The Ukrainian national football team has the opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup on Sunday night. The realization of the World Cup dream would be of enormous importance to a people who have experienced hardships.
– I feel in my soul as well as Zintshenko. That is what every patriot, every Ukrainian, knows.
Captain of the Ukrainian national team Oleksandr Zintshenko could not stop crying as he spoke to the press about the horrors of the war before Wednesday’s European Championship qualifier against Scotland. Zintshenko’s words touched numerous football friends, including the Seinäjoki Football Club’s Ukrainian striker Denys Olijnykia.
– The national team players are really worried. In the interviews, they have tears in their eyes as they see and understand what is happening in Ukraine. Innocent people die. This is a genocide, a disaster, Olijnyk, 34, who has represented SJK since 2018, tells Sport.
Olijnyk, like other Ukrainians, has lived with extreme concern in recent months. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, a player in Seinäjoki received a message from his mother:
“Denja,” the war has begun.
Olijnyk’s parents live in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine, near the Romanian border. His two eldest children were also there at the time of the war. Instead, Olijnyk’s 9-year-old pit was close to fierce fighting in Kiev with the footballer’s ex-wife.
– My ex-wife and children lived in the basement for 4-5 days. It affected me tremendously. I couldn’t practice or sleep. I cried because I didn’t understand how this could happen in today’s world.
Since then, Olijnyk’s children have left Ukraine. The two oldest children of the footballer have lived with him in Seinäjoki for three months. The worst fear has made it easier.
– My children go to school in Seinäjoki, study Finnish and play football here. They enjoy themselves in Finland. My mother just came here for a few months. I have peace when my family is with me.
The war that has touched millions is far from over. In the midst of more than a hundred days of fighting, the people who love football have been comforted by the grips of the Ukrainian national team.
Ukraine defeated Scotland 3-1 in the World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday and advanced from the spot to the World Cup in Qatar later this year. The fate of the World Cup dream will be decided on Sunday night when Ukraine faces Wales in Cardiff.
– It would be extremely important for the whole of Ukraine that the national team gets into the World Cup. The victory over Scotland made the Ukrainians feel even a little joy in the midst of all the pain. Players understand where they are playing against Wales. It motivates them tremendously, Olijnyk says.
Olijnyk has played in his career on numerous main teams in Ukraine, including the renowned Kiev Dynamo, Metalist Kharkov and FK Dnipro.
– Before the war in Eastern Ukraine began in 2014, our main series was clearly one of the best in the world. After that, the economic situation in Ukraine deteriorated and the level of the league fell. It was harder to get good players, many went elsewhere and the clubs ran into financial difficulties, Olijnyk says.
The midfielder is well acquainted with the more experienced curves of the national team, such as the legendary Andri Jarmolenkon. West Ham’s veteran striker Jarmolenko has provided significant financial support to the Ukrainian army during the war.
– Today, all players focus on the events of the war and their families. Before, we played more and joked with each other, but there is no more time for that.
In Ukraine, the forces of many go into the daily struggle for survival, but nonetheless, Olijnyk believes everyone will be able to climb the next match against Wales.
– It has brought hope that life in Kiev is back on track. Although we are still really far from normal.
There are several top international players on the Ukrainian national team. In addition to Zintshenko, the Premier League champion in Manchester City, the team will be starred by Jarmolenko (West Ham), Ruslan Malinovsky (Atalanta), Vitali Mykolenko (Everton) and Roman Jaremtshukin (Benfica).
According to Olijnyk, the team has the right balance of youth and experience. The chances of success are enhanced by a team spirit that has been further strengthened by the war.
– Players do everything on the field in front of each other. They are confident. I felt great pleasure as I watched the match against Scotland. I feel like that team has to play in Qatar. There it has a chance to succeed.