We all know that Manchester United won the most prestigious
1998-99 soccer club Champion's League Cup. In the finals the Mankunians
beat Munich's Bayern, with Kyiv Dynamo reaching just the semifinals. Nevertheless,
Ukraine came up with a very important trophy. A special UEFA commission
resolved that the last tournament's best player award would be handed top
bombardier Andriy Shevchenko during the 1999-20 Champion's League drawing
ceremony in Monte Carlo, August 26.
Last season, playing for Dynamo, he scored 9 goals in the
League, turning into a key figure on the interseasonal transfer market,
subsequently to be sold to Milano for $25 million. The ex- Dynamo player
will appear in the Champion's League this year. Last year's national champion,
Milano is engrossed in training, getting prepared for the next season.
The official opening date is set on August 18, also the date of the traditional
Sylvio Berlusconi Cup meet between the two strongest Apennine clubs, Milano
and Juventus.
The Ukrainian soccer fans, however, are not exactly happy,
because August 18 is also the date of the national soccer team's friendly
match with the Bulgarians, the last game before the crucial meet with the
French world champions. Crucial, because its outcome will determine the
Euro 2000 qualifiers. Andriy Shevchenko sent a letter to the Ukrainian
Soccer Federation, asking to be left out of the national team for the game
with the BulgariansЕ Fans are chagrined, but the main problem is training
the national well enough for the game with the FrenchЕ







