NEWS IN BRIEF

Lobanovsky's Philosophy of Success

Last Friday a celebration of thirty years coaching by Valery Lobanovsky took place in Dynamo's training center in Koncha Zaspa (see photo).

An American firm representative said some time ago that they were eager to invite Lobanovsky to deliver a lecture course for their managers. The fact that Lobanovsky was a soccer coach and had no direct connections with company's business wasn't an obstacle: Lobanovsky knows how to win successes. And this is the main thing in every business.

Soviet soccer clubs coached by Lobanovsky achieved the most success: the USSR national team became vice champion of Europe, Kyiv Dynamo won the Cup of Cups twice and seven times was champion of the USSR. And when two years ago Lobanovsky came back from the United Arab Emirates to Ukraine, the fans regained their belief in the future victories of Ukrainian soccer. His victories along with his failures are taken much more seriously than just sports.

It is not just a coincidence than in The Day's TV commercial the words about Ukrainian elite sound in the video background of coach Lobanovsky and Academician Paton. It is they who show us and the world that Ukrainians are both able and have to win.

Second Place is Almost in the Bag

Chances to fight for "getting out" of the group are quite real.

Having won a victory over the Armenian national team with 2:0 and with 9 points out of 9 possible, the Ukrainian national team is undoubtedly leading the tournament chart in the fourth Euro-2000 elimination group. The victory is especially important against the background of sonorous sensations when many favorites lost unplanned points. Just take the starting fiasco by the Russians —three losses in three games.

Incidentally, having left its competitor behind with 9 points, the Ukrainian national team has already secured the second place and will fight with Frenchmen to place first. It is just a pleasure pointing out that only Ukrainians and Czechs out of 48 national teams won all three fall games. Of course, the real test for Ukrainians lies ahead — in France. It is hard to play with world champions. But it will not be easier for Frenchmen, either — they will meet the leaders!

Olena Vitrychenko

Grand-Prix

She was due for a lucky break in this hard and not so successful (as for the world champion and Olympics winner) season. While Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics was torn by internal conflicts and contradictions, Russian female gymnasts raked in the lion's share of the prizes. Hopefully, the Grand-Prix, which Olena Vitrychenko started with the Deriuhina Cup in Kyiv and successfully finished in Linz, Austria, will be a harbinger of her renewed success.