in 1988 there appeared information that anybody was allowed to emigrate from the soviet union. kanevskyi only waited four months after filing his request and on 15 november 1988 he and his wife left the country, traveling to new york through austria and italy. after arrival in the united states, kanevskyi was able to find a job as a coach at a sports school in new york held by russian emigrants, where he headed the football department. later he opened his own football school.