A week ago, 15-year-old Yehor arrived in the Netherlands from Ukraine. He fled the war with his sister and his mother. He tries to pick up his life again with family in Helmond, as good and as bad as that goes. And that includes his great passion: football. That is why he was allowed to train with SV Brandevoort on Monday evening.
“Go Yehor, go go go!” it sounds over the fields of SV Brandevoort. Yehor starts running, the ball at his foot. He is clearly enjoying being able to play football again. “I’m happy to be here and to play along,” he enthuses. “And the team is very nice.”
That team is JO16-2. Yehor is welcomed with open arms. Player Aidan Hankins explains: “It doesn’t matter where he comes from. As long as he can play football. And he does it well.” Teammate Guus Boeien adds: “I like it. He is good with us and he speaks good English, so that will be fine.”
Yehor lives for the time being with his uncle Menno Adema in Helmond. “We can offer Yehor and his mother and sister peace and safety. That feels good. They have been with us since last Monday. When I asked Yehor the first evening what he wanted to do, he immediately said: “I want to play football!” I asked here at the club if that was possible and it was arranged very quickly. I really enjoy seeing him run across the field here. He smiles again, that’s the most important thing. I can’t ask for more, can I?”
Yehor traveled with his family for five days before arriving in Helmond. He looks back: “We first went to the Kiev train station. From there we went to Lviv. Then to Krakow and finally we came here. It was a long journey, we were very tired.”
Yehor had to leave almost everything behind during his flight. That is why there were two bags with clothes ready for him at SV Brandevoort. Yehor: “I got a bag with football gear and a bag with regular clothes and shoes. I’m very happy with that.”
From now on, Yehor can train with the team every Monday and Wednesday. If that goes well, he can also play matches. Trainer Ian Hankins is satisfied with his new pupil. “He works hard and fits in well with the group. That’s what’s great about children, they adapt quickly. Wherever you come from, you are accepted. Football is an international language.”
When asked if Yehor already feels like a member of the team, he modestly answers: “Not yet. But a few more training sessions and then I’ll really be part of it.”