Rebrov: As every fan I believe in our victory !

Olga Terentyeva has interviewed Sergiy Rebrov, the Ukrainian National football team and FC Dуnamo Kyiv forward.

- How did you react when you found out that Ukraine together with Poland have jointly applied for the right to host the European Football Championship EURO 2012, and when our Bid appeared among the finalists?

- At first, I did not even expect that Ukraine together with Poland will jointly apply for the right to host the European Championship. Probably, as every fan at that time I was not sure in the readiness of our countries to make such a serious step, and did not even know whether we would ever be ready for that. However, when there are such people as Grygoriy Surkis in our country, there is always a hope. Thanks God that he ventured to do this, we found ourselves among leaders, and got good chances for the victory. To my mind, it is extremely necessary for Ukraine and Poland. In case if we receive an honorable right to host the continental forum, the state will have to think of its citizens’ standard of leaving for sure, people will start caring about sports and organize their well being. We will get such a result as Germany did after it hosted the World Championship this year.

- In what way in your opinion hosting of EURO 2012 can influence development and popularization of Ukrainian football?

- First of all, all the hosting cities will be obliged to build good stadiums. In Kyiv, Donetsk new stadiums are being already constructed – it is 100% sure, in the same way, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv will have to meet the UEFA requirements. Beside stadiums, new hotels will be built and the infrastructure will be developed. No doubts, our country will only benefit from this! Then everybody will see that Ukraine is able to host an even of such a high level, and I am absolutely sure, we will really mange to do this. We just need time to thoroughly prepare.

- Organization of an event of such a scale requires a lot of expenses from the state and investors. Why do you think it is worth for Ukraine to go for it?

- The matter is that all the material expenses, connected to the European Championship preparation, are directed to the improvement of ordinary people’s life, of the health of nation, because sport is a pledge of health. If we win the tender for the right to host EURO 2012, I am sure that the Government will support this idea and will find the needed sum of money. Indeed we are a rich country. If Belgium and Holland could afford hosting big sport events, so do we. I am sure, if we gain the victory, - money will be found, and people will support.

- How would you evaluate our chances for victory?

- I trust my President Grygoriy Surkis. If he talks so confidently about the victory, no doubts there is a chance, there is always a chance. European Football Championship has never been hosted in the post-Soviet countries before. That is why, somewhere it must happen for the first time. In September the UEFA paid inspection visits to our hosting cities. They saw Kyiv, Donetsk, where a corresponding establishment has been already created, got assured that Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk will prepare everything in time as well. Inspectors have felt peoples’ aspiration and saw the real possibilities. I hope that we have good chances. I cannot state by 100% but as every fan I believe in our victory.

- Taking into consideration your experience at the World Championship in Germany, share your brightest impressions from atmosphere of hosting such an event. What can it give to people, who know little about football?

-The European football Championship will enable all citizens and inhabitants of the hosting cities and other places of Ukraine, old ladies and kids, who probably do not know or care much about sport, to see how interesting it is with their own eyes, to feel the festive atmosphere. Children will want to enter football and other sport clubs. As I said before, if we win the tender, a huge construction will start in the country, and it will help to create better standard of leaving for everybody, the same old ladies, for example, not only fans.

- In October, social research company, appointed by UEFA, will make a social questioning in Ukraine and Poland in order to investigate the level of public support of the European Championship hosting among the population of both countries. The research results will play a significant role in the selection of the hosting association. What will you advice our citizens?

- As a fan I want to wish all football supporters and other citizens and inhabitants of Ukraine, who know little about football, to eyewitness hosting as bright football event in our country, as the one that took place during the World Championship in Germany, when all the people lived by football, and eyes of all the fans throughout Europe were fixed on the place of the Football forum hosting. I cannot talk for everybody - some people wish such an event for their Motherland, some people think it is too expensive for us. I just want to assure everybody that the business is worth fighting for as hosting the European Championship will serve for the good of not only Ukrainian Football fans but the State in general.