To Phoenix, which a month before the start of the High League of Ukrainian U15 Futsal Championship planned to play in the First League, today's final result would have seemed simply unfeasible. The team finished the last season in seventh place in the First League and did not plan to raise the class. To be more exact, the team was planning to go its own way - to become a prize-winner of the second level division of the National Championship, eventually opting for the main futsal league of Ukraine in its age category.

Phoenix' victory in the Ukrainian U14 Cup and the subsequent U15 Country Cup bronze upset the apple cart. The AFU officials literally twisted their fingers at their temples: 'You have outgrown the First League, and we simply will not register you there.'

We decided - come what may, the team will gain experience with the best clubs in Ukraine at the end of the day. If you want to grow, play with the best. The status of the Cup winners, nevertheless, did its job: in its predictions the AFU saw us as an average team, capable of competing for fifth place.

That was about where the team stood during the first three away rounds in Chornomorsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lutsk. Vivid victories alternated with incomprehensible defeats in matches where Phoenix planned to earn points. But what was stable: the team was gaining stamina and respect from more eminent clubs.

Phoenix entered the final Kharkiv round in the same position and with the same lag in relation to the leaders as in the previous two rounds. During the season, the team preserved its 4th -5th position, trying to reduce the 5-6 points lag between itself and the leaders.

In order to get to the top three, Phoenix had to play the last five matches, three of which were with the top three teams. The task seemed difficult - in five matches with the same rivals in the first round, Phoenix lost 8 points!

The finishing upstart the boys made in these four days was simply incredible. Having beaten Krystal and Urahan, the team beat both Chorne More and the leaders - No. 25 Kyiv Sports School - in the most challenging matches.

All those events, coupled with losses our direct competitors were experiencing, seemed so incredible, that even inside the team we did not talk about the real prospects of the Championship. We were living from one match to another.

The last game with the team from Manevychi could have made us the champions. But the nervousness and the responsibility were too overburdening, no matter how hard the coaches tried to neutralize those. What can we say about the boys, if both the coaches and the fans were jumpy! The rival, motivated by the Kyivites with their vested interest, had nothing to lose. Having completely failed the last round, Respect moved from second to seventh position. It was precisely this freedom of action, though, that allowed the team from the Lutsk Oblast to play their game without any fear for the result.

It's amazing how the Vice-Champion of Ukraine title in the High League brought the team deep disappointment, while the 7th position in the First League in the previous season did not cause any negative emotions.

Phoenix, as the organizer of the round, decided to arrange a holiday for all teams, giving them a chance to play in one of the best sports centres of the country for several days. The holiday ended with a touch of sadness for the team, though.

When the sadness subsides, the boys will realize: what they have done was close to impossible. They have become the No 2 best team in the country in their age category, the only team to beat the champion of the tournament twice in regulation time, the team with No 2 result of the Championship in terms of goals scored and a very worthy one in terms of goals conceded. All those days the team was playing in front of many fans, including Kharkiv (and not only) football professionals. Phoenix players were receiving awards from the hands of Vitaly Odegov, the coach of the Youth national team of Ukraine.

AFU acknowledged Artem Shevchenko as the best attacking player, Demyd Yevsyukov - as the best player in Phoenix. Danylo Boldyzhev was awarded an individual prize.

It is safe to say that the decision taken at the beginning of the season was correct. Having become equal among the best, the boys are now setting themselves tasks that are qualitatively different. What is important, they are equal to those tasks.

We are proud of these guys in violet tees who have made an impressive journey to their new peak.