“The tournament of 1000 teams” is held within the project of the International Charitable Foundation «Alexander Feldman’s Fund» for 15 years. Children in every school of the Kharkiv region and in the First capital remember and wait for it. It was the first really large-scale children’s sport project in independent Ukraine and continues to be it. The UEFA found it the most mass five-a-side competition in Europe. More than one million boys and little girls were included in “A tournament of 1000 teams” for years of the existence; it presented them a bright holiday, gave an alternative to “street”, taught to believe in themselves. For some of them it became a start in life – the first step in professional football career.
One of them – Evgeny Domenko. He lives in Krasnograd, works as the gym teacher in a “Grand” gymnasium. He is the coach of the team of girls who became champions of “A tournament of 1000 teams” in 2016 . For Evgeny it is not just a victory of his pupils in the next football superiority, this is point of honor, destiny. The matter is that 14 years ago he, the twelve-year-old boy, participated in the Tournament and together with team of his hometown got through to the final. The victory was won by the children from Kupyansk then, and the team of Krasnograd got the second place. That is how Evgeny tells about this bright and concerning event of the childhood:
– We arrived on the final of “A tournament of 1000 teams” in Kharkiv after their victory in Krasnograd district. Everything was very serious, solemnly. Games took place in the Palace of Sports. The audience – there’s barely room to move. In a semi-final we played with a very strong Kharkiv team “Arsenal”. We thought, we had no chances. We worried very much – our captain even had an eyeache, but as soon as the whistle announcing the beginning of a match sounded, his ache disappeared. Generally, we braced ourselves and won 8:5. Half of Krasnograd people came to support us on the final. Then we, probably, for the first time realized what the real soccer is – full stands of fans, emotions on edge. At first your hands tremble, you worry, and then you don’t notice anything anymore, you entirely deepen in the game …
Almost the whole match we were ahead, but Kupyansk was slightly stronger – we lost 5:4. I kicked three goals then. It was offensive of course. Everyone cried – I hadn’t got so many tears for my whole life. But it was an important lesson for us, it is necessary to lose gracefully. The main thing in a game is not to stop, not to turn and not to recede. And especially for me that Tournament defined the choice of a life course – my game was noticed and I was suggested to play football professionally.
Really, not only final, but even regional and zone games of “A tournament of 1000 teams” have special attention of football coaches. Mass character of competitions attracts them in search of future stars. Many children from dormitory areas and the rural backs get thus chance to find them in professional sport. The same happened to Evgeny Domenko. He was admitted to the Kharkiv state school of sports №1 and enlisted in structure of the Olympic reserve of Ukraine.
– After the 7th form I came into the secondary school, ended it, entered the Academy of physical culture and sport. I studied 4 years there, and at the completion I returned in native Krasnograd and I work as the gym teacher and the soccer coach now. I have two teams – boys and girls. Here with them I also returned to “A tournament of 1000 teams”, – Evgeny Domenko tells.
He doesn’t hide that the Tournament and personal experiences related predetermined its destiny: lit a creative spark in him and inspired in trainer’s work.
– When the telephone message about the beginning of competitions came, the first thought was: now I will surely revenge Kupyansk for that final, – Evgeny laughs. – We prepared very seriously,we were adjusted on the victory. Girls are great – they didn’t miss trainings, approached games very responsibly, nobody ached that is supposedly heavy. I didn’t doubt that they will win the Tournament. Even during draw I speak to them: number 8 will drop out – you are champions. And here announce: the city of Krasnograd – №8. Of course, when in the final after the first 15 minutes the account was 3:0 not in their advantage, it was necessary to be fidgety. But girls summoned up all my courage, maybe, heard me and nevertheless won. And boys took the second place. I, probably, just emotionally wasn’t enough for them – all forces left on a final game of girls, I even put a voice. And the most interesting that they conceded to Kupyansk – to me, directly it was a deja vu. Well, next time we will surely gain a victory. The main thing is that “The tournament of 1000 teams” continued. For children it is chance to break through in life, to prove to people around and, above all to themselves that you cost something…
Evgeny admitted that if not a Tournament his life would develop absolutely differently and not the fact that it would find himself in sport. For him it is destiny, and for his pupils, as well as for thousands of other school students of the Kharkiv region “A tournament of 1000 teams” is an opportunity to try the hand and to feel taste of a victory, chance to shoot ahead. And for someone it will become destiny, uniting generations too.
