A Ukrainian refugee, a graduate of Dynamo, plays in the Belgian championship without a contract for 1,100 euros per month

We are talking about the 19-year-old pupil of the Dynamo football school, Denis Bunchukov, who, by the will of fate, ended up in Belgium at such a difficult time for his country and, despite the difficulties, found the strength in himself to do what he loves - football, writes "Team 1 ".

And this not-so-ordinary story began three years ago, when a promising young footballer went to a five-day training camp in England, where several dozens of breeders and football agents from different countries watched numerous training sessions and friendly matches of young talents from different countries looking for future football talents. and prospective potential customers.

“Then I liked the coach of one of the English lyceums,” recalls Denis Bunchukov. - He said that he really likes my style of play, and he would like to see me in his team. This proposal was interesting because I could not only train fully and very intensively, but also get an education and, as a result, have a diploma from an English lyceum. My parents also liked this prospect, and the decision was made.

Two years of study and high-quality training flew by pretty quickly. At the end of the lyceum, I already had a specific offer from the local football club to continue my career, but, unfortunately, bureaucratic administrative obstacles did not allow me to receive all the necessary documents for legal residence and work in England. It was then that the question arose before me: what to do next?

The way out of this difficult situation for Denis was suggested by the Belgian Xavier Damine, who over the past few years worked in Foggy Albion for the Belgian Football Federation, where he observed and selected young English talents with the prospect of further inviting them to the leading clubs of the Jupiler League. He noticed Bunchukov for a long time and, having learned about his unexpected problems, he immediately invited him to try his hand at Belgium. To which I immediately received a positive response.

Arriving in Brussels, Denis found himself at the disposal of local football agent Eric Depire, who helped the young Ukrainian talent to prepare well and pass testing in such clubs as Vize, Eupen, Union Saint-Gilloise. Despite the positive feedback from specialists and recommendation reports from breeders, none of them, alas, decided to offer a contract to the young Ukrainian midfielder. In October last year, Bunchukov had the opportunity to train with Liege Standard for a month, but a prolonged pause in the training process and a long absence of match practice made themselves felt - Standard also refused the services of a Ukrainian football player.

“It was a difficult and very difficult period for me,” says Denis. - I lost faith in my own abilities and returned to Ukraine with lowered hands. Fortunately, this didn't last long. I quickly pulled myself together and started training again. Three months of hard work, maximum dedication with one single goal - to successfully pass my next test and finally find a good and promising club for myself.

Such an opportunity presented itself in February of this year. Belgian friends of Denis persuaded the management of the Seren club to look at a promising Ukrainian player. And although after passing the test, the coaching council still had some doubts, the technical director of the club's academy, Philip Dalemagne, and U-23 mentor Grigory Proment, convinced everyone of the need to leave Bunchukov with the team.

Just in the same period, Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine began. The management of the Seren Club promptly did everything necessary to obtain Denis temporary refugee status for one year and secured the payment of a monthly allowance of 1,100 euros to him. For the same period, a somewhat compromise agreement was concluded between the club and the football player: Denis continues full-fledged training with the team, can participate in its official matches, use medical services, insurance and other benefits, like any other club player, but the final decision on his future fate will be decided only at the end of the current season. At the same time, the question of concluding a professional contract with Denis Bunchukov will be raised. In the meantime, our compatriot rents housing in the center of Liege at his own expense and travels to training by public transport.

“This situation suits me quite well for now,” Denis admits. “I would like to thank the club and the Belgian authorities for giving me the opportunity to temporarily reside in this country and do what I love. 1,100 euros is enough to rent acceptable housing and eat normally. allows me to be completely independent in financial matters and not ask for help from my parents. And everything else is the little things of life. The main thing is that I have the opportunity to fully train, play and systematically go towards the realization of my dream.

I got used to independent life, self-organization since childhood. Two years in England at the age of 16 also became a good school for me.

My current daily routine is quite simple: in the morning I go to training by bus, then I return home and call Ukraine to get the latest news from my relatives and friends. Then again training and a regular evening jog with a change of rhythm. Speed ​​is one of my skates, my coaches are delighted with my performance in this regard.

At first, I thought that I would train and play only with U-23, but I was immediately connected to work with the main squad. Moreover, several times my name appeared in the application for the matches of the first team. And in the match of the sixth round against Genk (0:4), our head coach José Genchamp let me out on the field in the first team, where I played for almost 70 minutes. You have no idea how important all this was for me, how it inspires and stimulates my work! I am ready to move mountains from morning to evening in training to be honored with such an honor.

I perfectly understand that I still have a lot to improve, work on a lot in order to achieve regular and natural progress. These 70 minutes on the field in the first team became a kind of litmus test for me and my coaches. All my strengths and weaknesses became visible at a glance. But I am very glad that wonderful specialists work here around me, real football professionals, which means that I will definitely grow and improve in order to bring closer my cherished dream day by day - to become a player of a real professional club."

Vladimir Grabishchenko from Belgium