The midfielder pays for his principled position.
A few months ago, a Russian footballer became a real hero in our country, having decided on a bold act. However, in Europe, the position of the midfielder was not appreciated, now he is experiencing serious problems with playing practice.
Perhaps it is time to give up on a foreign career, but this will not break a unique athlete.
“Life has changed”
Gael Ondua is the only football player with Russian citizenship who was lucky enough to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 27-year-old student of Lokomotiv and CSKA appeared in the Cameroon national team in two matches of the tournament. And both times he was not afraid to show the Russian tricolor on his boots. True, after returning to the club, and the midfielder defends the colors of the German “Hannover”, he never again got into the application.
“My football life has changed dramatically, and for several months now I have been exclusively training, keeping in shape at the club’s base, but, unfortunately, cut off from the most important and most beloved – playing football,” Ondua said in his Sports column.
It is worth recalling that Ondua spent a significant part of his career in European teams. He played for the Danish Vejle, was listed as part of the Ukrainian Zorya. After the only full season in the Russian championship, when the Cameroonian played for Anji, Gael returned to Europe again. The Swiss Servette became interested in the player, and in the summer of 2021 he signed a contract with the German Hannover.
The African did not have any problems in relations with the leadership of European teams. At least until the athlete reminded the whole world that he is directly related to Russia. This happened at a time when any mention of our country at international sporting events was considered undesirable. And, of course, such impudence was not forgiven to the Cameroonian.
“I made my choice”
Of course, Ondua is not a world-class star, but it’s still strange to see how a World Cup participant cannot get into the application for the match of a team that lacks stars from the sky in the Second Bundesliga. And this is taking into account the fact that Hannover has certain personnel problems, and the series of failures has frankly dragged on. Why does a healthy player not even get into the reserve, while at the start the players are forced to close other people’s positions? It smacks of outright discrimination, but, of course, no one in Europe admits this.
– Right now I am training with the Hannover team, going to theory classes with the team, analyzing opponents on video, participating in double-sided matches and working in the gym. I’m a team player, I have a valid contract. Although, of course, all this comes with reservations. Either they want to let me down to the second team, or they release me from part of the classes. Once they left one in the locker room … And this is not a figure of speech, – says the football player.
“I think you understand the reasons. Everyone saw what happened after the World Cup. With me – a football player who is listed in the club as a Russian citizen. And who believes that a person should always have his own truth and his own position. And right now I’m paying the price for it,” explains the Cameroonian.
It is important that the football player himself tries not to make a tragedy out of the current situation, but on the contrary, he trains with increased zeal and prepares himself for future victories. The contract with the German club ends in the summer, and then there will be an opportunity to move to another team. Perhaps Russian, given that in Europe Ondua may continue to be persecuted for his unwillingness to distance himself from our country.
Gael says that he has already made his choice, so he probably does not worry much about the difficulties that have arisen, filling his free time from training with the study of psychology, watching Soviet comedies and active work in social networks. I would like to believe that this largely unique Russian football player will pass the test and in a few months will be able to fully return to his favorite game.
