Ukraine look to Bakharev
Sunday, July 21, 2002
Article summary
Russian Alexey Bakharev has been offered Ukrainian citizenship ahead of EURO 2004™ qualifying.
Article body
The Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) has offered Aleksei Bakharev Ukrainian citizenship in an attempt to encourage him to represent the country in qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Championship.
Plays for Shakhtar
However, FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Bakharev played for Russia's B team in 1998 and may still harbour hopes of turning out for the country of his birth at full international level. The 25-year-old has already turned down the FFU's offer of citizenship on more than one occasion.
Argentinian targets
It is not an unprecedented move by the FFU. In 1999 it persuaded two Russians - Artyom Yashkin and Sergei Kormiltsev - to change nationality. The FFU has also targeted four Argentinians with Ukrainian roots: Diego Klimowicz (VfL Wolfsburg), Patricio Camps (CA Velez Sarsfield), Julian Kmet (CA) Lanus and José Chatruc of Racing Club.
