A small man is born and immediately becomes part of a large mechanism. Graduates from school, university, marries, goes to work in the office, calculates every day. He is an economist. His work day starts at 9 and ends at 18 from Monday to Friday. There is a calendar with neatly circled dates on his table.
Today one of these days, day of the GAME. On arrival, he takes off his suit and takes out of his closet a fan scarf. At the stadium a little man becomes big. Now he is the head of the fan sector. The match begins and his voice is broadcast over the stadium: “We need victory today.” Hundreds of voices echo after him. Who are these people?
What motivates them? Did you know that they are next to us? Did you know that they are not marginalized or losers, what do the films tell us? Why watching football matches without them, it’s so boring? Let’s try to figure it out.
They are Ultras. They are young people of different professions on average up to 30 years. Their individuality at the stadium is erased. During the match they are all part of a large mechanism. The mood of the team depends on them.
Their energy give the team strength. Why do they come? Some are looking for freedom, some are rebelling against the system. Someone just loves football and does not want to sit among people who drink beer and leave as soon as the team have lost. The main thing for ultras is football. The only important thing for them at the stadium is to sing and support their favorite team regardless of how the match develops, does not sit down during the match, attends all the team matches (home and away). It is necessary to be true to your rostrum.
Team support is a whole art: banners, chants, posters, flags, pyrotechnics. The main thing for them is the traditions, the emblem, the spirit of the club. “Against modern football!” one of the important slogans in their ideology.
Modern football is simulations of players on the field, expensive tickets, players transfers to clubs opponents, naturalized players of national teams. All of this is unacceptable.
Real football – it’s something much more than just 22 millionaires running on the field for one ball 90 minutes. Football is really a Great game. Ultras breathe them. They live them.
About the author:
Vyacheslav Onishchenko was born in 1988 in Odessa, Ukraine. He is engaged in photography since 2012. In 2013 he graduated from medical university. He has been published by Foto and video magazine,Eye-photo magazine,Stolenground,с41 magazine,Fstopmagazine, Shadows and Light Magazine, Ayemag.
Exhibition:
2015- The first international photo contest «Sushka». Shortlist. Russia Federation
2015 – GETXOPHOTO international photo contest . Shortlist. Spain
2015- Photo Musings World Photography Day Photo Contest . Honorable mention. India
2017 -Street Art Photo .Diplom of the 1st degree. Ukraine
2017- Baltic Biennale of Photography .Shortlist. Russia Federation
2018- Shoot of the year 2017. Shortlist. Ukraine
