The first president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, said that the history of his worship of the “white-blue” began from a young age, when he came to Kyiv to study in the mid-50s.
What Kravchuk said about the 16-time champion of Ukraine – read in the material TSN Prosport .
“ As long as I live, I’ve been rooting for Dynamo so much. I have the impression that I was born with the club . But for the first time I saw his game in a match with the Indian team – I was studying at the university at that time. The Indians played barefoot, I didn’t like such a game on bare feet, so I bowed to the people of Kiev. Although before that I didn’t root for anyone. Since then, my whole life has been connected with Dynamo, so it ’s impossible to separate us , “Kravchuk recalled.
On the Blues’ 2020/21 league title
“Explosion, explosion and once again an explosion of joy, happiness and faith. I have been waiting for this day for four years . And it has come. It has come deservedly. I did not believe that it was possible to change the team in a year or less than two years. “This is simply extraordinary. I congratulate, firstly, the head coach, Igor and Grigory Surkisov, who keep this team. But first of all, all the players. The result of the holiday is here, and the main holiday at the stadium. “Dynamo” is back. Today I saw a big, played team , “said the first president of Ukraine.
About acquaintance with the Surkis
“Then (in the early 90s) everything was falling apart, and Dynamo was no exception. I was worried, asked my subordinates to study the issue. I was informed that there is a group of people led by Grigory Surkis, who is ready to attract the necessary resources. Then I instructed the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, who was Leonid Kuchma, to study the problem comprehensively, and his subordinates put a bunch of materials on my desk, in which there were as many pros as cons. The situation required prompt intervention, and I made a strong-willed decision which I have no regrets to this day .
It might have seemed to many that these Augean stables could never be cleared out by anyone. But the first conversation with Grigory Surkis convinced me that there are such people. I was struck by how the eyes of Grigory Mikhailovich and his younger brother burned. These people were driven not only by passion and love for football. The brothers really understood how a large sports enterprise should work in the new economic conditions. A step-by-step, step-by-step plan was proposed, in fact, a roadmap for getting Dynamo out of the crisis. It was impossible not to believe in this prospect . And I’m glad I didn’t make a mistake!
Along with Igor’s energy, his sincerity in communication also bribed. He always answered questions directly and did not hesitate to express his own thoughts. There are people who think one thing, say another, and do a third. This is definitely not about the Surkis. What is in the older, what in the younger one feels the core of the alloy and adherence to principles. For business, this quality is just as important as for sports, where you are dealing not only with the team, but also with a large army of fans, usually critical, where you encounter opposition, unfortunately, not only on the football field,” Kravchuk said.
Reaction to the arrest of Dynamo assets in 2005
“Each nation and people have their own symbols, and Dynamo Kiev is one of such symbols. Thanks to the club, Ukraine is known all over the world, it is the visiting card of the country. Unfortunately, there are problems around the symbols . But all problems must be resolved according to the law . I I cannot be calm if something is done not in the name of a cause, but in the name of its destruction .
Fans of “Dynamo” have already turned to me for advice: “Isn’t it time to pitch tents and hold rallies?” I asked them to calm down, because I think that this issue can be resolved in a civilized manner within the framework of the law. However, if it is necessary to lead a demonstration or sit in a tent for the sake of Dynamo, I will do it. This is my country, my Ukraine, my symbols, and I will defend them to the end .
I would not like to cast a shadow on the entire Ukrainian court, but there is reason to wonder why the Pechersk Court, for example, making one decision on Kryvorizhstal in 2004, then makes another decision under the new government? It is very difficult to be objective if the courts make a decision not guided by the law, but by other motives ,” the first president noted.
Recall that on May 10, at the age of 89, the first president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, died .
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