"PFL can provide targeted assistance to clubs in difficult situations": Kadenko - about the First and Second leagues and the Osokorky arena
The President of the PFL Oleksandr Kadenko exclusively told "UF" about helping clubs, league formats, and evaluated the new arena of Livyi Bereh.
With the President of the PFL Oleksandr Kadenko, we met at the base of FC Livyi Bereh, where he visited the presentation of the new covered arena in Osokorky. In an exclusive interview with the "Ukrainian Football" website, the official assessed the capabilities of the modern arena and shared impressions of the start of the championships in the First and Second Leagues. In addition, we discussed the forced competition formats, financial difficulties of clubs, and the prospects of match broadcasts.
"The format of the Second League is more forced due to the security situation."
– Oleksandr Valentynovych, the championships in the First and Second Leagues of the PFL have been ongoing for a month now. How do you evaluate their start?
– First of all, I want to thank the presidents of football clubs, coaching staff, administrators, players, everyone who is making efforts in these difficult times to ensure that the competitions take place and the teams have the opportunity to play matches. It is very difficult for everyone now, but I thank everyone for their patience and perseverance. So far, all planned matches – four rounds in the First League and three in the Second – have taken place. I hope that we will be able to continue holding competitions in the same manner.
– Are you satisfied with the current competition format in the First and Second Leagues?
– As for the First League, everyone is satisfied here. This is a classic format that is more fair for all teams. I think everyone remembers that we had to conduct the tournament in truncated formats before. After the start of the full-scale invasion, we were thinking about how to revive the First League and competitions in a full format.
As for the Second League, the format here is more forced. We understand that we have a very large geography, and current conditions do not always allow teams to travel safely across the country. It is quite dangerous to travel from Western Ukraine to the East. There are no guarantees that the match will take place there. Then the question arises: to stay overnight or return home and travel to the game again. Moreover, during the war, the budgets of clubs are limited. We understand that all clubs are helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so the funds saved thanks to this format can also be directed to support the Armed Forces.
– You personally attended the match Avangard – Oleksandriia-2, which took place on the artificial turf of NTK Livyi Bereh. Why did the team from Lozova hold their home match here?
– Due to the security situation. They turned to Livyi Bereh, and the football club provided them with the appropriate infrastructure to hold the game.
"If there are proposals to purchase broadcasting rights, we will consider them"
– Are there currently teams in the First and Second Leagues that may not finish the championship?
– Let's be frank: the championship has just started, so we cannot say what will happen until its completion. We understand the conditions we are currently living in. The business of football club managers is good, but anything can happen. Let's not predict the future and hope that everything will be fine.
– If a club faces serious financial problems and is at risk of withdrawing from the championship, does the PFL have mechanisms to help such a team?
– If we recall past seasons, we have repeatedly tried to help clubs that found themselves in a difficult situation. All the funds in the PFL are contributions from clubs. Therefore, we always consult with them to see if we can help in one situation or another. We make decisions together with the clubs to provide targeted assistance if needed. For example, we could take on the costs associated with the team's travel to a match. But we cannot constantly finance a particular club. If we finance one team, other clubs will also say, "Finance us too." Therefore, it is necessary to find a balance here and make decisions together with the clubs.
– Is the current format of match broadcasts satisfactory to the PFL? Could the creation of a joint TV pool with the UPL make PFL competitions more attractive to sponsors in the future?
– I believe that the broadcasts of PFL club matches are currently at a fairly good level. This is noted by everyone. As for the prospects, it is difficult for me to say something at the moment. If there are specific proposals to purchase broadcasting rights for PFL matches, we will definitely consider them so that someone can acquire these rights and further implement them.
"The Osokorky Arena is the best football arena in Ukraine today"
– What prompted you to attend the opening of the covered arena in Osokorky?
– I received an invitation from the football club Livyi Bereh to the presentation of this arena. That's why I'm here today.
– What are your impressions of the new covered arena at the FC Livyi Bereh base and what significance, in your opinion, will it have for the development of youth football?
– I think that currently the Osokorky arena is the best football arena in Ukraine. I have very pleasant impressions of it. I hope that the younger generation, our children, will have the opportunity to comfortably engage in football and develop.
– How do you assess the Osokorky arena compared to other similar football arenas currently in Ukraine?
– Of course, there are similar arenas in Ukraine, but this facility is much more modern, better, and much more adapted for both training and hosting tournaments and official matches.
– What matches will be able to take place at this arena?
– We have a specialized UAF Committee on stadium issues and competition safety. It will determine the category of the arena – what level of tournaments it can host. If the facility receives approval for the First and Second Leagues, then, of course, official matches will take place here.
