From Odessa to Fuenlabrada
|The Ukrainian team and Olha Kivalova at the Homeless World Cup event in Fuenlabrada. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
The Ukrainian team travelled nearly 3,000km from port town of Odessa to Fuenlabrada to compete in the Homeless World Cup event. Olha Kivalova supported the Ukrainian team while they were in Madrid and spoke to two of their players, captain Alina Skryplenko and Vladyslav Baidus about their experience at the tournament and about life at home in Ukraine. It was a unique friendship that formed between Olha Kivalova and the Ukrainian team during the tournament in Fuenlabrada.
“Despite what is happening in our country, the players from the team have kept their fortitude, positive attitude and continue to train and participate in competitions. I feel proud of them.”
Olha herself had only arrived in Spain from Odessa six weeks before to study at the Universidad Europea de Madrid. Yet there she was, on the Friday evening before the tournament greeting the Ukrainian team at the airport and welcoming them to her new home.
Travelling to an international tournament is always a nerve-wracking process for a team, but with the ongoing war with Russia in Ukraine, the experience had heightened levels of emotion.
When team manager Oleh Vannik was greeted by old friend, and Homeless World Cup co-founder Mel Young, their hug was held a bit longer. As if neither could believe that the other was there.
“Football helps me to relax”
|Youngest member of the Ukrainian team Vladyslav Baidus. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
Team selection was also affected by the war, as Ukraine is currently operating under martial law, men aged 18-60 are prohibited from leaving the country. So, for this tournament, the 15, 16 and 17-year-old boys were asked to play.
One of them was youngest player 15-year-old Vladyslav Baidus, who said: “football has been the most important part of my life for eight years. It has always brought me pleasure; I can’t imagine my life without it. Football helps me to relax.”
“The competition has given me a lot of positive emotions and a great experience. Many thanks to the organisers and volunteers for the opportunity to be at such an event like this tournament.”
Originally from the Kherson region, which was invaded and occupied by the Russians in March 2022, Vladyslav moved to Odessa. Many of his relatives are still living in Kherson through the Russian occupation.
On moving to a new city, Vladyslav explained he was “received warmly by the new team and football helped me to get rid of my bad emotions.”
a ukrainian captain with a Spanish connection
|Goalkeeper Alina Skryplenko captained the Ukrainian team in Fuenlabrada. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
Captain of the team, 30-year-old goalkeeper Alina Skryplenko, has a professional connection to Madrid – she’s a children’s football coach with the Real Madrid Foundation in Ukraine.
Starting to play football at the age of 9, it has played a central role in her life and it’s not the first time she’s representing Ukraine. She also played for Ukraine as part of the national futsal team, but as Alina explained: “Sometimes in life, a sports career can come to an end”.
However, after being approached by the coach Iaroslav Nestorovych she was able to continue her playing career with the Odessa Charity Foundation.
She lives in Irpin near Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which was taken back under Ukrainian control in March.
She explained, “from the first days of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army suffered heavy losses.”
However, the initial assault by Russian forces left the city partially in ruins. Her family home was damaged and the school where she trained was destroyed. Her parents and sister left the city, but she and her grandmother stayed.
When the opportunity arose to play for the team, she saw it as a chance for a little bit of positivity.
Alina said: “the competition gave me a chance to feel a little bit positive”, and she acknowledged the support which she explained was “felt by everyone there” adding “no one refused help.”
Olha Kivalova added: “I am surrounded by people from all over the world and their support is very valuable to me. We are all waiting for the speedy victory of Ukraine in this war.”
Find out more about Odessa Charity Foundation and their work in Ukraine.
Words & Images: Rebecca Corbett