The Colombia Under-17 National Team is in Bogotá these days, because from December 14 to 22, Héctor Cárdenas is working on a microcycle with 23 players. Among those called up there are three who play abroad: one in the United States, another in Peru, and a particular case of a goalkeeper who is at Arsenal England, the country where he was born, and who has a Russian mother and a Colombian father.
He is Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko, he is 15 years old and measures 1.83 meters. The funny thing is that this is the third time he has been in Colombia, because he had come when he was an 18-month-old baby and then he returned when he was the tender age of 10 years. For the rest, his life has been spent in Europe, especially in England.
It is striking that Héctor Cárdenas did dare to call a player who knows little about Colombia, but who has the desire to defend the coffee colors. Different case to his colleague Arturo Reyes, in charge of the U-20 National Team, who a year ago did not want to call Ian Poveda, also born in England and of a Colombian father, with the excuse that “he does not feel the shirt” because he had played with the British team in three categories.
For the U-17 coach, his country of birth or his knowledge of Colombia does not matter. He is interested that he has soccer potential and that he has the desire to play with the Tricolor.
And Alexei Rojas has a marked desire to defend the Colombian goal. “I had three calls to the England U-15 team; I’ve been through Chelsea and now I’m at Arsenal. However, if they keep calling me from Colombia, I will defend this team, because I like the style of Colombian football more and I really like the country and its people, ”explained Rojas Fedorushchenko.
“My father prepares Colombian food and I really like it. He is a fan of Santa Fe, so I also strive for that team. I’m a fan of Santa Fe ”, Alexei told FUTBOLRED, trying to find his love for Colombia.
He has many current references about Colombian football: James Rodríguez or Yerry Mina, who are in Everton. He also remembers David Ospina, with whom he met at Arsenal and “I spoke with him on several occasions; he advised me and encouraged me to follow my dream of being a goalkeeper ”. He also speaks with emotion of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado; but it is striking that, despite his young age, he recognizes René Higuita: “He is one of the best archers in Colombia and in the world. I’ve seen the scorpion he made at Wembley many times on YouTube. ”
Finally, Alexei assured that he hopes to demonstrate in the U-17 that he has the potential to continue in the National Team and compete in the South American 2021 (March 31 to April 25), which will be held in Ecuador. “I want to show my leadership on the field, that I am a modern goalkeeper and I can earn a position.”
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