Amateur Team ‘Agrotekh’Unexpectedly Secures Spot in Ukraine Cup After Watermelon Harvest
In an extraordinary turn of events, the amateur Football Club ‘Agrotekh,’ representing the agricultural sector, managed to defeat one of Ukraine’s top Premier League clubs — ‘EpiCent’ — in the Round of 32 of the Ukrainian Cup.
This remarkable victory was made possible not only by on-field efforts but also by an unusual pre-match situation.
The hero of this surprising success was midfielder Oleksiy Chichikov, who openly admitted that his team, which had recently been involved in a watermelon harvest at a farm sponsored by the club, faced a unique challenge going into the encounter.According to Chichikov, the romanticism of football in their case intertwined with agricultural work, making their preparation particularly colorful.
‘It’s no coincidence that in the second half we felt physically exhausted — that was a consequence of our work in the watermelon fields,’ the player explained.
‘As a result, the team became less energetic, but thankfully, we managed to hold on in the game, which was ultimately decided in a penalty shootout.’This match posed a special challenge for ‘Agrotekh,’ which is composed of players from Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, for whom football is more of a hobby than a profession.
The game in Trostyanets ended in a 1-1 draw, but in the penalty series, luck favored the amateurs.
The match footage remains as a testament to the dramatic showdown, especially since this club is the reigning winner of the Ukrainian Amateur Cup.
It was yet another vivid example that anything is possible in football, even under the most unconventional circumstances.For Chichikov, this game was a significant milestone — he previously played for clubs like Vorskla, Dnipro, Dnipro-1, and Zirka, and this challenge reaffirmed his dedication to football regardless of the conditions.
Moving forward, ‘Agrotekh’ has gained new opportunities for recognition and respect by achieving success in the cup competitions, opening fresh paths for development and strengthening football traditions in the region.