FC Phoenix
The story of the boys who came from the bench and became one of the top teams in the city.
About The Team
It all started in November 2015 for Kharkiv’s football mad kids. Up till then things hadn’t been so great for them - in the sports school they went to they regularly sat out matches on the benches. It was clear none of them would be the next Messi, and the guys with more potential - in the trainers view - got the chance to shine instead.
But the boys’ parents had other ideas. They couldn’t stand by and watch their children lose interest in sport at such a young age, seeing their confidence suffer, and knowing all the damage that could do to their future success and happiness. So the mums and dads joined forces, and the children’s football club “Phoenix” came into being. Its bold motto: “Everyone can be a hero!”
Phoenix made its debut in the Kharkiv Futsal Cup in November 2015 - at that stage it didn’t have a uniform, name, or training ground. That tournament has a special place in the team’s history!
The guys began to improve their skills under the guidance of mentors - Serhiy Hrytsenko and Yurii Vashchenko. They’d been successful futsal players in the past, but they had no coaching experience.
The coaches and parents had some tough tasks ahead of them - they had to raise the team’s spirits, turn the guys from the “bench” into successful sportsmen, as well as rebuilding their confidence and drive. That way they could finally let the boys enjoy the taste of victory.
Fact
The first time the team played under the name ‘Phoenix', and won the blitz tournament 'Christmas Cup’, was in 2015.
"All this time, a psychologist was working with the boys. For me and Yurii this was school too! We had a lot to learn. As the guys were awarded the cup of the first championship they won, we were getting 'category C trainer' certificates. To start off with, we learnt to play mindfully. Over time, the children began to see the pattern of the game and its tactics. It was important to build the team and the team spirit. A week's training schedule would contain three two-hour sessions on football, and two - on gymnastics, track-and -field and swimming. It took us six months to get discipline right."
Serhiy Hrytsenko,
Trainer
"Anyone can be a hero” is a slogan and idea very close to our hearts. Phoenix's parents believed in their boys and supported them every minute of the day, standing by them through a long series of defeats and failures.And now they can prove - to their children, and to those who have been following this project closely - that anything can be achieved by believing in yourself, in your dreams, and by working long and hard.”Olexander Borysov,Director Plarium Ukraine
“A record number of spectators - 245 - watched the dramatic final duel between Phoenix and ’Volna’ Sports School.I really enjoyed watching your game. I wish you good luck and may you become at least as successful as I was, and get 40 thousand spectators cheering you on in our arena”.Alexander Goryainov,Head coach of ‘Metalist 1925’