Sport’s wry takedown as ‘War Minus shooting’ alludes to the jingoism often associated with supporting partisan teams. But Ukraine’s proud sports legends, washed-out yesteryear stars and young athletes, find themselves embroiled in a desperate war-plus-shooting scenario where they feel duty-bound to pick up arms after the Russian invasion of their country.
Unsurprisingly, leading the way are the country’s iconic boxers
Klitschko brothers
Multiple World heavyweight title holder Vitali Klitschko, now Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, told British breakfast show Good Morning Britain on March 25 that: “I don’t have another choice, I have to do that. I’ll be fighting.” The 50-year-old who won super heavyweight gold at the World Military Games in 1995, has been an iconic face of defiance. Russia has dragged the son of a former Soviet major general, and later-day well-living icon, away from his Bentleys and BMWs right into pitched battles defending Kiev. His brother Wladimir – of the left jab fame – was to travel to New York this summer, and get inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. But the younger sibling will pick arms too.
Though Vitali’s viral image in combat gear was fact-checked by Reuters as dating back to March 2021 during a training exercise, it has galvanised a country battling heavy odds with the Mayor on the streets with former and current presidents. Wladimir, with a 64/69 record with over 50 KOs, adds to the surreal frame. I’d like to speak to the people of Russia. If we consider ourselves as brothers, traditional ones, then do not let your children to set foot in our country, do not fight with us.
“Also, I’m addressing this to the President Vladimir Putin. You can stop this war. Please just sit down and negotiate it with us without claims. Our kids, wives, grannies are hiding in the basements… We are here in our own country, we cannot do it other way – we are defending. Stop it! Stop this war.”
Yaroslav Amosov, welterweight title-holder who was born in Irpin, Ukraine, announced he would stay put to “defend this country as best I can” against Russia, after depositing his family in a safe-zone. One of Ukraine’s top-tier clubs Dnipro organised a volunteer fighting unit to defend against creeping Russians. Club president Yuri Bereza valiantly said, “I have created a volunteer battalion to protect the city of Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk region, against an invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine.”
Sheriff Tiraspol’s Ukrainian manager Yuriy Vernydub, who stunned Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu just five months back, has joined the territorial army. Born in northern Ukraine, the manager working in Moldova bid his team goodbye to join the vanguard. Amongst footballers, Sporting Gijon star Vasyl Kravets said he was willing to forsake his football career for guarding his homeland. “They are killing people, civilians, in hospitals. It’s all Putin’s fault, I don’t want to say it’s Russia’s fault, but Putin’s,” Kravets told Marca. “We are a country that wants to live in peace. We don’t want to attack anyone, we want to live well and calm. I tell the truth: I want to go to war and help my people,” said the young player who’s never loaded a gun. “It is obligatory for the heart of Ukrainians.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.