(Reuters) — The Ukrainian national soccer team warmed up on a Cypriot soccer field on Tuesday (March 4) preparing for a match they are calling a “game of peace.”
The friendly match against the USA was moved to the island nation because of Ukraine’s unstable political situation and after American requests.
Ukraine Football Federation president Anatoliy Konkov said earlier on Tuesday that Ukraine had changed its mind about cancelling the match, originally scheduled to have taken place in Kharkiv, and to play instead under the slogan of “Peace for Ukraine.”
“The minister of sports, the new minister of sport (Dmytro) Bulatov, he came to the hotel with the president of the Federation and with the head coach, and they discussed this question, and finally they took decision to play, because it’s very symbolic for the peace, and the slogan of the game is peace for Ukraine,” said team spokesman Alexander Glyvynskyy.
Ukraine’s Premier League has postponed the restart of the domestic championship after the mid-season break following the crisis in the country.
