The World Masters Games—for veteran athletes—were recently held in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The Ukrainian 65+ team participated in the soccer tournament, featuring Igor Mentukov, an employee of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) campus and a specialist and member of the university’s trade union committee. The Ukrainian soccer players won first place and were awarded gold medals. Ihor Oleksiyovych spoke to a correspondent from “Kyiv Polytechnic” about participating in the World Masters Games.
– The competition in Abu Dhabi took place from February 7 to 14. Our team, under the auspices of the Kharkiv Football Federation, was formed by a group of enthusiasts from Kharkiv, led by Oleksandr Luhanskyi. It included former players from the “Metalist” (Kharkiv) team, as well as veteran players in the relevant age category from Poltava, Kyiv, and the Kyiv region. In total, the team had 11 players, including the player-coach. There were six teams in our age group: three from Italy, and one each from Ukraine, Mongolia, and Australia. The games were played on natural grass at the city’s Cricket Center on a 60x40-meter field (half the size of a standard soccer field). The team had six field players and one goalkeeper; substitutions were unlimited and unregulated. My position is field player, more specifically, defensive midfielder. But due to our goalkeeper’s sudden illness, I had to replace him in all the games. In the end, we performed quite well.
– Of course, gold medals at the World Games aren’t just “quite well”—they’re fantastic! Please list the match results.
– We played two 30-minute halves, two games a day in 32-degree heat. We beat Italy: 3–2, 1–0, 2–1; Mongolia 1–0; and Australia 3–1.
– Did the Ukrainian team receive support from spectators at the stadium or perhaps while walking around the city?
– Yes, during the games we felt the support; many people who had previously studied at Ukrainian universities came up to us. And during our walks, when people saw us in jackets with “Ukraine” written on them, they very often began to applaud and offer words of support during this difficult time of Russian aggression against our country. It wasn’t uncommon for people to want to take photos with the team members. We were visited by prominent stars of world soccer—the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov and the Brazilian Zico.
– And when did you start playing soccer, and have you participated in similar tournaments before?
– I started playing soccer at age 7. First at school, then at the university; I was a coach for women’s soccer. I have repeatedly participated and continue to participate in various tournaments held at KPI, particularly in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I’ve competed in European-level tournaments: in Nice (France)—2nd place; in Tampere (Finland)—1st place; in world-level tournaments in Vancouver (Canada)—1st place; and now here in Abu Dhabi (UAE)—1st place.
– Best wishes for good health, Igor Oleksiyovych, and new successes and victories in your life!