“I knew nothing about baseball at the age of 20”, Yuriy Boyko

Recently the legendary coach of the “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad” baseball team celebrated his anniversary. Yuriy Boyko can be for sure called a great Ukrainian athlete. He is the first coach of a multiple champion of Ukraine “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad”. Thanks to Mr. Boyko baseball has been popularizing in Ukrainian step by step, from year to year. Just Yuriy Boyko is a person who has helped his hometown to become the biggest baseball center of Ukraine. Besides the title of Honored Coach of Ukraine, Yuriy Boyko has numerous awards, titles and medals.

Outstanding coach is extremely proud of the fact baseball is constantly gaining popularity in Ukraine. He says that despite the fact Kirovograd city is the capital of Ukrainian baseball in other regions it also occupies an important place. In all big Ukrainian cities there are boys who play baseball. Though they play not professionally, it is just a hobby. But young sportsmen first of all do it not to get the victory or win medals, but because they like this kind of sport. Young teams and baseball players who show great results are the main hope that Ukrainian baseball has a bright future.

There is an interesting fact from Mr. Boyko’s life. It is hard to believe but he devoted significant part of life to football. In eighties he was a successful coach of one of the Ukrainian teams. At that time, if someone would have told him he would change football to baseball, he would think it was a joke. What is interesting, being 20 years old Yuriy Boyko even haven`t heard about baseball. For the first time he got to know about it in 1989. Inspired by this game, he gave up football, although he was known as a successful coach at that time.

“I must say quite unexpectedly I was offered to become a part of baseball life. But my physical state was perfect for this kind of sport. So I decided why not. And decide to try. It was interesting and new for me” – says Yuriy Boyko.

Mr. Yuriy had a lot of offers to work abroad. But for him, his family is always on the first place. That’s why he turned down a lot of coaching offers during his career.

The coach always says there is a room for improvement anyway and in any deal. Even heading multiple champions and being one of the best coaches in Europe, Yuriy Boyko believes there is always a place for progress, development and improvement. Moreover, success in baseball life is not a personal achievement. It`s a hard work of the whole team.

“Motivation is the main thing in our sphere. Despite all the success, we don`t reduce the rate. For several years “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad” plays in European Cup, Group A. To match strong teams, we must always play on the highest level and improve our results”, – notes Yuriy Boyko.

Although, whatever successes the team has, Mr. Boyko says he hasn`t reached his baseball goals yet. Most of all he seeks to better development of baseball infrastructure in Ukraine. Children, who are engaged in this kind of sport, must realize and be sure they will be able to make baseball not only a great hobby but professional work as well.