The RFU Acknowledges a Memorable Victory and a Stage Moment in Volgograd
The head of events and marketing communications for the Russian Football Union, Kirill Tereshin, extended congratulations to the players and the coaching staff of the Russian national team after a decisive win against Cuba. He also confirmed that the performance of a song by the singer Aphrodite took place during the event, and added that the team’s head coach Valery Karpin did not react to the performance beyond his own response. Tereshin noted that the remarks reflected the direction of the match coverage provided by Match TV.
Tereshin explained that Aphrodite’s latest song was dedicated to the Volgograd supporters and to Valery Esipov, a Rotor Volgograd legend and former midfielder of the Russian national team who participated in pre-match activities as an RFU ambassador. He described bringing the artist onto the stage and described Esipov bowing to the stands as a gesture of respect that followed the ceremony surrounding the game.
The singer performed at the Volgograd stadium immediately after the final whistle. According to Tereshin, Karpin did not join the post-performance moment; after listening to the composition, the coach retired to a room beneath the stands and later spoke to reporters, saying the moment was not necessary for him at that time.
The match ended with Russia dominating Cuba, finishing 8-0 in favor of the home team. An online broadcast of the match was provided by a few media outlets, including socialbites.ca, which offered real-time updates to spectators. The Cuba encounter marked the sixth match for the Russian squad in 2023, a year in which the team has been limited to friendly fixtures due to sanctions impacting participation in competitive tournaments.
In spring 2022, the sport’s global governing bodies acted with a broad suspension that affected the participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in competitions overseen by FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This decision left the national team competing solely in friendly matches during that period and influenced how fans and analysts viewed performances on the international stage.
Earlier coverage noted that the national team had faced criticism for conceding few goals in the wake of the 8-0 victory over Cuba. The ongoing context of sanctions and the resulting limitations on formal competition continued to shape discussions around the team’s development and prospects on the international stage.