sports show: Some Ukrainian internationals have organized donations in kind or money. What role can footballers play with their prominence?
Robert Kempe: There were charity matches by Ukrainian club teams abroad, which brought in money that was made available here for projects and humanitarian aid. There are footballers who have organized ambulances and sent them to their hometowns. One player is even said to have bought a drone to then make available to the Territorial Defense Squads. The same is the opinion of the general public. There are men who went to war. But there are also men who organize aid donations, they drive for volunteer organizations, for example refugees from the embattled areas. And there are other people, including many, many women, who also organize relief supplies or fight with them.
There is a consensus in Ukraine that says everyone must somehow do their part to resist this war of aggression by the Russian army and to be able to successfully defend the country. You can apply that to footballers and football teams in Ukraine.
sports show: Did prominent politicians, such as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appeal to the Ukrainian national team before the playoff game?
Robert Kempe: I haven’t heard that yet. But there is great expectation. It’s not so much that Ukraine absolutely has to win, it’s more that desire. One hopes that one can provide a bit of variety. That is how it is communicated here. The game is less actively politically charged, but the situation here is tense enough.
sports show: Gaming in Ukraine has been suspended since the beginning of the war. Are there any plans to resume gaming?
Robert Kempe: There are indeed discussions on how to resume league operations in Ukraine. There is talk that it might be as early as July or August. There’s an idea that the stadiums are empty because you can’t guarantee people’s safety. Then you think about what could be a venue: do you play in the Ukraine or do you let some of the league operations take place abroad? There are considerations to hold all the games in Kyiv because there would be several stadiums available there. Of course you have to make plans for what will happen in the event of an air raid or a Russian attack on the city. All of that still needs to be worked out.
Source: red