Midfielder of “Shakhtar” Georgiy Sudakov talked about his childhood.
Georgiy Sudakov. Photo: shakhtar.com“I grew up in difficult conditions, and this forged my character in many ways. When you are born into a low-income family, you understand: nobody will just give you anything. Everything must be earned through hard work. One of the main difficulties in childhood is the lack of opportunities. Football has not always been accessible.
Equipment, trips to competitions, even good boots - all of this was an expensive pleasure. My family could not afford much, so I had to adapt and play in whatever I had. Second-hand boots were worth their weight in gold. I even remember a story about how I hid the boots in a second-hand shop among piles of clothes to buy them cheaper the next day. I remember, I got them for 30 UAH!
You also encounter competition for the first time. As a child, you have no established connections or support on the field, so you must prove your worth in the game to be noticed. It was a real fight for a place in the team, for a chance to play, for the opportunity to get into the academy. In such moments, you realize that only character and hard work can push you forward.
I remember a saying for life: “The full does not understand the hungry.” And I am always hungry for more. Now, when I look back, I see that all the difficulties have made me stronger. I am not afraid of challenges because I know I have already overcome tough situations. And if I managed to overcome the path that is behind me, why not move forward and achieve even greater goals?” - quotes Sudakov Insider.ua.
