Club Case Study: Sheffield City welcomes Ukrainian national coach
July 13, 2022 | by Chris Boyd
Ukrainian national team coach Oleksandr Pohodin has hit the ground running after linking up with Sheffield City Boxing Club.
With the current state of war in the Eastern European country, he reached out and contacted the club, asking if he could help out and share his experience when he arrived in the UK.
Hailing from from Chernivtsi, his family have sponsors in Sheffield, who are kindly providing accommodation and support for the short term.
“I really like being in the Sheffield City Boxing Club team, where there is a friendly family sports atmosphere that brings me back to my gym,” he said.
“I am very grateful to Brendan (Warburton) that he helps and advises me and allows me to share my experience with his strong boxers. It is valuable to me.”
Pohodin, a former amateur boxer with nearly 150 bouts to his name, also runs his own amateur club back in Ukraine.
Though only been in the UK since June, he has been keen to get involved with the varying sessions on offer at the club, including the recreational and community sessions, as well as those with carded boxers.
He has underlined his commitment by successfully completing his Level 1 England Coaching Course at the Weekend in Tamworth (Pictured above), with course tutor, Mick Maguire, who said it was an enjoyable experience and Oleksandr was part of a very good group of candidates.
Sheffield City head coach Warburton added: ‘’We have recently picked up three new members who have all moved here to escape the situation in the Ukraine.
“Oleksandr is one of them and has become a welcome voice for them and his help in the gym is appreciated by everyone at the club.’’
Alex Vass, Club Support Officer for the North West, said: “Oleksandr has been a fantastic addition to the club and community.
“ Along with Brendan and the rest of the team, Sheffield City is a prime example of how communities can come together through our sport.”
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