UKRAINE-CRISIS/DONETSK-SOCCER Ukraine rebel soccer teams face each other in Donetsk

Record ID: 144587

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/DONETSK-SOCCER Ukraine rebel soccer teams face each other in Donetsk
  • Date: 9th August 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA28FI88AOO3SU2FS9UN8R1N7RV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Soccer fans from Ukraine's rebel-controlled east flocked to "Metallurg" stadium in Donetsk to see the first match held in the region since separatists there proclaimed independence from Kiev.
    A team from the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) faced players from the neighbouring Luhansk People's Republic.
    "It is nice that on our home stadium the team will play the first match in its history, not a long history but a short one, but anyway, I think this is a historic match," said soccer fan Alexander Olenitsky before the start of the game.
    Another fan, Viktor Ogarkov, expressed hope that local clubs one day can enter Russian soccer championship.
    "It is desirable and it would be interesting if it (the Donetsk People's Republic soccer team) entered Russian championship, at least. Let's not plan any further than that and create our own (team) from the start. And then step by step we will get into Russia (championship)," Ogarkov said.
    Before fighting broke out in Donetsk, the city was the main base for Shakhtar soccer club.
    Last season, Shakhtar were based in Kiev and played their games in the western city of Lviv having left war-torn Donetsk, a major industrial city in the east which has become a stronghold for pro-Russian separatists. But Shakhtar fans in Donetsk still support the club and hope that one day, it will return.
    "We have also supported our team - "Shakhtar Donetsk" and we will go on supporting it. I am sure that Shakhtar Donetsk will return and everything will be ok," said soccer fan Gennady Meshako.
    Shakhtar finished second in the Ukrainian Premier League last season behind Dynamo Kiev.
    Denis Pushilin, one of DNR leaders, said that Donetsk match was just the beginning and citizens of the rebel-controlled republics will see many more in the months to come.
    "Today's match is the first one therefore it is very important. I am sure it will be a good start to a large number of games. DNR and LNR citizens have lived through hard times and we miss such games. I am sure that to some extent we will satisfy our emotional hunger, but this is just the beginning and the perspective are very promising," Pushilin said.
    The stadium was packed with soccer fans who cheered loudly when a goal was scored.
    The match ended with DNR 4:1 win over LNR.
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