June 1 – Former Ukraine and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko is raising money through a charity game at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium to help his war-ravaged country.
The game on August 5 will involve current players and “legends of Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan”, Shevchenko told Reuters on Wednesday after visiting a school in Chernihiv that was partially destroyed by Russian bombs in March last year.
The funds raised through the Ukraine government’s United24 platform will be used to rebuild the school with the cost estimated at $1.7 million.
Shevchenko has been joined in the project by fellow Ukrainian and current Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.
“It’s a very important school because it’s the only one in the region that can give education to the children,” Shevchenko said.
“That school was destroyed by Russian missiles. A couple of classes were destroyed. Today we heard a lot of stories coming from children, telling how Russian forces come to the houses with guns and scaring the children. About parents disappearing and some of them never coming back.
“The most important mission is to take the war out of the minds of children,” said the 46-year-old, who ended his playing career in 2012 after turning out for Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan and Chelsea.
Team Yellow and Team Blue, representing the colours of the Ukrainian flag, will lock horns in the charity game. The teams will be captained by Shevchenko and Zinchenko.
“We discussed a charity match for Ukraine with President Zelenskyy a year ago, when I became the first ambassador of UNITED24. It took time to arrange such an event,” Shevchenko added.
“I am sure that both Chelsea and Arsenal fans will support this match, as well as everyone who likes football and wants to express their solidarity with Ukraine.”