Moving words in difficult times!
In tears, Ukrainian football legend Andrei Shevchenko (45) asked for help for Ukrainian refugees on Italian television. The former kicker of AC Milan and Chelsea, among others, said on the talk show “Che tempo che fa” on the Italian broadcaster “Rai”: “When I came to Italy, Italy opened my heart.”
And he appealed: “I beg you, Italians, open your heart to my people, help the women, children and elderly who need your help so much now.”
Shevchenko was most recently a coach at CFC Genoa and was released there in mid-January. He was born near Kyiv, played for Dynamo Kyiv during his active career and made 111 international appearances for the Ukrainian national team.
He joined the show from his place of residence in London and said that his mother, sister and other relatives are still in Ukraine. They reported on the bombing raids. Shevchenko: “I’m very worried.”
Shevchenko called for the parties to gather around a table to silence the guns and find a solution to stop the war. Sometimes he thinks it’s all a bad dream. The ex-national player: “But then I understand, no, that’s the reality.”
Shevchenko also stated that he was in contact with the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and with Wladimir Klitschko. Shevchenko: “We defend our rights, our country, our freedom. That was a decision of the Ukrainian people. We want to become part of Europe.”
Even before the Milan derby, Shevchenko had sent a video message with an appeal for peace. The Ukrainian in the clip that was shown last week before the semi-final first leg in the cup: “The Ukrainian people only want peace. Peace has no borders. What unites us must be stronger than what divides us.” And he demanded: “Let’s end this war together.”
