A formal awards ceremony for the “NLM Young Talent” Award was held in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. The award honors the best players and coaches in youth soccer based on the results of the 2025–26 season.
The “Ruh” Academy, founded by Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy, emerged as the clear leader of the ceremony—its students and coaches won more than half of all individual awards.
This result is a logical continuation of the Academy’s consistent performance, as it dominated the NLM Pro League throughout the season, winning three championship titles and a number of other trophies.
As part of the awards ceremony, 20 prizes were presented in the U-14, U-15, U-16, and U-17 categories. Representatives of “Ruh” won in key categories for players and coaches, reaffirming the Academy’s status as one of the leaders in training young soccer players in Ukraine.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy, the Academy’s founder, emphasized that these achievements are the result of a long-term development strategy, investments in modern infrastructure, and the daily efforts of the coaching staff and athletes. According to him, it is discipline, character, and consistency that are shaping the new generation of Ukrainian soccer.
The awards were presented to the winners by Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Football Association; Andrea Maldra, head coach of the national team; and Dmytro Mykhailenko, coach of the youth national team.
In addition to the award winners, a number of other players from the “Ruh” Academy were among the nominees for the award, underscoring the depth and quality of the training provided to these young players.
It is worth noting that the “Ruh” Academy consistently reaffirms its status as one of Ukraine’s most successful soccer projects, serving as a talent pool for the national teams and professional soccer.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy is a Ukrainian businessman, philanthropist, and honorary president of FC Ruh, who consistently invests in the development of youth soccer and sports infrastructure.
