Match of masculinity: the first friendly match in amputee football was held in Kharkiv
On October 11 in Kharkiv, an historic event took place at the "Nova Bavaria" sports complex — the first friendly amputee football match in the city.
HOAF photo
On October 11 in Kharkiv, an historic event took place at the sports complex "Nova Bavaria" — the first friendly match of amputee football in the city. The Kharkiv FC "Invincible" and the team "Dnipro Honor" (Dnipropetrovsk) met on the field.
The game was not just a sports competition — it was a true demonstration of strength, will, and faith. The participants were greeted by Viktor Kovalenko, first deputy head of the Kharkiv Oblast Football Association, who conveyed words of support from the chairman of the HOFA Oleg Synyegubov. A notable guest at the match was well-known Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul, chairwoman of the Referees Committee of the UAF.
The victory went to FC "Invincible," which is confidently moving towards decisive rounds of the Ukrainian championship in amputee football. But in games of this caliber, everyone is a winner: these boys are our heroes; they overcame fear and doubt about the future, demonstrating strength of spirit, courage, and resilience!
Photo HOFA
The Kharkiv team is led by Oleksandr Tebenkov — a person whose story has become an inspiration for the entire amputee football community. His life is not just an example of courage; it's a lesson to anyone who ever doubted their own strength. Before the full-scale war, Oleksandr played football at the district and oblast levels. When it began, he defended Ukraine. On the Zaporizhzhia front, he sustained serious injuries that resulted in the loss of both legs. But even such tragedy did not break him. The heart of a footballer would not yield — Oleksandr accepted a new challenge and became a coach. Today, he trains the team AMF FC "Invincible" — and this name is no coincidence. It fully reflects his personal journey as well as the team's spirit. Oleksandr is now studying to obtain official coaching qualifications so that he can delve even deeper into a profession he cannot leave, despite physical limitations.
Photo HOFA
At the initiative of HOFA chairman Oleg Synyegubov, Oleksandr Tebenkov joined the official delegation of the Ukrainian Football Association that traveled to Krakow for a match in the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
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