Ukrainian success at the Australian Open!

[Albatross]

Ukrainian sisters Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko won the doubles title. Well, kudos to them!

No doubt this will inspire other Ukrainian tennis players to do well.

[Serhii]

That’s nice indeed Albatros,

One more success happened a day ago - DYNAMO Kyiv played SPARTAK Moscow and won 3 : 0 !!!! What a game it was ! They take part in prestigious ( and very well paid ) football tournament of the 1st tv channel in Israel. Israeli fans in Tel Aviv supported our team greatly.

Kyiv has started perfectly and hope will win the tournament . But such great victory over Spartak/Moscow is always something very special.
Did you see it ?

[Albatross]

Serhii, of course i have to recognise that symbolicly, Dynamo's victory was a much more significant event

I didn't see the match, as i kind-of lost interest in soccer many years ago. I do remember the Dynamo Kyiv team from the 1980s. They played great, very quick! Back then most of the national team was made up of Dynamo Kyiv players too.

Is the current DK-team just as good? What are your favorite Ukrainian teams apart from DK?

My favorite team used to be Ajax. There are currently no Ukrainians playing here in the Dutch competition a far as i know.

[Serhii]

Maybe only symbolically in a long history of their matches. They always were two main rivals in former the USSR and we always supported our team. That’s why my reaction is so emotional.

But there is no doubt that victory of Bondarenko sisters is much more significant events ( as well as triumph of Sharapova from Russia BTW ). The Australian open is highly prestigious tournament.

As for football in general – both teams are much weaker than they used to be. Dynamo played quicker, more interesting . We all hope they will play as good as they have done before.
My favorite team apart DK is Dnipro ( it is from the city I live in ).

I am afraid I’m becoming very emotional again - so called Total football of 70-80 by unforgettable Orange Holland team is my eternal love – indeed ! For me Ajaks is first of all Marco van Basten . I do not know how is he now, but he was great as well as many other wonderful players. How is Ajaks now ? What a team it was !

My best from Ukraine.

[Albatross]

It wasn't hard for me to image a solid rivalry between Ukraine and Russia. To some extent we have it with Germany, and it's also linked to history, and i mean not just football history. It's a pity Ukraine didn't qualify for the next EC, but in 2012 it will have its chance to shine.

I'm too young to appreciate the "totaal voetbal" of the Dutch team in the 1970s, but Van Basten was something special indeed. Arguably he had his best performance at the 1988 European Championship. I think everybody remembers his goal in the final against the USSR!
Van Basten is currently the coach of the Dutch national team. He is critisised a lot and has decided to step down after the next EC. There are rumours he will become the coach of Ajax.

Ajax is struggling. Historically, the club was very succesful in finding and developing new talent. But something has changed, and they have to rely on "buying" new players, for which they lack sufficient funds. Say, maybe you can send them one of your spare Olicharchs? You'll probably be happy to get rid of him and Ajax needs the ca$h to compete with Chelsea!

I understand you're from Dnipropetrovsk. I didn't get to visit this city yet, only looked at it from afar, when i was on my way south. Is there a convenient abbreviation for your city in colloqial language? In full length its name is a real "typo trap"

with best regards

[Serhii]

I do not remember late 70s well enough , but Dutch team always was just excellent. I wish they were the same these days as well – let’s hope. Is ‘totaal voets’ in Dutch ? Looks very nice.

I wish you could take all those olicharhs ( = big bandits) from here. Yes, they like to buy football teams very much. It’s like a toy for them. Perhaps you government would call them to an order .

Yes, I am from a suburb of Dipropetrovsk . It’s a real tongue twister not for you , but for us as well. We always say Dnipro .

I am very pleased you know so many details about Ukraine .

Best regards,
Sergiy.

[Albatross]

Originally Posted by Serhii

I wish you could take all those olicharhs ( = big bandits) from here. Yes, they like to buy football teams very much. It’s like a toy for them. Perhaps you government would call them to an order .

Sergiy, all Olicharchs? What about the "Gas Princess" Or should i assume she's forgiven because of her later actions?