On Wednesday, June 25, joint media event was held in Kyiv by FC Dynamo Kyiv and their official sponsor, GGBET, which was our club’s partner in European competitions and the official sponsor of Dynamo winter training camp, and has now become the title partner for the next three years and will be featured on the team’s jerseys.
The event was held in the Rest Hall of the Parkovyi Convention and Exhibition Center and was dedicated to Dynamo path to their 30th league title, victory in the 2024/2025 UPL and discussion of the team’s future plans, as well as important changes.
The speakers of the event, who spoke with media representatives, were the club’s CEO Dmytro Brif, team captain Vitalii Buialskyi, halfbacks Andrii Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Karavayev.
Before the official part, those present had the opportunity to take part in a quiz and win nice prizes for correct answers. And then everyone together recalled Dynamo path to the 30th league title, watched a video and shared their impressions.
The speakers shared their emotions from the victorious season, expectations of the new UPL and the start of Dynamo performances in European competitions.
Dmytro BRIF:
- After the first half of the season, it was clear that the guys were only focused on winning. Therefore, all our departments worked with the understanding that we would need to present our league title, so we started preparing in advance.
- Could you please tell more about the summer training camp and your plans for marketing strategies for the near future?
- The summer training camp will traditionally be held in Austria, where there’re excellent conditions and a wonderful climate. We are confident that we’ll be able to prepare the team as best as possible for the next season and participation in the Champions League qualifiers. I’m sure that the team will make every effort. We chose a hotel, fields and all the infrastructure that will best suit the team for training. As for the stadium, next season we have many projects and I’m sure we will surprise the fans with both activities and infrastructure. In particular, we continue to work on increasing inclusivity at the stadium. I’m convinced that all clubs should move in this direction, because this is an urgent need. We must ensure that all people have the opportunity to watch football and their favorite teams.
Regarding marketing, we have a huge amount of work ahead of us. Since we’ve got the third star, we have big tasks to actively promote and advertise it. And the most important aspect is that we’ve entered into strategic partnership with GGBET. Now they will be our title sponsor for the next three years. We’re happy about that.
- What exactly does it mean for the club?
- This interaction happened due to the experience of cooperation. The first one took place during the euro cups, then we continued it during the winter training camps. We realized that we’re very comfortable working together. Our cooperation gives us the opportunity to strengthen each other. Not only from the point of view of finances, but also from the point of view of interaction, the product that we can provide to the consumer, and working with the target audience. We have a common vision, common opportunities.
I’m sure this cooperation will allow us to create a lot of high-quality products, many opportunities to convey the power of the Dynamo brand to fans and attract new fans, because we understand that the audience needs to be expanded. The world is changing, interests in society are changing, so working with new audiences is extremely important. This is a partnership of two strong professional brands. I’m convinced that this will bear fruit for both companies.
GGBET CEO Serhii MISHCHENKO:
- For the first time, a bookmaker brand receives the status of an official sponsor of Dynamo. This, in my opinion, is a great recognition, honor and responsibility. This is another step towards global practice, where betting has long been an integral and organic part of the sports ecosystem.
Recently, The Guardian reported that 66% of clubs in European leagues have at least one bookmaker sponsor. 145 clubs have bookmaker logos on their shirts, 14 clubs from 31 leagues have an official bookmaker title sponsor. This is evidence that in countries where the gaming industry is developed, betting has long been one of the main drivers of sports development. The opportunities collaboration with betting provides can’t be compared with any other businesses. Because these are very close industries that have a direct connection with each other. Their target audience overlaps the most. Therefore, by default, any marketing company will have a greater effect.
This year in the UPL we’ll see the largest number of such collaborations, which makes me very happy, because I want this to become common in our country, so that football clubs have the support of reliable, proven betting partners and betting brands that tolerate and develop a healthy attitude towards gambling. Thank you very much to Dynamo for being on the same page with us.
Let me explain why today’s event is called Dynamo 3.0. First of all, this is the third star of the White-Blues, the thirtieth league title, epic and historical event that overshadows everything else. There is a three in our collaboration as well, because last year we first acted as a partner of Dynamo in European competitions, then there was a company at the winter training camp, and now we have become a full-fledged title sponsor for three years. In addition, this is our third joint media event.
- Why did you decide to become Dynamo title sponsor and continue your previous cooperation?
- It’s known that for many years GGBET has been the official main sponsor of the strongest e-sports team of Ukraine – NaVi. Also last year GGBET was a partner of broadcasts of both fights of Oleksandr Usyk – the best boxer. We felt that the picture was incomplete, something was missing – the best football player club. Now the puzzle is complete, we have football, we have the best club, we are calm and satisfied.
The partnership with Dynamo is a very big marketing project. After the first two attempts, we came to a full-fledged partnership. The goals we want to achieve are clearly understood and calculated. We know very well what we want to get and at what cost.
Andrii YARMOLENKO:
- What, in your opinion, was key for the league title?
- Faith – in yourself, in your teammates, in the coaching staff and the training process. That’s what helped us become champions.
- Why did you decide that Buialskyi should be the captain after your return to Dynamo?
- Being a captain is a huge responsibility, Vitalii deserved the captain’s armband more than me, it was logical and right. At first I didn’t even know the names of some of the players, because there were many youngsters on the team. So how could I be a captain? We were right, because we have the best captain in Ukraine.
- When you score, do you most want to hug your teammates, look at the scoreboard, or run to the stands?
- I just feel joy and happiness from scoring, because that’s what we play football for. In such moments, you don’t think about who to hug or where to look.
- Shakhtar new head coach Arda Turan said he would do everything to ensure Dynamo never becomes champions again. What emotions did this statement evoke in you?
- It only gave rise to one understanding – that we’re moving in the right direction if Shakhtar new head coach, after his appointment, first of all talks about Dynamo.
- What do you expect of the euro cups season? How do you perceive the path that will have to be taken?
- I think the path will be difficult. But we really want to get into the main stage of the Champions League, and we’ll do everything possible and impossible for this. We’ll have a training camp and move from opponent to opponent. We’ll outplay the first one, then we’ll get ready for the next one. We understand that it will be difficult.
Oleksandr KARAVAYEV:
- I evaluate this season positively for myself as we won the title. As for the unscored penalty against Shakhtar in the Ukrainian Cup final, well, I guess it was bound to happen. I think they won’t let me shoot again (smiling). I’ll draw conclusions, and next season everything will be different. But a goal against Shakhtar in the league is, of course, positive emotions. When you don’t play, and then you go out on the field and score, especially against bitter rival… It will stay with me for the rest of my life.
- What is your opinion on the opponents in the second qualifying round of the Champions League?
- Decent teams play in the Champions League qualification. We need to focus on achieving our goals – to reach the main stage. Therefore, we have to play our game against any opponent and not focus to them. It doesn’t matter to us who we play against.
- When will you restore your Instagram page?
- I didn’t even think about it. When I had Instagram, I posted one photo in few months. I don’t see the point in it. When you’re Dynamo and Ukraine national team player, you’re popular, but I have no desire to hype, to be on the media. Of course, it’s nice when people invite you to programs, interviews, but I don’t want to ask them invite me somewhere myself.
- You’ve played in different eras of football – before and after VAR, under coaches of different styles. Which football era do you consider the most vibrant for a player?
- The post-football era, when recovery begins, sauna, massage, pool, vitamins, etc. (smiling).
Vitalii BUIALSKYI:
- It’s an honor for me to be Dynamo captain. If I say that I talk a lot with the guys in the locker-room or before the games, it would be a lie. Andrii Yarmolenko does more talking, and I support his words and give advice to the young players. When Andrii Yarmolenko returned, we talked about who should be the captain, and I was pleased when Andriy said that it should be me. When I raised the league cup above my head, I felt pride, and it was ten times greater than when I was just a regular player. I thank Andrii and Oleksandr Karavayev, because they are experienced players who supported me in the status of captain.
- Do you think you’re underrated by the media, considering the number of goals you’ve scored and the impact you’ve had on the game?
- If I had Instagram, I would be much more popular, I don’t hide it. But I’m not so interested in social networks and popularity as in the respect of partners, fans and club employees. I think in a few years I’ll create an Instagram page. When I finish with professional football, I’ll switch to media football.
- What are your plans after your football career ends?
- I don’t see myself as anyone in particular, but I’ve already started coaching training, received category B, and I’ll probably move in this direction. Over 15 years in big-time football, I’ve seen that coaching is a very difficult job. Today there are victories, and tomorrow there aren’t any – and you’re no longer the head coach, but looking for another job. If there’s an opportunity to try myself as a coach after my football career ends, I’ll try. I think you shouldn’t start right away as a head coach, but you should go up the ladder.
