German champion with Bielefeld
Ukraine refugee celebrates moving football fairy tale
04/17/2023, 8:48 p.m
The celebrations in Bielefeld knew no bounds: Arminia’s U17 team celebrated their first championship title in the club’s history. Also because goalkeeper Artem Zaloha holds the victory. The 15-year-old is writing a very special story. He only came to Germany a year ago because of the war in Ukraine.
What a great story! The fact that Arminia Bielefeld’s U17s became German soccer champions for the first time is a wonderful success for the club and the players. The team from East Westphalia won 2-1 against VfL Wolfsburg. However, the title is very special for goalkeeper Artem Zaloha, because he wrote a little football fairy tale: The 15-year-old fled to Germany just a year ago before the war in Ukraine.
Paul Neu, the coach of the U16s at VfL Theesen, for whom Zaloha played at the beginning of his time in Germany, told his story on Twitter. A thread that touches, maybe even moves some to tears. According to Neu, a year ago “a boy from Ukraine” joined his team. He said “not a word of English or German”, “didn’t say a word, didn’t make a face, but kept every ball that came on goal,” he wrote.
Zaloha tried to integrate quickly, knew the names of his teammates after a week and learned German. Then he became the first-choice goalkeeper for VfL Theesen’s U16s, said he was “practically unbeatable” and was promoted to the U17s because of his enormous talent.
Neu describes his commitment and ambition on and off the field and also praised the fact that Zaloha completed an internship as coach of his club’s U12s. Arminia Bielefeld also took notice, he trained at the same time with the big club in the region and switched completely to Arminia at the beginning of the year. As a 15-year-old, he immediately played for the U17s and got his stakes because the regular goalkeeper was injured.
Then came April 16, 2023: the final of the B youth. Zaloha was initially able to watch his team-mates Nick Cherny (74′) and Henrik Koch (79′) give his team a 2-0 lead. Then he had to concede the goal from Louis Grobauer (88th) – but in a wild final phase he still prevented the possible equalization after a header from Oliwier Bosacki. In the end, the title is for Bielefeld and Zaloha. He celebrated the title and handing over the cup with the Ukrainian flag around his shoulders.
“What a year! I’m so happy for the boy who puts so much into it. And hopefully one day it will be at the top … I’m proud of you boy!” Says Neu. An opinion that many share with the youth coach, the thread has been commented on many times. Comments like “I have pee in my eyes”, “Amazing story” or just little hearts express the Ukrainian’s joy. The DFB Twitter account also shared Paul Neu’s story and commented: “What a moving story.”