Diehard Soccer Fans Still Reeling from Recent Loss to Greece
Optimists Look Forward to Hosting European Championship Games in Ukraine in 2012
Reported by Oleksandr Proshuta
The soon-to-be released film Invictus, which tells the story about Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and his attempts to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bring South Africans together, in many respects illustrates the emotional significance that Ukrainians attached to their recent qualifying soccer match against Greece. But unlike the South Africans who won the tournament against the favored New Zealand team 15-12 , the Ukrainian team suffered a devastating blow. While Ukraine is not facing the same issues depicted in the film for South Africa, the point here is that winning a soccer match can do wonders for national unity. When there’s a loss the deep divide only increases.
Ukraine’s economy right now is in dire straits and few people are feeling hopeful the next leader of Ukraine, scheduled to be elected in January of 2010, will turn things around any time soon. The atmosphere in the country is at a low point and this game was expected to lift the country’s spirits. Ukraine should have won, many believe. But alas the Greeks stole the match, 1-0.
For Ukrainians the loss was like a bitter pill that’s hard to swallow. So it’s not surprising that soccer fans are still reeling. Already names are being thrown about to find a replacement for the current team coach, at whom all blaming fingers are being pointed. As for the older players on the team, the game symbolized a last chance for them to ease into retirement at the zenith of their careers. Instead they will go out with their heads down.
Optimists,however, are looking ahead to 2012 when the country will have the prestigious honor to host the European Championship games. Although Ukraine lost the qualifying match, the rules are such that host countries get to play in the games. Preparations for the games are fully underway. Officials are quite busy making sure the stadium in Kyiv is on schedule with its re-construction efforts. A new stadium was recently completed in Kharkiv after the Dnipropetrovsk stadium was disqualified for not meeting game standards. Preparations in Lviv are reportedly lagging but Donetsk already boasts a new facility.
As any winning athlete knows, you can only lick the wounds of defeat so long before getting back into the ring with a fighting spirit. The players did their best and it’s time for Ukrainians to let go of their resentment and support the team as it prepares for a future victory.
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