Egash Palanga dos Santos Kichintura’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in 1997, the young Angolan moved to Russia in 2015 with a dream of pursuing higher education at Kuban State Technological University. At just 18, he had no idea that his life was about to take a remarkable turn.
While juggling his studies, Egash found joy on the futsal court, playing with his classmates nearly every evening. They would often tell him, “You’ve got talent; you could become a footballer.” Though flattered, Egash never took their words seriously. “I was happy to hear it, but I didn’t think I had what it takes to play professional football,” he confessed. Yet, life had other plans. Little by little, his passion for the sport began paving a path he never thought possible.
In 2019, Egash took his first big step, signing with Novaya Generatsiya, a team in the Russian Futsal Super League. Even then, he remained dedicated to his education, completing his studies remotely. But Egash’s ambitions didn’t stop there. By 2021, at the age of 24, he made a life-changing leap: transitioning from futsal to football. On July 23, he signed with Russian Premier League club Ufa and made his debut just two days later against the powerhouse team CSKA Moscow.
Egash’s story didn’t come without challenges. In 2023, after Ufa’s relegation to the third tier of Russian football, he faced uncertainty. But his determination never wavered. That summer, he signed with Dynamo Makhachkala, helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League.
Reflecting on his journey, Egash said, “I never imagined I would become a professional footballer. Everyone has their own path, and mine wasn’t easy. From day one, I faced many obstacles. If someone had told me I’d play in the Premier League, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
He often hears skeptics saying the sport’s standards have declined, but he passionately disagrees. “Look at the teams! A former player for Barcelona and Juventus plays at CSKA! Is he here because the level dropped? It’s easy to be critical, but the truth is, every era has its greatness. Someday, I’ll probably tell my kids, ‘Things were different back in my day,’ but I’ll always treasure this journey.”
Egash’s inspiring story is a testament to the power of resilience, self-belief, and the courage to embrace opportunities—even when the odds seem insurmountable.
