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Full access to work in football

Captains of Change

Employing disabled people in football is the aim of the Captains of Change project in Ukraine, where participants were invited to the Dynamo Kyiv v Chelsea match.

Captains of Change participants experience the magic of football in Kyiv

Ahead of Wednesday's Chelsea-Dynamo Kyiv match at Stamford Bridge, we discover how it was not just the elite football on show that lit up the two clubs' Group G encounter in Ukraine two weeks ago.

The Captains of Change project in Ukraine is helping disabled people to work in football and participants were invited to the NSK Olimpiyskyi on 20 October to experience at first hand the magic of the game.

Irina Bernstein, director and trustee of Centre For Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) and Captains of Change project leader in Ukraine 

"I am hoping that the magic of football will help create a better society, that it will help remove the segregation of disabled people and also the perception of their abilities. I hope that people can see beyond disability and actually give disabled people a chance to integrate into the society. I am hoping to inspire people and to show what is possible."

Serhiy Moskaliuk, intern at the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU)

Serhiy Moskaliuk enjoying the pitchside experience
Serhiy Moskaliuk enjoying the pitchside experience©UEFA.com

"This programme is very important for all people, as well as people with disabilities. In our country at the present moment it is not at all easy to find a job, never mind this kind of job and in this kind of organisation, the Football Federation of Ukraine.

"I think that football is the No1 sport in the world and it can really help people with disabilities to integrate into society, in sports and in all other areas."

To hear more from the participants, click on the video player above.

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