches are scheduled for 2023.