Chernomorets condemned the holding of the match in memory of Ilya Tsymbalar in Russia

Chernomorets condemned the holding of the memorial match Ilya Tsymbalar in Russia this year.

“The football club Chernomorets, with great amazement and a sense of indignation, learned about the match in memory of Ilya Tsymbalar in Russia. A pupil of our club, a man who made a name for himself in Odessa. It was to his native Odessa that Ilya returned to improve his coaching skills and share his experience with young people. Unfortunately, the football master did not have time to do a lot.

“10 years ago, Ilya left us. In Odessa, Ilya Tsymbalar is buried in one of the cemeteries of the city. In 2016, a match in memory of Ilya Tsymbalar was played at our stadium. A lot of stars arrived at the game, with whom Ilya played side by side during his stellar career.

“But many of his “friends” ignored the event, insidiously hiding behind the “troubled situation in Odessa”, the “glorious” players of the aggressor country, representatives of the Spartak club, did not come to the match. These players spit on the memory of a teammate and friend.”

“And here is 2023. The war is raging, every day Moscow is bombarding Ukraine with missiles, Kyiv and Lvov, Kharkov and Odessa, native to Ilya Tsymbalar, are under fire. The height of cynicism is to destroy Odessa and at the same time invite football stars of the past, pensioners-tourists to a match in memory of an outstanding Ukrainian, a famous inhabitant of Odessa. By the way, how are Fernando Morientes, Florent Malouda, Santiago Canizares connected with the career of our Odessa citizen? Of course not. The organizers of this commercial event understand that neither Viktor Grishko, nor Ivan Getsko, nor Sergey Gusev, nor other winners of the first Ukrainian Cup will go to Russia.”

“This is not a match in memory of Ilya Vladimirovich. The name of the legendary midfielder is going to be used to demonstrate to the football community his supposedly active football life during a well-deserved isolation. Chernomorets categorically condemns such actions of the organizers.”

Tsymbalar played for Chernomorets, Russian Spartak, Lokomotiv, Anzhi, as well as the national teams of Ukraine and Russia. The midfielder died in December 2013 at the age of 44.

The match in memory of Ilya Tsymbalar is planned to be held in Moscow on September 9. Russian media announced the participation of former football stars Florent Malouda, Fernando Morientes, Santiago Canizares, Emmanuel Adebayor and others.