On December 28 in the city of Bucha, a jubilee, 25th anniversary veterans' football tournament in memory of prominent national footballers, Honored Masters of Sport Viktor Kolotov, Yevgeny Rudakov, and Vladimir Troshkin took place.

The traditional Christmas tournament was organized by the Ukrainian Football Veterans Association with support from TOV "Agrobiznes," the Sobol Family Charity Fund, and the Ukrainian Football Association.

Photo: AVFU

This year, six veteran teams from different regions of Ukraine were invited to participate: LSTM #536 (Lviv), CSKA (Kyiv), "Veres" (Rivne), Veterans of Poltava City, "Kudryvka" (Irpin), and the Ukrainian Military League team.

The participants were divided into two groups with three teams each. The top two teams from each group advanced to the semifinals while the third-place teams played a consolation match.

Photo: AVFU

Interestingly, well-known players at the national level were part of the teams. CSKA was represented by Eduard Tsimmeistruck, Artem Starhordskyi, Ruslan Kostyshyn, Anatoliy Bezsmertnyi, Ivan Krivosheienko, Serhiy Pogorilyi, and Volodymyr Bondarenko. The first violin in LSTM #536 was played by Vasyl Sachko, Taras Mykhaliuk, Roman Pakholuk, Serhiy Siminin, with Igor Chornuha leading the team. In the "Veres" and Poltava veterans' teams, formed by well-known football figures Orest Bal and Vadym Nemeshkal respectively, mostly local players were included. The ambitious "Kudryvka" always looked promising, its president Roman Soldarenko together with coach Valentin Bondar and team manager Anatoliy Tkachenko are always aiming for the highest medals. And a highlight of the tournament was the debut appearance of our indomitable warriors in the Ukrainian Military League team, gathered by President UML Svitoslav Syrota along with Serhiy Klyvlyn and Vasyl Bilozych.

Photo: AVFU

Group A

UML Team - "Kudryvka" - 0:3

"Kudryvka" - LSTM #536 - 0:0

LSTM #536 - UML Team - 4:0

Final standings: LSTM #536 - 4 points, "Kudryvka" - 4, UML Team - 0.

Group B

CSKA - Veterans of Poltava City - 2:0

"Veres" - CSKA - 0:0

Veterans of Poltava City - "Veres" - 0:2

Final standings: CSKA - 4 points, "Veres" - 4, Veterans of Poltava City - 0.

Semifinals

LSTM #536 - "Veres" - 0:0 (penalties 3:2)

"Kudryvka" - CSKA - 4:0

Match for 5th place

UML Team - Veterans of Poltava City - 0:1

Match for 3rd place

"Veres" - CSKA - 4:0

Final

LSTM #536 - "Kudryvka" - 0:0 (penalties 2:1)

Photo: AVFU

In the ceremony honoring winners and prize recipients, the acting president of the Ukrainian Football Veterans Association, best footballer of the USSR in 1966 Andriy Biba, legendary player of Kyiv's Dynamo, Honored Master of Sport Oleksandr Zavarov, head coach of "Epizentru," vice-president of AVFU Serhiy Nagornyak, and chairman of Bucha District Football Association Vasyl Oleksyuk participated. Due to the performance at the front line, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, founder of the national team among veterans Oleg Sobol was absent. On his behalf, greetings and wishes for a speedy end to the war and victory for Ukraine were conveyed to all teams, fans, and honored guests.

Photo: AVFU

Winners of individual awards:

— Taras Mykhaliuk (LSTM #536) was recognized as the best player of the tournament;

— Anatoliy Bezsmertnyi (CSKA) received the Sobol Family Charity Fund award "For Loyalty to Football";

— Yuri Kosebutsyk ("Veres") won the Yevgeny Rudakov Award for Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament;

— Vadym Nemeshkal (Veterans of Poltava City) received the Vladimir Troshkin Award "Iron Defender";

— Oleksandr Korniychuk ("Kudryvka") was awarded the Viktor Kolotov Award for "True Captain";

— Serhiy Kudria (UML Team) won the "Fan Favorite" award from TOV "Agrobiznes."

Photo: AVFU