'The most important (thing) is to play,' Srna said, 'to show the world that we are still alive, that we are fighting, that we are living, that we will have a good future.'In 2014, the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine began - and top football club Shakhtar Donetsk has since been in exile. This book tells their story; inevitably a story of the conflict and the recent Russian invasion but also a testament to the power of the game and the will of the players.It is ultimately a footballing story, exploring the experience and meaning of being a Shakhtar player through the lens of a country in the shadow of a huge aggressive neighbour. There are moments of direct impact (such as when a youth coach was killed by Russian shelling earlier in 2022) but also what it means to just go out on the field and play, freely. Andy Brassell is a European football expert and has followed this story for years; he regards Shakhtar as the 'Barcelona of Eastern Europe'. This book celebrates the team and its achievements, while paying tribute to an occupied nation.
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- Authors:
- Brassell, Andy
- Year Published:
- 2023
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Format:
- Paperback
- ISBN:
- 9781472148070
- Publication Date:
- 28/09/2023
- Publisher:
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Language:
- English
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Number of Pages:
- 288
- SKU:
- 9781472148070