Shakhtar midfielder Georgiy Sudakov talked about his childhood.
Georgiy Sudakov. Photo: shakhtar.com“I grew up in difficult conditions, and it shaped my character in many ways. When you are born into a not wealthy family, you understand: no one will just give you anything. Everything needs to be earned through hard work. One of the main difficulties in childhood is the lack of opportunities. Football was not always accessible.
Equipment, travel for competitions, even good boots - all this was an expensive luxury. My family could not afford much, so I had to adapt and play in what was available. Secondhand boots were worth their weight in gold. I even remember a story when I hid the bumps in a secondhand shop among a pile of clothes, intending 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 don’t have established connections or support on the field, so you have to 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 those moments, you realize that only character and hard work can take you forward.
I remember a saying for life: "A full person does not understand a hungry one." And I am always hungry for more. Now, when I look back, I see that all the difficulties made me stronger. I am not afraid of challenges because I know I have already faced difficult situations. And if I managed to go through the path that is behind me, why not go further and achieve even greater goals?” - quotes Sudakov Insider.ua.
