Golden talent of Ukraine
Golden talent of Ukraine is a unique national award for young Ukrainian footballers. Winners are determined on a basis of the calendar year results in two age categories – Under-21 and Under-19. Annual rating is based on monthly surveys of coaches, directors of sport schools, experts, journalists and fans. The final voting is held at the end of a year, to which the participants come with bonus points.
The concept of the competition was developed by a football journalist named Andrii Kudyrko. In March 2013 the first monthly survey was held.
The competition conditions
Surveys are conducted in months when matches are played in the Ukrainian Championship. Respondents call their top three of young and youthful players on a basis of the month results, their votes are summed up. Indicators of monthly surveys form the annual ranking in both age categories – Under-21 and Under-19.The top ten of a year is allowed for the final voting with bonus points. Besides, the players who are trapped in the top 5 of a month at least once and got some bonus points are allowed to the final year voting. This ensures the objectivity of the competition – the players who played more consistently during a year get additional promotion, in traditional polls the one wins more often who proved to be brighter than others at the finish, as recent events are more memorable.
The situation in the category Under-21 in 2013 clearly demonstrated that a complicated procedure of determining the winner in the competition Golden Talent of Ukraine is fair. Serhiy Bolbat got the most points in a year voting, he played the autumn excellent, but with the bonus points for the whole year Ivan Ordets celebrated total victory, who consistently played in spring and autumn.