From September 22 to 27 in Kyiv, the youngest national team of Ukraine — U-16 — held a training camp. During this period, the blue-and-yellow team played two friendly matches: first they defeated "Metalist 1925" U-17 — 3:0, and then lost to "Kolos" U-19 — 2:3.

The head coach of the youth national team, Volodymyr Samborskyi, summed up the camp.

— Mister Volodymyr, did everything planned get accomplished?

— I am satisfied with how this camp went. And most importantly — the players' attitude towards their work. In addition to practical field training, we spent a lot of time on theoretical work. In the friendlies, the team showed itself quite well. First, we played against "Metalist 1925" U-17, and then after three full days of training, we faced an older team, "Kolos" U-19. And I want to say that in this friendly match, my wards demonstrated a decent level.   

— In the two friendlies your players scored five goals. Does this please you?

— Of course. It's always nice to see the team scoring as many as possible. We strive for attacking football. But I would put more emphasis on the prospects of the players. Everyone makes mistakes, without them it's impossible, but we want to make sure that there are as few of these mistakes in our performers as possible.  

— What are the future plans for this team?

— The next camp will be held in November. During it, our team will play two friendly matches against Italian peers. I hope very much that at this stage of preparation we will manage to involve our foreign players in training so as to see a fuller picture regarding candidates for this national team. 

Photo by the press service of the UAF

Composition of the Ukrainian youth national team U-16

Goalkeepers: Kyrylo Torkhov («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Danylo Sychov («Krivbas» Kryvyi Rih).

Defenders: Maksym Misyura, Mykita Bohatyri (both — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Vladyslav Dziubenko («Dynamo» Kyiv), Kostiantyn Kislyanka, Stefan Timchuk, Mykola Kalaraş (all — «Ruh» Lviv), Dmytro Pushkalov («Metalist 1925» Kharkiv), Yaroslav Kibukyevych («Polesia» Zhytomyr).

Midfielders: Ilya Ostrovsky, Danylo Ponomaryov, Denys Hordiiev, Mykhailo Boyko (all — «Ruh» Lviv), Ilya Birladyanu, Oleksandr Khravchuk (both — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Myroslav Donik (LNZ Chernihiv), Danylo Dovhii («Dynamo» Kyiv).

Forwards: Artur Martyniuk («Dynamo» Kyiv), Artem Fedushko, Oleh Dziurynets (both — «Ruh» Lviv), Sviatoslav Serdyukovs'kyi («Uzhhorod»), Yegor Grebelnyk («Left Bank» Kyiv).