At the end of the current year, the vice-president of Poltava "Vorskla" Oleh Lysak told what thoughts the club is entering the year 2023 with.
- Mr. Oleh, let's not go into too much detail about the terrible and devastating 2022. This topic is a priori endless. How do you manage to keep a huge football economy at a level in extremely difficult conditions?
- However, with your permission, I will start from the beginning. When the war knocked on our door, at first no one knew what to do and how to be. However, in a few days, they realized that no one would sit idly by. It is no longer a secret for anyone what a powerful humanitarian hub was formed at the beginning of March on the basis of our central stadium with the support of the Ferrexpo company. They were engaged in collecting, packing and delivering provisions to the places where immigrants from the eastern regions arrived and delivered the most necessary things there. They managed to help in other similar headquarters as well. They dealt with humanitarian issues and aid to hospitals where soldiers of the Armed Forces undergo rehabilitation.
- Did you have an understanding that football could return at least in some format?
- At first, of course, no. Neither football nor any other mass sport could be thought of. How to play? Whom? A hundred kilometers away, cannons rumble, houses and human lives are destroyed ... and then our Armed Forces gave hope to many that life can be restored step by step even during hostilities. Transcarpathia was chosen as the place of our deployment during the championship, where other teams were also concentrated. By and large, under these conditions, we can say that the first part of the season went quite harmoniously. Living in terrible realities, we remain optimistic.
- The question of financing the club is of primary importance. Can you reveal the secret, is there already an understanding regarding the budgeting of Vorskla for 2023?
- Yes, we have a message from our main investor about approving the budget for the coming year. All teams from the "Vorskla" structure will have full support and all conditions for the implementation of tournament tasks next year. It is worth noting that in such a difficult time, the club, with the support of our honorary president Konstantin Zhevago, is able to fully live and develop.
The women's team appeared in the Champions League for the first time in history, stopping just one step away from the group stage.
As for the men, in the summer we lost almost the entire main team: Tamm, Vashchuk, Puclin, the Till brothers, Kane, Yakubu, Pesich, Rangel. And even despite this, thanks to the Ukrainian patriots in the club, they were able to adequately represent the country in the European Cups, losing to a strong club with traditions - the Swedish AIK. In addition, we managed to keep almost 100% of the youth team, which will fuel the "base" in the near future.
- We are not asking about numbers, but, for example, compared to last year, the amount of funding will remain the same?
- We live here and now, and we must navigate in space. The war leaves a heavy mark on everyone. So, we will also have to relieve some of the publicity. Footballers who did not become the main players in the first half of the year will not be hindered by the club's management from looking for new teams. This will give our talented youth a chance to prove themselves. We managed to actively work on the transfer market in the summer. Therefore, it is not without reason that we hope that head coach Viktor Skrypnyk will be able to use all available personnel potential as soon as possible.
It will not be easy for anyone now. You also don't have to wait for expensive transfers. There is a desire to strengthen individual positions and comprehensively contribute to the development of their pupils.
- Where do you plan to send the main team during the winter break?
- Like most clubs, we traditionally consider Turkey, where all the necessary conditions have been created for the preparation and holding of control meetings. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Ukrainians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We sincerely thank our soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their daily feat. It simply cannot be overstated. I believe, we will stand and win. Glory to Ukraine!