Last night was the first official match in the country since the Russian invasion six months ago, as Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist 1925 Kharkiv were the first teams to take to the pitch in an act of defiance and an attempt to lift the spirits of a nation still occupied by war. The precautions include matches being played only in Kyiv and the west of the country, as well as in stadiums that can accommodate bomb shelters. There will be no fans in attendance and not only the referee’s whistle can stop play, with air raid sirens installed to warn of imminent danger. Nevertheless, Oleksandr feels the resumption of the Ukrainian league is vital to bring some semblance of normalcy and boost morale to a country that has shown incredible strength in the face of horror. Reflecting on yesterday’s launch, he said: “It’s important for the country and all the Ukrainian people because nobody was ready for this situation. People are still suffering and we have to fight every day everywhere, but we have to go on, live our lives and go on. “People deserve the life they had before. I would like to say a huge thank you to the Ukrainian federation and to President Zelensky for saying that we had to play our match in Ukraine. I know it won’t have the best facilities, but we have to continue and that’s the most important thing for all Ukrainians. I’m looking forward and will watch all the games if possible.” The start of the new season has been timed to coincide with today’s Independence Day in Ukraine and as captain of the national team, Oleksandr has huge respect for those brave players who are trying to bring fun and escape back into people’s lives. “It’s hard for me to imagine what it’s going to be like,” he added. “A siren may sound and the players have to stop at some point, but it is so important to show the rest of the world that the Ukrainian people do not give up, and in any case, they keep going. It’s all about our people.” Since arriving at the club this summer, our supporters have taken Oleksandr to their hearts, as have fans of other clubs because of the courage he shows in speaking freely about the conflict and being a standard bearer for his nation in their time of need. . He admits that he has been surprised by the warmth she has shown him. “It was incredible,” he said. “I have to say a huge thank you again. I’m so grateful for everyone’s warm welcome and I love them.” Copyright 2022 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use excerpts from this article is granted provided appropriate credit is given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
