Dear Mr. President!
We cordially congratulate you with your 60th birthday. You have crossed several milestones, but you are still looking for more challenges, and perhaps the most significant victories.
Their foundation was laid on our own eyes, with our feasible assistance. After establishing an independent national association, Ukrainian football required a charismatic leader able to unite all of us for the football prosperity.
At first a new life was given to professional football, which entailed further reforms and brought Ukraine again to the foreground of European football. Later on, you formed a team of counterparts that took the responsibility for the promotion of the Game throughout all the country. And the results of this work are tangible.
Ukraine national team reached the quarterfinal of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, our Under-21 team was the runner-up at the 2006 UEFA EURO Under-21 championship in Portugal, Under-19 team triumphed at the EURO 2009 competition hosted by Donetsk and Mariupol. A special page in outstanding achievements of Ukrainian football stands for the victory in the bid process for UEFA EURO 2012 hosting.
And this is only a top of the pyramid raised by the efforts of FFU. Its base is formed by the unprecedented programs for the development of youth and grassroots football. This is what is called ‘the Ukrainian miracle’. There is no surprise that Ukrainian experience is called-for in a football world. And the knowledge and skills of the one who championed these innovatory ideas naturally found appreciation of the colleagues, who elected you as the UEFA Executive Committee member.
It is hard to imagine how many physical, intellectual and spiritual efforts it costs you to care of the prosperity of Ukrainian and European football. Everyone working with you feels how unselfishly you bear your football mission.
Let you always have enough health and energy, inspiration and patience, wisdom and diplomacy, faith and optimism for the sake of His Majesty Football.
We wish Peace, Harmony, Joy for the people who love you and whom you love.
Happiness, Success and Love to you!
Yours faithfully,
the collective of the Football Federation of Ukraine
