Oleksandr Sitnik: "The 'Future of the National Team' tournament was on an international level"

Head coach of the Ukraine U-17 national team Oleksandr Synyk highly praised the organization and quality of work at the conducted training camp.

Oleksandr Sitnik: "The 'Future of the National Team' tournament was on an international level"

Photo by the press service of the UAF

The head coach of Ukraine's U-17 team Oleksandr Sitnik highly praised the organization and quality of work during the recent training camp.

The Ukrainian Football Association continues systematic work to update approaches to forming youth teams, ensuring maximum transparency and equal opportunities for all players.

Following the historic educational-training camp where 33 footballers from the U-15 age category were called up for the first time, the UAF organized the next stage — the "Future National Team" tournament for players born in 2009.

The tournament took place at the indoor training facilities of Arsenal-Arena (city Shchastya) and NTB Dynamo. Six teams participated: two youth national teams, as well as representatives from leading clubs — "Shakhtar" (Donetsk), "Dynamo" (Kyiv), "Ruh" (Lviv), and LNZ (Cherkasy).

The head coach of Ukraine's U-17 team Oleksandr Sitnik summed up the camp in a comment on the official website of the UAF:

"At the previous camp, we gave players from clubs that were not represented at these competitions an opportunity to showcase themselves so that the tournament would be competitive. And I can note that many footballers showcased their potential and level for the future."

Overall, this stage of work was not only selection-oriented but also a chance to develop because, as I confidently say, the level of this tournament was international. The academies of "Dynamo," "Shakhtar," "Ruh," and LNZ operate at approximately the same high level.

The matches were interesting, and coaches got a look not only at candidates for two national teams but also in the reserves of the teams I mentioned above. All our goals have been achieved. Now it all depends on the players themselves who will progress.  

Results of "Future National Team" Tournament (U-17)

Group A

Youth national team A — "Shakhtar" — 1:2

Youth national team A — LNZ — 2:1

"Shakhtar" — LNZ — 0:0

Group B

Youth national team B — "Dynamo" — 1:1

Youth national team B — "Ruh" — 1:0

"Dynamo" — "Ruh" — 1:1

Semifinal for 5th place

LNZ — "Ruh" — 3:0

Semifinal for 3rd place

Youth national team A — "Dynamo" — 4:0

Final

Youth national team B — "Shakhtar" — 0:0, penalty shootout 3:5