Famous Ukrainian journalist Mykola Nesenyuk commented on the return to Ukrainian football of the well-known defender Yaroslav Rakitsky, who recently signed a contract with Odesa's "Chornomorets".
"Thirty-five-year-old Yaroslav Rakitsky, who seemed to have ended his career as an active football player, has again taken to the field in an official match of the Ukrainian championship. Yaroslav came on as a substitute the day before yesterday in the match "Karpaty" - "Chornomorets" as part of the Odesa team.
How to evaluate this fact? From a biological point of view, everything is normal here - thirty-five years is not critical for a football player anymore. There are plenty of footballers who continue to play in more mature years. The thing is, at this age, the peak of physical capabilities is already passing, leaving only experience and skill, which, as is known, will not go anywhere. Therefore, Yaroslav Rakitsky can still play football for many more years. His example is interesting, in my opinion, for another reason.
The vast majority of footballers end their careers not by their own wish, but because they can no longer play at their former level and cannot compete with younger partners. In that case, one should either completely quit or go where one will not look weaker than colleagues. Thus, the level of Rakitsky is a test of the level of the "Chornomorets" team. And if he looks better than his younger teammates, it does not bode well for the Odesa team.
It seems to me that Yaroslav Rakitsky's successful return to our football will indicate not his revived skill, but the level of the tournament, in which Yarik in his current condition will not look worse than others. If so, then coach Oleksandr Kucher, who is only forty-two, can still serve "Chornomorets" as a defender. Why not?" - Nesenyuk wrote on his page in the social network Facebook.
