New Delhi: Shakhtar Donetsk travelled to the Emirates stadium for their UEFA Champions League clash with Arsenal but an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk handed them a 1-0 loss. The Ukraine based club are facing far worse adversities in their home nation so getting away from the whole situation to just focus on football would’ve been a welcome change for the Miners.
Most of Shakhtar’s current squad understandably comprises of Ukrainians. This trip to the Emirates wasn’t just a football game of them, it was also a chance to spend some time, away from what’s happening back home, with national team captain and Arsenal player, Oleksandr Zinchenko. It was a beautiful moment for both the club and player, considering he is a product of Shakhtar’s academy. Not only was it a significant moment for the players, but was also one for the fans.
Oleksandr Zinchenko gets a huge reception from the Shakhtar away end. Looks like he’s made the day of one fan by gifting them his shirt. pic.twitter.com/eARgGXUpaH
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 22, 2024
The away fans that travelled to London from presumably unpleasant situations back home serenaded their national team captain with huge cheers and roars. He was given a wonderful reception from the away end and he reciprocated and gifted a fan his shirt. The fans were applauding their captain post the full-time whistle, enjoying the moment with their countryman before going back to face the same challenges they took a respite from at the game.
Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the game against his former club, he mentioned how important it is for him as a Ukrainian and for the country as a whole to come together at such a time. His message to the world and to his fellow Ukrainians at this time was a simple one, “we can’t give up.” He said, “That’s why we need to stick together as this is the only way to show justice and to bring peace.”
Current situation in Ukraine
Being the national team captain and one of best current players to come out of the country, Zinchenko is a huge figure in the country. He mentioned the worries one feels being away from family during such a situation and the need to find a permanent solution to what’s going on in his homeland. The 27-year-old’s family are all still in Ukraine, with his mother still living in his hometown of Radomyshl.
He got into a little bit of detail of how tough it is living in the country currently in his interview with The Guardian. He spoke about his aunt, who’s been working in a nursery for the last 30 years, and she sent him a video which shows her hiding in a shelter for three hours because of the emergency sirens going off in the country. While he admits it’s difficult being away from home in such a time, he believes he can be of more help from afar.
The Ukrainian Premier League will return next month with all matches having a military presence, while stadiums will be equipped with air raid shelters. pic.twitter.com/J7v2LFyjU5
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 12, 2022
He even shed some light on the situation of football in Ukraine. These were his words regarding the Ukrainian Premier League VBET, “You have footballers playing in the Ukrainian league and there is suddenly a siren. All of them need to hide in the shelter.” Even his Arsenal teammates were amazed and horrified at the lives these players are living, amidst the horrors of war.
Getting a chance to be reunited with his former club and meeting national side teammates brought about momentarily relief for both Zinchenko and the Shakhtar players. Such moments during these trying times are sometimes all that’s required to keep fighting on, and that’s exactly the spirit and the message that Ukrainians need to hear right. The world is still with them in this situation and in the words of Oleksandr Zinchenko, “We can’t give up.”
