Ukraine’s Basketball Team Secures Spot at 2027 World Cup: Team Leader Speaks Out

Andriy Voinalovych’s Athletic Journey

According to Главком: In a recent interview with the publication Glavcom, Andriy Voinalovych-a player for Ukraine’s men’s national basketball team-opened up about his athletic path, his career in Ukraine, his move abroad, and his dreams, including a desire to reach the NBA. The Ukrainian national team recently secured early qualification for the second round of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, marking a major milestone for the squad. This achievement comes as a significant boost for Ukrainian basketball amid ongoing challenges.

Voinalovych recalled that the match against Denmark was the final game of the first qualification stage. He also noted that his parents-mother Olena Tsyhytsia, a bronze medalist in handball at the 2004 Olympics, and father Valeriy Voinalovych, a handball coach-shaped his career choice in sports.

“One of the key moments in my life was when my parents took me to a basketball game,” the athlete remarked.

Club Career and International Experience

Voinalovych began his career with the Khimik club, where he earned the title of Super League’s Best Young Player. His last club in Ukraine was Prometey. However, due to issues with Prometey, he moved on loan to the Polish club Śląsk.

“That’s when problems with Prometey started. To avoid losing the season, I went on loan to Poland’s Śląsk,” he said in the interview.

He also played a season with Azerbaijan’s Sabah club, but after his contract ended, he is now searching for a new team. Voinalovych shared his experience playing in Azerbaijan, where, according to him, ‘almost every team has six or seven foreign players.’ He noted that the level of sports in the country ‘is not what it was before the war.’ The athlete expressed a desire to return to Ukraine: “Of course, I want that. I’m just waiting for the chance to come back and play on home courts in as many cities as possible.”

In a match against Spain in Oviedo, Voinalovych scored 12 points, a significant moment in his career. He also voiced his wish to compete at the World Cup, especially after the team failed to qualify for EuroBasket: “I want to play at the World Cup myself, especially since we didn’t make it to EuroBasket.”

Voinalovych also touched on his NBA dreams, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he withdrew his name from the draft.

“It was the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I decided it was better to stay in Ukraine, train, and develop as a professional player with Khimik,” he emphasized.

The athlete stressed the importance of teamwork: “The Ukrainian national team is a team where everyone can help.” He also noted that ‘Azerbaijanis are very sincere and hospitable people.’ These words reflect his positive experience playing for the Azerbaijani club.

Overall, the interview with Andriy Voinalovych highlights his athletic journey and drive for growth, as well as the significant achievements of the Ukrainian national team in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.

The conversation with Voinalovych underscores the importance of his career and the influence of family values on his professional choices. Ukraine’s advancement to the second round of World Cup qualifying is a critical step for basketball in the country, especially amid a challenging political climate. With his ambition to reach new heights, Voinalovych could become a key figure in the future of Ukrainian basketball.