“Ukrainian soccer definitely has a future!”: Denis Nizovtsev, the best player in the Ukrainian National League of the Future soccer championship, talks about his journey in sports, the greatest soccer player in history, and his future plans
22 June 2026 13:35Denys Nizovtsev is a young Ukrainian athlete who, along with his team from the “Podil” Children’s and Youth Sports School (Kyiv), was recently named the best player in the Ukrainian National League soccer championship for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. UA.News conducted an exclusive interview with the young soccer player, discussing his game, his sports career, his future plans, and the future of Ukrainian soccer.
— Denys, congratulations on winning the championship! How would you rate your own performance? What do you think you still need to work on? What will you focus on during your next training sessions?
Denis Nizovtsev: I can say that my team played very well. I’m proud of my team and my coach. We had a very, very long season. We trained every day. Our schedule was 6:1—that is, we trained for six days and played one day, so to speak. We didn’t even have any days off. I was named the championship’s best player. But there’s still room for improvement. Of course, everyone makes mistakes and has areas that need improvement. But we’re working through all of that. I believe I’ll be even stronger next season—along with my team.
— Tell us a little about yourself. How did your passion for soccer begin? How did you get into the sport? Why did you choose it? What inspires you about this sport?
Denis Nizovtsev: To be honest, I didn’t actually choose this sport myself. I started playing soccer when I was 5. I had a choice: boxing, soccer, or swimming. I went to my first soccer practice, and I didn’t really like it. But then I went to the second and third sessions, and somehow I got into it and became passionate about the sport. That’s when my passion really took hold, and now I can’t let it go.
— So you don’t regret coming—or being brought here, so to speak?
Denis Nizovtsev: Of course not! It’s a real pleasure to be with the team, with the people I play with now, the people I interact with. It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.
— And who exactly brought you to your very first practice?
Denis Nizovtsev: My mom brought me. I remember I didn’t like it. I thought long and hard about whether to go to the second practice. Well, I ended up going. Then I started training indoors, and later we started training outside. And somehow it just took off.
— Who is your favorite soccer player or team? You can name both Ukrainian and foreign players. Do you have any idols or role models in this sport?
Denis Nizovtsev: If we’re talking about specific players—it’s really hard to say. There are so many athletes, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses… But if I had to single someone out—well, I think Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, of course. He’s simply a genius! And from Ukraine… I can mention Andriy Shevchenko. I didn’t get to see him play when he was still active; I don’t even remember when he ended his career as a player. But yes, he’s the best in Ukraine—Andriy Shevchenko. I also like Blokhin; he won the Golden Ball, too. These are the two most successful soccer players in our country.
— How do you see the future of Ukrainian soccer? After all, since 2014—and especially since 2022—the domestic leagues have been in crisis due to objective constraints related to the war, underfunding, and so on. In your opinion, how will Ukrainian soccer change after the war, and what does the future hold for it?
Denis Nizovtsev: Looking ahead to the post-war period, once everything happening in our country comes to an end—I think Ukrainian soccer will grow. It’s growing now, too. I’m confident that future generations will play much better than the current one. They’ll be very strong. As for funding for teams, leagues, and sponsors after the war—I believe that European and American sponsors, various companies, will eventually come to Ukraine and fund numerous projects. In other words, Ukraine will only continue to grow in this sport; we have tremendous potential.
— So, to sum up, does Ukrainian soccer have a future? Is it not necessary for young athletes to go abroad for that?
Denis Nizovtsev: Definitely. Both a future and prospects—yes. Our soccer has prospects, and they’re significant.
