Oleksandr Malchevskii is a soldier who fought on the front lines and was seriously wounded in combat, resulting in the partial amputation of his left lower limb. After that, the question arose: how to live on? The answer for him was amputee football. Today, Oleksandr is a player for the Bureviy amputee football team, which represents the Kyiv region and participates in the Ukrainian national amputee football championship. This team has brought together war veterans for whom football has become a form of physical rehabilitation and a way to regain a sense of teamwork, competition and self-confidence.
Have you heard of football on crutches? Today, we will learn about the peculiarities of amputee football from Ukrainian player Oleksandr Malchevskii.
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How did you feel during the first few days after your injury? Did you notice any changes in your body?
– No. How did it feel? Just like a wound. I was happy to be alive, because the guys pulled me out of my position. Yes, something hurts somewhere, but when you are on strong painkillers, you don’t feel the pain. The turning point was when a mine hit and damaged my leg. The evacuation was very difficult. They pulled me out of my position and carried me for almost 10 kilometres. That’s six hours on their backs. I remember trying to cheer them up with jokes, because the guys were in shock too.
How did the rehabilitation go? What happened in the hospital? What happened afterwards?
– I underwent treatment at the hospital, where my wounds were healed. I lost one limb, and the other was severely damaged. The doctors gathered spare parts and put them together, well done. After losing this limb, I already knew that prostheses existed. I familiarised myself with this information and understood that I could use them and continue to live peacefully. After all, one leg would be enough for my work and my future.
Who supported you at that moment? What was important to you in general?
– Family support is essential. There was also constant support from various organisations and volunteers who brought treats to the ward. When we were allowed to leave the hospital, we were more mobile, and the guys took us fishing and to the zoo. These were the moments we had with the volunteers. They had a big impact on our mental and emotional support.
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You have been playing football for quite some time, even before your injury. How did you come up with the idea that you could return to the game on crutches?
It was an initiative of the Ukrainian Football Association. I remember it as if it were yesterday: on 1 June 2023, they held their first training session. They invited soldiers to train on crutches. At that time, I was often asked, “Oleksandr, how are you going to play football without a leg?” And you answer everyone, “Then I won’t.” I didn’t understand that there was such a sport as football on crutches. I hesitated for a long time when I saw the announcement about the training. At that moment, it was rehabilitation, but today it has grown into a sport. I saw the initiative from the UAF and joined, came to the first training session and liked it. I realised that it was very interesting, a different kind of football. This is, by the way, international practice.
How has amputee football affected your well-being? How did you feel when you first stepped onto the pitch at Militsy?
When I stepped onto the pitch, I was surrounded by guys who had been injured. But it’s really cool to interact with players who have been in a similar situation. We support each other, share news about the latest developments in the world of prosthetics, and talk about motivational programmes for athletes. I was thrilled when I first wore the colours of the Ukrainian national team and participated in the Nations League as part of the Ukrainian national team. My outlook on life hasn’t changed at all. I consider my enemy to be my enemy. In terms of my approach to life, at times it has become a little awkward, banal, to do something. But, having lost my lower limb, I was lucky to still have my knee, so it’s easier for me than for some guys. I never dreamed that I would be able to play for the Ukrainian national team, but I did. Then I was captain of the Ukrainian national team in a friendly match against Belgium. I lost my leg, and maybe it’s for the best.
Do you have any principles that you incorporate into team training?
Andriy Mykytchenko, coach of the Bureviy team: Of course, it’s functional training. It’s a technique to move the ball from player to player. We try to make football better. Our values are always the same: mutual respect and honesty with each other. There are no others. It is important that we look each other in the eye honestly so that we enjoy playing with each other. Even when there are conflicts, we argue, but these are emotions, this is sport, you can’t do without it. But then you have to talk everything through and start over.
So what is the secret to the team’s success?
– The team’s success lies in the fact that we made it to the Super League. Perhaps it would have been easier in the first league, but if the players want to grow and continue playing, they need to play against strong opponents.
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