Former citizens of Ukraine have everything they need not to lose connection with native country: churches, schools, museums, financial institutions, shops, restaurants, clubs… Football also plays quite significant role in lives of “new Americans”. Today our interlocutor is sports journalist Yakiv Strelchyn, who founded FC Dynamo Kyiv Fan-club in Chicago.
- I was born in Mohyliv-Podilskyi (Vinnytsia region) and lived there till I turned seventeen. Later I studied in Moscow and in 1988 I went to the USA. When did I start supporting FC Dynamo Kyiv? When I was six, I came to Kyiv with my parents. That day Dynamo opposed Moldova. There were a lot of people at the stadium. I remember Lobanovskyi taking a corner. Kyiv side won 3:1 and I became Dynamo huge fan forever.
- When did you meet Dynamo representatives for the first time?
- I got a chance to meet Lobanovskyi in Moscow. I was friends with Dinamo Moscow player Gennady Yevriuzhikhin. He knew I adored Dynamo Kyiv, called and offered me to meet Valeriy Lobanovskyi. For some reason I got scared and I still regret. Anyway, working as journalist in Chicago I met Kanevskyi, Biba, Bezsonov, Mykhailychenko, Demianenko and others.
Today I have two hours at Russian-speaking radio. One of them is dedicated to all kinds of sports while another – to football. I usually spend about 20 minutes telling about Dynamo and Ukraine national team.
Dmytro Shapoval
Read full version of the interview in FC Dynamo Kyiv magazine new issue, #6 (89)
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