08/06/2026
FROM UKRAINE TO THE KENNEDY CUP.....
Soccer Players Proudly Wear the Kerry Jersey
Four years ago, Artem Dzhandra and Yevhenii Mamontov arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. The two teenagers will proudly wear the Kerry jersey at one of the biggest schoolboy soccer tournaments in the country, the Kennedy Cup from June 8th to June 12th.
For both players, the journey from southern Ukraine to representing Kerry has been shaped by soccer. It helped them settle into a new country, make new friends and build a new life far from home.
Killarney Athletic player Artem quickly discovered the role soccer could play after arriving in Kerry.
“Soccer was important because when I came here, I didn’t know anyone” he said.
“And I found new friends and they helped me to settle in. I would like to thank all my friends, coaches, because they support me, they help me, because it’s not easy to move from one country to another.”
Artem, who arrived in Ireland four years ago, soon found a home with Killarney Athletic and has continued to develop his game ever since.
“I arrived like four years ago and I lived in the south of Ukraine. I found Killarney Athletic and I went there. I try to do my best every game to help my team.”
His love for soccer stretches far beyond simply playing at club level. Artem has ambitions of reaching the highest levels of the game and sees every opportunity as another step on that journey.
“Soccer has meant a lot because I played the sport for a long time and I want to be a professional soccer player, so I try to do my best to level up.”
Castleisland player Yevhenii Mamontov, better known to teammates and coaches as Eugune, followed a similar path after arriving in Kerry.
“Everyone calls me Eugune because it’s so hard for people to pronounce my real name” he laughed.
Like Artem, he came from southern Ukraine and found soccer to be the perfect way to settle into his new surroundings.
“I came from south Ukraine the same as Artem and I also came like four years ago. My friends from school told me about Castleisland, they were all so supportive when I joined, and there were a lot of lads from school, so I knew a lot of people there.”
Now both players find themselves part of the Kerry Kennedy Cup panel, a squad they joined just a couple of months ago. While the tournament was unfamiliar to them initially, they quickly realised the significance of representing the county.
“I had not heard about the Kennedy Cup before, but I am proud to wear the Kerry jersey and I’m proud because not everyone can play on this team” Artem said.
“I came into this team two months ago. It’s new teammates, new team, new tactics.”
Eugune shares that pride as Kerry prepare for Group 8 clashes against North Tipperary and West Cork on Tuesday June 9th at 11:45am and 5:45pm respectively
“It’s something new to me” he said.
“I’m really proud to wear the Kerry jersey. It will be a long week and I’m looking forward to playing all these teams and trying to do our best.”
