Shakhtar Donetsk was already run away to her home in eastern ukraine for Kyiv When the shiny new The stadium was bombed in The first weeks of Russian-backed insurgency in 2014.
right Now players of Perennial in Ukraine football Shakhtar Donetsk champion training in Turkey because of of all out invasion from Russia of that it former Soviet state.
team and national a team captain Andrei Pyatov – Imposing 37-yearOld or old goalkeeper who played in some of The most famous lands of Europe over His Brilliant Career – Tired of life in exile.
“It is very difficult to continue to lose home during a period of rest,” he said in The team training Istanbul session for a series of friendly matches regulator to raise money for children Orphaned by the war.
“We should we should run from one place to another because of of dictator tyrant” in A reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Wonder Walk
Shakhtar Roaming acquired imagination of fans Across Ukraine and much more of The football world.
The club first It moved its training base to the Ukrainian capital. home dynamo archer Kyiv.
Finally finished up playing bone of that it matches in the West city of group.
Ukraine’s cultural capital has strong national traditions and a closer historical link with neighboring Poland than anywhere else more far from Moscow.
Shakhtar original home in Donetsk has become a stronghold of a new Kremlin-backed leadership in Eastern Ukraine is largely Russian-speaking.
This contradiction made crushing support The players It was received in Lviv so much more exciting. success on dirty also Assist.
Share Pyatov in 10 of Shakhtar 13 Ukrainian league championship titles.
It was leading The league again when play It was suspended when the Russian offensive began on February 24.
Latest Shakhtar home in the Northeast city of Kharkiv carried some of The fiercest battles of the war.
Brazilian immigration
Shakhtar has arrived in Istanbul on April 6 to prepare for a tour of friendly matches that started last week in Athena against Greek giants Olympiacos.
The team also I played Lycia Gdansk in Poland on Thursday will face Istanbul side Fenerbahce, as well as the Croatian Hajduk split in early May.
a team coach Roberto de Zerbe returned from Italy to prepare him men for a tour.
“Me, no like The idea of give up “Now,” he told AFP. decision to stay with a team swept up in war.
Until now current A group that bears little resemblance to one who – which won that it last league match before winter break in December.
The club13 is Brazilian players They are all back home or signed on with Other European teams.
and two of the local players decided to stay behind in Ukraine.
The wife of midfielder Georgy Sudakov is about to give couple birth first A child while defender Viktor Kornienko has joined Volunteers who Include Ukraine new regional defense units.
Even the trip to Turkey was adventure.
The whole team required special government Permits because all Ukrainian men of Fighting age is forbidden to leave the country for Duration of the war.
‘I’m still dream”
Coach De Zerbe understands some of that of for him players They may reach a point where they can no longer survive playing football And I feel you have to pick up Weapons to defend their land.
“If he fights for Freedom, for dignity, for Pride, for country, I will only congratulate him,” the 42-year-old Italian said.
The club’s next friendly match against Fenerbahce on will be played on tuesday in The same Istanbul stadium where Pyatov and his companions are won European Cup against Werder Bremen, Germany in 2009.
The stadium will be filled with Memories – but not as much club’s abandoned Donbas Arena in Donetsk.
The glass and steel structure was wide built for Euro 2012 championship in which Ukraine participated-hosted with Poland at a time when there was a great war in Europe seemed unimaginable.
However, Pyatov knows his career will likely be over long before Shakhtar gets a chance to set Foot in Donetsk again.
“I still dream about it, as he does every players,” He said of playing back home. “But we know Those won’t happen overnight.”
