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Football NOS•today, 06:23
Controversy between football and air raid shelters: ‘A mental leap I learned a lot from’
“Advanced, interesting and scary.” With these words Marino Pusic describes the daily routine as head coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, in war-torn Ukraine.
“But it’s especially good to work with a really good group of people and a good group of players,” continued Pusic, 53, in his hotel room in Eindhoven. Tonight ( 9pm) will face PSV with his team in the Champions League.
The Bosnian is back in the country where he spent a large part of his life, after fleeing Mostar as a teenager before the war in Yugoslavia. In 2023 he exchanged the assistant coach at Feyenoord for Shakhtar, his second job as a head coach.
Pusic couldn’t have been in the dugout at Philips Stadium tonight. Because although not a day goes by without remembering the state of the country, the war came very close a few months ago.
For that we have to go back to the end of August. After a 4-3 away loss against FK Oleksandrija, Shakhtar is preparing for the next away match, the third in a row. The opponent is FC Kryvbas, a club more than eight hours away.
Avoiding death
“We avoided death,” Pusic says. “The hotel we booked and where we were going to stay a few days later was bombed. Several people were killed. Then you think: maybe it was us it was.”
Shakhtar coach Pusic feels ‘great enthusiasm’ in Ukraine: ‘Football gives energy’
“It was very difficult to make that trip. We had to find the courage to go there and play that game. That was not true.” Due to extreme danger, the game was stopped after fifty minutes and they stayed in an air raid shelter for hours.
On paper, Shakhtar plays both home and away games, but in practice the club has not played in its own Donbas Arena since 2014. The team moved to several other cities in their home country, Kiev in among They now play competitive football in Lviv, in western Ukraine.
‘Home Games’
They will play their Champions League ‘home games’ this season in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, in Schalke 04’s stadium “For us, everything is an away game,” said Pusic.
Sometimes he thinks: “What is this really?” It is a reflection that is not far from a question that is often asked: why did he exchange the safe Netherlands for a country at war?
“I think that people have been on earth too short to cause problems for each other. We are on earth to live in peace with each other, and not under the circumstances that we have to be unfortunate.”
Connection
“When this opportunity came, I didn’t want to tell myself: I wish I had done it, I felt a special connection that is difficult to explain,” he explains.
“Apart from all the problems, I really enjoy working with these people, at this great club that works in amazing conditions.
Pusic talks about personal wealth.
The fact that football is also a center for many Ukrainians is an important motivation. “It gives a great boost to the people around us. We represent a country and the pride that people give and give.”
Futiles
Tactics, running lines and basic formations. Of course, they are small things if your daily life is so dominated by war, says Pusic. “You understand that you don’t care about anything. But I’m practicing a profession and I want to be successful in it.”
Pusic praises PSV: ‘Very good group of players, hard to beat’
And so the conversation turns to today’s opponent. It is full praise for PSV, which is several places higher in the Champions League ranking.
“They have a good group of players and a great coach. It is a team that is difficult to beat. But we have a plan and we want to present ourselves. That is what we are going for. “
2024-11-27 05:23:00
#Issues #football #bomb #shelters #Ukraine #dead
**Analyzing the Contrasts:** How does the article’s juxtaposition of Pusic’s dedication to football with the harsh realities of war in Ukraine enhance our understanding of his resilience and coping mechanisms?
## Thematic Breakdown & Open-Ended Questions for Discussion
Here’s a thematic breakdown of the article, along with open-ended questions designed to spark discussion and encourage diverse viewpoints:
**I. Life Under Wartime:**
* *”The fact that football is also a center for many Ukrainians is an important motivation. It gives a great boost to the people around us.” Explain this quote in your own words. How can following a football team provide solace and strength during times of war?
* How does Pusic balance his dedication to football with the constant threat of war and the wellbeing of loved ones back home? What emotional toll might this take?
* **Discussion Point:** The article mentions bomb shelters. What imagery or emotions does this evoke? How might such realities shape a person’s outlook on life and their priorities?
**II. Focus on Football:**
* *”Tactics, running lines and basic formations. Of course, they are small things if your daily life is so dominated by war, says Pusic. But I’m practicing a profession and I want to be successful in it.”* Do you agree with Pusic’s assessment? How do you think his dedication to football helps him cope with the challenges he faces?
* How do you think Pusic’s experience as a Ukrainian footballer playing abroad might influence his perspective on the sport?
* **Discussion Point:** How can sports provide a sense of normalcy and unity during times of conflict and societal upheaval?
**III. The Match vs. PSV:**
* *”They have a good group of players and a great coach. It is a team that is difficult to beat. But we have a plan and we want to present ourselves. That is what we are going for.”* What does Pusic’s statement reveal about his attitude towards the upcoming match?
* How might the stakes of this match feel different for Pusic compared to other players?
* **Discussion Point:**
**IV. Broader Context:**
* How does Pusic’s story reflect the experiences of other Ukrainian athletes or individuals who have been displaced by the war?
* What are the ethical considerations when it comes to the enjoyment of sports and entertainment in the face of ongoing conflict?
* **Discussion Point:** What responsibility do international sports organizations and teams have towards athletes from countries experiencing war and conflict?
These are just starting points. Encourage critical thinking, empathy, and respectful dialog to foster a rich and meaningful discussion.
