Euro 2024 heals war pain for Ukrainian boy

Kyryl Vidkovskyi watches Ukraine's match at Euro 2024 - Photo: ESPN

Like many other football-loving children, 13-year-old Kyryl Vidkovskyi spends his free time playing football and dreams of becoming a footballer. His idol is Lionel Messi.

It was his passionate love for football that gave him strength during the difficult times when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.

During the month he spent holed up in the basement of his school in the village of Yahidne, Kyryl still dreamed of soccer. He told ESPN that he used charcoal to draw stick figures of players on the field on the wall.

Two years on, Kyryl and her parents are now building a new life in the German city of Bielefeld. They are among 300 conflict-affected Ukrainians invited to watch Ukraine’s Euro 2024 matches and meet the team’s players.

Kyryl was present at the match marking Ukraine's 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Düsseldorf. On June 26, the Ukrainian Football Federation also arranged tickets and transportation for the family to watch the Ukraine-Belgium match at Stuttgart Stadium.

Sharing about inviting Kyryl's family to watch the match, President of the Ukrainian Football Federation - AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko said football is a sport that connects people.

"Football heals and brings positive emotions, which is especially valuable for Ukrainians during wartime," said Mr. Shevchenko.

The experience of going to Euro 2024, taking pictures with his favorite players, watching the Ukrainian team play were short but interesting moments of entertainment, helping Kyryl forget the hardships he had to go through. "It was great to feel the whole atmosphere with all the fans," he said.

In Germany, Kyryl continues to nurture his passion for football. He has had the opportunity to train with a local team and has won a tournament this year.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/euro-2024-chua-lanh-noi-dau-chien-tranh-cho-cau-be-ukraine-2024062716441599.htm