MINSK, 3 September (BelTA) – The state will support Belarusian football players, but they must show results, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended a ceremony to inaugurate the children and youth football center of FC Dinamo Minsk on 3 September, BelTA has learned.
“You have chosen to play this beautiful game, the most popular in our country and around the world. You will never succeed if you think only about money. You have to come here to play football. If you strive for this, you will be rewarded at the initial stage in order to live a normal live. I promise you this. The state will provide it to you," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president stressed that the results come only through hard work and commitment. "If you want to play, then play. You have to do this every day from morning to evening. You have to sleep with the ball. If you do not understand this, you are not football players," the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in the past the athletes did not have such training conditions as today, they could only dream about it. And they showed results. “All this infrastructure has been built thanks to the Belarusian people. I want you to remember that. You will understand and remember it only if you are encouraged to do so by your coaches. Everything depends on the coach. An athlete can do whatever the coach teaches him. No coach means no team, no athlete,” the president said. He added that the work of the administrative apparatus also raises questions.
The head of state wished the young players to be patriots because they play for the people, not for the government. Athletes should start thinking about their future at a young age, the president said. An athlete's career is short. “During this period you should not only learn how to play and earn some money for the future. You should also get good education to be ready for the life after sport. The life of an athlete is extremely hard. You have made your choice however. Try to live your life decently, to the fullest. At this very age, you are developing yourselves as individuals,” he said.
“If you are ready to become true athletes and love your country, you can always count on the state's support,” the Belarusian leader said.
