Lviv’s coach fears shells hitting sports facilities during matches
Main coach FC Lviv Oleg Dulub shared his thoughts on the new season Ukrainian Premier League and about the idea of holding championship matches on the territory of Ukraine and Poland.
“As soon as there is clarity on the championship, I will return to Lviv and meet with the team. I know that the championship starts on August 20, but where, in what format… To plan everything, you need to know all these components,” said Dulub.
“Funding problems? Yes, it shouldn’t be. We need to understand the conditions in which we work. Nobody is immune from this. I am in favor of holding the championship in Ukraine, but there is one “but”: the likelihood of shells hitting sports facilities. Anything can be expected. Therefore, it may be better to make some kind of mixed championship between Ukraine and Poland.”
“Idea [провести чемпионат в Украине] very good. I’ll explain why. First of all, football is not even a sport, it is a whole social phenomenon. In any country, as long as football is alive, it shows that the country is also alive.”
“And when they say that sport is out of politics and you can’t connect, for example, football with the processes that are taking place in the state, I am very interested to see the reaction of the Russian media when Ukraine beat Scotland. When the national team gave a big impetus to their game, the guys looked at the front line and worried, and rejoiced.
“Therefore, the beginning of the championship shows that the country is alive and moving. It is clear that it is hard, the war is going on in the East, but the country is alive, no matter what.
“Is it safer to play in Poland? Maybe even safer, and, probably, in terms of filling the stadium, this would be a big plus, of course. I am now in Poland and I see how she extended a helping hand for Ukraine. How many refugees have been accepted, how they help them settle here… Judging by this, there would be a filling of fans at the stadium.”
“I was at the Dynamo Kyiv match with Legia, the stadium was almost full. For the same refugees, it would be an outlet. Again, if a decision is made to play in Ukraine, we will play in Ukraine.”
See also: Shards: how have UPL clubs changed during the war? We are talking about PFC Lviv
Tentatively, the start of the UPL is scheduled for August 20. The previous season was completed ahead of schedule due to the invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine.
Source: Sportarena
