On Tuesday, December 26, at the modern football hall of FC "Left Bank" training complex, which was built under full-scale war conditions, testing of young football players within the FIFA Talent Development Scheme 2022-2023 took place.

This is a joint project of FIFA and the Ukrainian Football Association aimed at searching for and developing talented players. It involved 60 boys and girls born between 2011 and 2016 from Zolochiv Rural Hromada in Kyiv Oblast.

Photo by the press service of UAF

Honored guests attended the opening ceremony — First Vice President of the Ukrainian Football Association Vadim Kostyuchenko, president of FC "Left Bank" Mykola Lavrenko and head of Zolochiv Territorial Hromada Oleksandr Lazarenko, who awarded young participants with memorable medals and diplomas.

Vadim Kostyuchenko addressed the audience on behalf of players and coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine. He thanked parents for involving their children in football, a game loved by millions. "I am grateful that you chose football for your child's sports development and I am confident that it is through this sport that you will achieve your first significant successes. Football is a powerful unifying force for millions of Ukrainians and helps adults, even very small and young citizens of our country to cope with the challenges of today. For children who are forced to be displaced, football also provides necessary support in adapting to their new place of residence and finding new friends. I wish each of you football victories!" — addressed the First Vice President of UAF.

Photo by the press service of UAF

Children together with coaches from the football academy of UAF and club "Left Bank" participated in tests. They had to run 30 meters for speed without a ball and with a ball, perform long jumps, as well as pass Illinois and Smart Goals tests on coordination skills, agility, and speed without a ball and with a ball.

Based on the results of testing, the national association calculates one indicator for all participants and enters data into the UAF database. The most talented young football players will have an opportunity to enter football academies.

Photo by the press service of UAF

Within the first phase of this program in 2023, UAF has already held ten similar events across different parts of Ukraine (Volyn, Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions), involving 1980 children. Another 20 testing sessions for searching and developing young talents are planned for the next year.