Sports blogger of the year: former goalkeeper of the Ukrainian national football team, Denys Boyko, wins the SBC Ukraine Awards 2025
On December 20, Kyiv hosted the SBC Ukraine Awards 2025, organized by Sport&Business Club to honor excellence in sports marketing. Approximately 440 guests attended, including leading athletes, heads of sports organizations, senior managers from large companies, and representatives from the media and creative industries.
Former Ukrainian national football team goalkeeper Denys Boyko won the 'Sports Blogger of the Year' category. This year, the footballer launched the eponymous YouTube project from 1+1 Media, where he talks to representatives of Ukrainian sports.
"I was a professional athlete for many years. After finishing my playing career, I continued to develop and learn in other areas. One of them is the media. As in football, I strive to be a leader. This award is significant to me. It shows that we are moving in the right direction. “We” because this award is the merit of our entire team, and I am very grateful to them! However, of course, the greatest gratitude goes to our soldiers and everyone who defends our country and allows us to work!" — said Boiko.
The Digital Department of Sports Projects at 1+1 Media, along with other team projects, was shortlisted for nominations.
“I am very proud of my team. We are involved in several areas of digital media, but sports are special to us. The people who create our projects are definitely here because they follow their hearts,” said Danylo Shchestuk, head of the Digital Projects Department at 1+1 Media.
Highlighting the award's growth, this year's ceremony set a record: 287 applications were submitted for jury consideration. Over a month, leaders in sports, marketing, media, analytics, and business evaluated projects based on creativity, scale, and industry impact.
"The second solemn award ceremony for the best sports marketing — SBC Awards 2025. For the second year in a row, this event brings together leading representatives of sports marketing who work for our common victory and support our defenders. We are confident in the awards, given the increase in applications and the number of jury members, who are leading specialists across various fields. This is not only about sports marketing, but also completely different market categories: sports, media, and business," said Oleksiy Braga, founder of the Sport Business Club.
Extending his influence beyond media, Denys Boyko and the Heroes' Tribune Charitable Foundation have also launched a joint fundraiser to support the families of deceased football fans, an effort that continues today.
The foundation supports the families of deceased football fans and preserves the memory of those who gave their lives defending our country. This collaboration showcases the football community's unity, advances the foundation's mission, and enables fans, players, and clubs to support the families of the Heroes. At the same time, it strengthens the culture of remembrance and mutual support, keeping the football community alive with the tradition of remembering its own, helping families, and talking about the Heroes not only as part of the past but also as part of what shapes our present and future.
You can join the fundraiser by donating via this link.
Denys Boyko is a player who trained at the Kyiv club Dynamo, for which he played 108 matches in all tournaments. He became the champion of Ukraine, a two-time Cup winner, and a three-time Super Cup winner. The footballer played for CSKA and Obolon in Kyiv, Kryvbas in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Besiktas in Turkey, Malaga in Spain, and Polissya in Zhytomyr. As part of Dnipro, he was a finalist in the 2014/15 Europa League, and with Besiktas, he became the 2015/16 Turkish champion.
