Sergey Kutuzov on the road from 8×8 to pro football

Sergey Kutuzov, the striking talent of the media football club Titan, earned two IFL championships with 2Drots and was named the player of the year in media football for 2022. He recently explained why he has not pursued a traditional professional career on the big stage. Kutuzov reflects on a late start, noting that his football journey began to show real promise only in his early twenties. He began in the eight-player format at eighteen, where the pace, space, and scoring opportunities ignited his enthusiasm. The quick tempo and the joy of finding the net drew him in instantly. Yet, as he tried to translate that success to professional football on the full-sized field, the results did not come as smoothly. He admits he faced significant obstacles and had to endure years of hard work before any break could appear in the top flight, hinting at the harsh reality many players encounter when chasing a dream in Russia. He attributes his lack of a rapid ascent to the absence of two common advantages: extraordinary talent and powerful connections with agents. Those factors often determine who gets a chance in the Russian Premier League, and Kutuzov recalls that without either, breaking into top-tier squads proved exceptionally challenging. He emphasizes that the path to professional football can be narrow, with opportunities won more by timing and visibility than by sheer skill alone. This candid assessment comes from a veteran who has tasted top competition on the court and has learned that persistence, resilience, and continual improvement are essential when the odds feel stacked against a player who does not fit the conventional profile.