“Happy birthday, dear Shakhtar,” sang Ukrainian-born Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich from the center of Donetsk football stadium on May 14 impersonating Marilyn Monroe during her famous performance.
She even fashioned a similar crystal-studded dress, which Monroe wore when she sang for then U.S. President John F. Kennedy. But Jovovich didn’t sing it for Ukraine’s chief of state even though he was in the audience for the celebration of one of Ukraine’s most successful football clubs, Shakhtar.
Along with other high-profile performers, she performed for Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest billionaire and football’s club owner. American celebrity Rihanna rendered her famous “Rude Boy” and “What’s my Name?” in bondage gear setting the audience on fire.
American pop star Rihanna (AP)
Sporting the black catsuit and fiery red hair, she matched the football team’s colors of orange and black. Spectacular fireworks and 3D video projections enthralled the crowds. The team, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals this year, had their 51,000-capacity stadium filled to capacity.
The show was broadcast on big plasma screens in Kyiv, Luhansk, Kirovohrad and Mykolayiv. For some, this party looked like a dress rehearsal before Donetsk hosts Euro 2012 Football Championship.
Gigantic dummies of footballers impress the revelers (AP)
For others, it was a worthy celebration to honor one of Ukraine’s football veteran teams. And there were some who thought that the money spent on the show could have been put to better use: renovating many of Donetsk obsolete mines and ailing ecology.
