Ukrainian Forward: Best in the League!

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