The ongoing political turmoil in Ukraine has raised significant concerns regarding the safety of expatriate footballers, many of whom have chosen to depart from their clubs. Younès Belhanda, the Moroccan midfielder for Dynamo Kiev, opened up about the challenges he has faced amidst the unrest in the country.
Belhanda, who joined Dynamo Kiev this summer, expressed his unexpected ordeal in Ukraine due to the political situation. The Ukrainian football federation was compelled to postpone the resumption of the domestic championship due to the instability. Belhanda revealed in an interview with L’Equipe du Dimanche that he has felt unsafe in Kiev and had contemplated leaving the country for some time.
“We initially believed that the situation wouldn’t affect us. However, upon returning from the Marbella training camp, things escalated rapidly. We no longer felt secure in Kiev. We reside in the city center, merely 600 to 700 meters away from the demonstrations. It’s uncomfortably close, and the sounds of gunfire can be heard from my house,” Belhanda explained.
He further elaborated on his concerns for the safety of his family, asserting that if their lives were ever endangered, he would not hesitate to leave the country. Belhanda expressed his inability to continue playing under such circumstances for the entire season, emphasizing that he couldn’t bear the uncertainty of it persisting into the next year.
Although the championship has resumed this weekend, with Dynamo Kiev notably suffering a loss, the atmosphere within the country remains fraught with uncertainty, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by footballers and residents alike amidst the political upheaval.
