The future's orange for convert Rebrov

14 April 2012

Sergei Rebrov waited three years to score a league goal in England but when the moment came he wished he was in Ukraine. Rather than cavorting around Upton Park with West Ham last Saturday Rebrov had planned to be on the streets of Kiev protesting against his country's fraudulent presidential election, but a number of injuries and suspensions forced him into a rare start for the club.

Manager Alan Pardew gave him permission to return home after playing in the 3-2 win over Watford, but with the disputed election now in the hands of the Supreme Court he opted to stay in London.

For a man who considers himself apolitical and has never voted, Rebrov has plenty to say about Ukraine's political process, but these are extraordinary times.

With more than 200,000 angry protestors on the streets and the country split on geographical lines between the pro-Russian east and more radical west there are fears of a civil war following an election that has yet to yield a result, almost two weeks after the ballot. When US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has been known to benefit from a spot of vote-rigging, questions the legitimacy of an election with a seemingly straight face you know there are problems.

Rebrov has limited his activity to attending several meetings at the Ukrainian Embassy, but there is no doubting his passion. The 30-year-old wore an orange wristband to demonstrate his support for opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko against Watford last week and is frustrated he cannot do more.

Rebrov said: "I wore the orange band to show my solidarity with the Ukrainian people, but wish I was on the streets. I tried to fly over to join my brothers, those who are fighting for democracy, but we had a game.

"I got permission from the gaffer after the Watford match and he said I could fly over, but I couldn't find a flight in time. It all seems to be under control now as it's in the hands of the courts so there's no real need to go there.

"There have been meetings every night at the Ukrainian Embassy in London and I've been to as many as I can. There are

thousands of Ukrainians in London and we gather to discuss the situation and watch the television. Lots of people come with their orange banners to show we're with the people.

"I don't like politics at all and I've never even voted. But there are lots of people with no interest in politics who are very worried about the future of the country.

"My people in my city are protesting, so something has to be done."

Rebrov is an anomaly as a footballer, the £11million star who never scores goals, and his politics are equally curious. The former Dynamo Kiev and Tottenham star was born in the strongly pro-Russian eastern region of Donetsk, but is a passionate advocate of Ukrainian independence.

He said: "Donetsk is a blue-and-white stronghold but I support the oranges. I've seen many bad things the government have done in the wars and this has to change.

"I've spoken to people in the Ukraine who've told me all about the bad things the government did, so after that I was supporting the oranges. I support Yushchenko because he is a democrat and his opponent (current Primer Minister Viktor) Yanukovich has done some bad things.

"I'm Ukrainian even if I speak Russian. I was born in the Ukraine and it doesn't matter which language you speak, they're very similar anyway."

Yushchenko and Yanukovich have agreed on the need for another election, in which Rebrov is planning to vote for the first time.

He added: "The election was definitely rigged and it's now in the hands of the Supreme Court.

"Everyone is waiting for the court's decision, which will come today or tomorrow, and then the election will be re-run. Yanukovich has already said it will happen. I am determined to vote next time."

Having rediscovered his effectiveness in the penalty area, Rebrov is hoping for similar success in the ballot box.

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The future's orange for convert Rebrov

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