A charity football tournament was held in Moscow to support former Russian national team player and CSKA Moscow's Evgeny Aldonin, who participated in competitions with abducted Ukrainian children in 2023.
Earlier, the press service of the Russian Premier League reported that Aldonin suffers from a serious illness, stomach cancer.
Dear friends, I am currently receiving treatment in Germany. I am extremely grateful to each of you who participated in the tournament, thank you so much. This means a lot to my loved ones and to me, I embrace you all, I respect you all. I hope that with your support, I will definitely cope with everything, the most important thing is: take care of your loved ones
Participation in the charity tournament
Friends and former CSKA players participated in the tournament. After the games, a charity auction was held, the proceeds of which will go towards Aldonin's treatment.
On February 25, 2023, in Barnaul (RF), Aldonin participated in a football tournament for orphans called 'Championship of Winners'. He played alongside other former Russian national team players, acting as patrons and generously supporting the young participants of the tournament.
- There was a team at the tournament called 'Our Children', whose participants represented the 'new Russian regions' and 'families of SVO participants'.
- During the opening ceremony of the tournament, the governor of the Altai Territory, Viktor Tomenko, said: 'Let’s dedicate all the achievements and victories that will happen today to our boys. To the servicemen, volunteers, and all those mobilized.'
Sports achievements of Evgeny Aldonin
Evgeny Aldonin, a 45-year-old former CSKA player, can be proud of his sports achievements. He won the Russian Cup and the country's Super Cup, becoming a two-time champion of Russia as well. In 2005, he held the UEFA Cup. He played 29 matches for the Russian national team and participated in Euro 2004.
Violations of IOC recommendations
The participation of Russian athletes, such as Alexander Suyatin and Veronika Stepanova, in propaganda events and performances at events close to the Russian dictator is a violation of the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee regarding neutral athletes.
The charity tournament in Moscow was held in support of former Russian national team player Evgeny Aldonin, who is being treated for stomach cancer. The athlete's participation in such events and support from colleagues and fans is extremely important to him and his family. Aldonin had an impressive career in football and continues to hope for a positive treatment outcome.