Lokomotiv player Karpukas as a child went to training at Smertin’s school for 156 km

Former Lokomotiv player Alexei Smertin spoke about the difficulties midfielder Artem Karpukas had to face before he played in the MIR RPL team.

“I know him very well. A unique case: my father took a guy from Biysk 156 km away to train at my school. And my dad – a craftsman to isolate football players with a bright head even at a very early age – polished it. By analogy with how he worked with Erokhin. For several years he fell out of my sight, but now I see: Karpukas is in Lokomotiv. I think: I wonder if this is not the Karpukas I remember? Moreover, he trained with guys a year older – and here the analogy with me is also appropriate: being born in 1975, I played for 1974. They even made a movie about him when Artem was little. He had textbooks in the back seat of the car, pillows so he could take a nap, food. Can you imagine the zeal for football?

Karpukas has always been a central midfielder, well dispersed the attack. Technical, tenacious in selection. Somewhere there was a lack of speed, but now I see: he is reading the game. Maybe he is not explosive, but at the same time he is very smart – in defense as well, – Smertin told the “Championship”.

20-year-old Karpukas has played 6 matches in the WORLD RPL this season, in total he has 12 games for the team. The player’s contract with Lokomotiv is valid until June 30, 2025.