Evacuated Ukrainian teenager supports football dream in Yokohama

A promising young goalkeeper from Ukraine, who fled his country after the Russian invasion, continues to live out his football dreams at J. League club Yokohama FC.

A native of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine, 19-year-old Yaroslav Shtonda fled the country after the invasion began last February and eventually arrived in Japan in November with the help of his aunt, who lives in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

Thanks to her efforts, the teenager, who played for the Ukrainian youth team that won the national championship, was accepted into the youth academy of the Yokohama football club.