Maksim Rudakov explained to his home country what happened in Espoo.
Keeper Maxim Rudakov, 27, rose to the Veikkausliiga elite in his playing position. Having saved FC Honga with a goal for two seasons, Rudakov is now looking for a new employer.
He gave an interview to a Russian Champions-sports website and told about the sad end of Esport Honga. Esport Honka went bankrupt when the main owner Färid Ainetdin no longer wanted to finance the football project.
– Small problems emerged already during the season, but when salaries were not paid to the players in October, it became clear that everything was not in order. It happened completely unexpectedly and without warning, Russian boxer Rudakov told Championat.
According to Rudakov, Esport Honka did not pay the players’ salaries for the last two months.
He told the Russian media that Ainetdin owns Esport, a chain of sports centers operating in the capital region.
– As I understand it, he decided to stop financing the club when the construction of the new stadium was delayed. He immediately burned bridges. Without even telling the team.
A Championat reporter asked Rudakov if he had ever met Ainetdin. The answer was a rather rude surprise.
– In two years, I saw him once at the end of the season gala.
Honga’s players have to claim what they receive from salary security. The process can take months.
“No one gave up”
Maksim Rudakov was among the best goalkeepers in the Veikkausliiga. Matti Raivio / AOP
The goalkeeper said that he has improved a lot in the last two years. He feels he is ready to move to the next level in his career.
According to Rudakov, he would have changed scenery anyway after the season ended, and the bankruptcy had no effect on that.
– After the season, my goalkeeper coach and I went through my development. The statistics were good. I conceded fewer goals than the goal scorer said.
Although Esport Honga’s ownership ladder left a dark mark on Finnish football history, the Russian only had good things to say about the team and the fans.
– The difficult situation made our group even closer. Nobody gave up.
Rudakov still has a contract with Russian Rostov for half a year.
– We will sit down with the club management in the next few days and discuss my future.