Oleksandr Shovkovskiy candidly discusses the impact of war and economic challenges on Dynamo Kyiv
Kyiv’s prominent football coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy recently addressed the team’s current condition and the reasons behind their performance issues.
Following the 0:3 defeat against Turkish side Samsunspor in the Conference League, the coach provided a detailed explanation of circumstances affecting not only the club but also the wider country.
According to Shovkovskiy, the ongoing political and social crisis in Ukraine has significantly influenced the football team’s ability to attract and retain top-tier players, as well as limited financial resources.
He emphasized that many talented young players, who left Ukraine in 2022 amid the war, now perform successfully abroad in countries like Spain, Italy, and Germany, thus reducing the club’s available talent pool.
The coach pointed out that the country’s difficult situation hampers competitiveness on the football market since players are hesitant to move to Ukraine given the unstable conditions, and those already here demand exorbitant salaries, which are difficult to afford in the current economic climate.
Shovkovskiy also highlighted that the team struggles to bring in new talent due to financial constraints and relies heavily on the youth academy, which itself cannot fully restore the squad.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the team’s recent form has suffered, indicating six consecutive winless matches across all tournaments, with the latest game against Samsunspor even featuring no shots on target.
The coach expressed optimism that more spectators might be allowed at future home games, signaling a gradual revival of interest in Ukrainian football despite the current hardships.