Grigory Surkis: I hope that the tandem of Shevchenko and Rebrov will resume the effective work of the institute of national teams

Former UAF President Grigory Surkisspeaking at the congress of the Ukrainian Football Association, appreciated the development of youth football in Ukraine recently.

“Do we have youth teams? The question is rhetorical. They are. They take part in UEFA competitions. But even before the start of the full-scale invasion, our youth teams had not played international friendly matches for two years. After February 24, they also did not play sparring matches for almost a year and a half. Meanwhile, in 2019 our young men became U-20 world champions. And four years later, the Ukrainian youth team qualified for the Olympic football tournament in Paris,” noted Grigory Surkis.

“Let us also remember how for six years in a row – from 2013 to 2018 – Ukrainian youth teams received tickets to one of the two UEFA European Championships – U-17 or U-19. During this time, only one country achieved such success – the Netherlands. You and I were in excellent company. And the path to similar results began back in 2002.”

“When speaking in general about the institution of national teams, we should remember that football players prepare clubs. But students who will eventually play in the main team of the country must start by playing for the U-15 national team, which we do not have today. Just like there is no U-20 team, which appeared in 2010 and was abandoned in 2016. By the way, there is no U-21 Ukrainian Championship, which closed in 2021. “I hope that the tandem of Shevchenko and Rebrov will resume the effective work of the institute of national teams, taking advantage of the successful experience gained in past years.”

Grigory Surkis headed the UAF from 2000 to 2012. Let us remind you that on January 25, Andriy Shevchenko was elected as the new president of the Ukrainian Football Association by a majority vote of the Congress participants.

The first vice-president of the Association was Pavel Boychuk. Current head coach of the Ukrainian national team Sergey Rebrovand Alexander Shevchenko received the positions of vice presidents.

In addition, members of the organization’s Executive Committee numbering 12 people were elected. In addition to the president and three vice-presidents, its members included: Sergei Vladyko, Alexander Kadenko, Evgeniy Dikiy, Nikolai Pavlov, Katerina Monzul, Andrey Poltavets, Artem Stoyanov and Alexander Zinchenko.

Later the head coach of the Ukrainian national team and the new vice-president of the Ukrainian Football Association Sergey Rebrov believes that the tournament for U-21 teams should be resumed in Ukraine.