Hryhorii Kozlovskyy sent a young U11 team to win in Italy: how it happened. Photos and videos

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been going on for 426 days now, but despite all the difficulties of wartime, Ukrainians do not forget about the basic principles of support and a sense of fullness of life. After all, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting to ensure that our children continue to live their normal lives.

One of those who not only continuously helps the military but also cares about the future generation of Ukrainians is the honorary president of FC Rukh (Lviv), Hryhorii Kozlovskyy. He recently sent a young U11 team to Italy to win (to see the photos, scroll down to the end of the news).

Hryhorii Kozlovskyy supports the Black and Yellows Academy and continues to develop football in these difficult times. He has been playing football since childhood and loves the sport. Today, the businessman dreams of Rukh Football Club winning the Champions League, and of the club's core team being formed from the pupils of the youth football academy he founded.

On the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2022, the Academy hosted 350 students from different parts of the country, including the east and south. Hryhorii Kozlovskyy left the Academy's students in Vynnyky (where FC Rukh is based - Ed.), taking full custody of them, providing them with housing and education.

In April, philanthropist Hryhorii Kozlovskyy sent the young Rukh U11 team to a prestigious international tournament in Italy - the Universal Youth Cup. The large-scale competition was attended by 64 teams from various leading European academies, including representatives of Juventus, Milan, PSG, Liverpool, Ajax and many others.

"We will come there and win," the young athletes said before the trip.

In a comfortable bus with full branded equipment, the Rukhiv team set off to win. Upon arrival, they were accommodated in apartments with all the amenities. "The Yellow and Blacks took part in the opening of the international tournament.

"We are here. And we are showing how strong and independent Ukraine is. Let's hope that the war will end soon," said one of the little Rukh members.

The team walked along a crowded street waving the Ukrainian flag. The young footballers called the atmosphere around them "the coolest" and took a sports oath. On the first game day, the Yellow and Blacks played against Albania.

"I am motivated by my family, coaches, team, friends and the fact that I represent Ukraine," said the U11 player.

The Ukrainians won against Red Bull with a crushing score of 4-0. Zhadaiev scored a double, and Berun and Prokopenko also scored a goal each. Rukh finished the U11 group stage in first place, beating two Italian teams, leaving their opponents no chance.

"We beat them because we are Rukh and we have spirit," the players commented on their victory.

In Italy, the little Ukrainians managed not only to score crushing goals but also to have a rest. The athletes got a lot of impressions and emotions during the boat trip. And then they continued training and fighting for a place in the standings.

The Rukh players managed to play with Italian teams Atlanta and Spezia, and then faced representatives of one of the best football academies in Europe - Ajax Amsterdam. The Yellow and Blacks lost to them with a score of 0:3.

"Such tournaments are an invaluable experience. We played against strong teams," shared his impressions Markiyan Shkraba, the head coach of AF Rukh U11.

As a result, Rukh U11 took 11th place at the prestigious Universal Youth Cup tournament and returned to their native Ukraine in a great mood.

Who is Hryhorii Kozlovskyy

Hryhorii Kozlovskyy is the honorary president of FC Rukh (Lviv). In 2009, the philanthropist took over the adult and youth teams of the Rukh football club in Vynnyky and actively sponsors and supports its development. In 2010, he became the president of FC Rukh (Lviv).

Hryhorii Kozlovskyy was able to create a unique phenomenon in Ukraine - the FC Rukh Football Academy, the construction of which began in 2018 on the outskirts of Lviv, around the Vynnyky Lake. The complex includes eight training fields of the latest generation: three fields with artificial turf and five with hybrid turf, as well as an indoor arena. It has the necessary infrastructure to find talented footballers, train them and develop them.

Under the auspices of the businessman, FC Rukh became a four-time champion of the Lviv Oblast Premier League among amateurs (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). Rukh has also won the Lviv Oblast Cup three times (2012, 2014, 2015), the Oblast Super Cup (2013), and the memorial to Ernest Yust, the most successful coach in the history of Lviv's Karpaty (2012, 2013, 2013, 2013). On October 17, 2014, Rukh became the Ukrainian football champion among amateur teams for the first time in its history.

In 2010-2014, Hryhorii Kozlovskyy himself played for Rukh as a footballer in the Premier League of Lviv Oblast. In 2013, he played his first match in the amateur championship of Ukraine.

In July 2016, FC Rukh made its debut in the Second League of the Ukrainian Championship, finished second in the season and immediately won a ticket to the First League of Ukrainian Football.

FC Rukh played in the First League for the next three seasons, and in 2019 the team moved to Lviv and changed its emblem. At the end of the 2019/2020 season, Rukh took second place and won the right to play in the Ukrainian Premier League.

In the 2020/2021 season, FC Rukh took 10th place in the Premier League, scoring 28 points in 26 rounds. The next season, 2021/2022, was interrupted due to Russian military aggression against Ukraine, and the team finished 11th.

In the 2021/2022 season, Rukh's juniors took first place in the Ukrainian U-19 Championship, earning the right to represent the club in the UEFA Youth League. The Rukh U-19 team reached the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Youth League, losing to AC Milan 0-1 on 28 February 2023.

By the way, Hryhorii Kozlovskyy's eldest son Sviatoslav played football professionally, playing for Rukh and Kharkiv's Metalist.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, in March, Lviv businessman and philanthropist Hryhorii Kozlovskyy and FC Rukh handed over a new batch of aid to Ukrainian defenders. The soldiers of the 45th separate artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received two sets of Mara unmanned aerial vehicles, equipped with six "birds" and two control points.

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