Hero of the Day: Konstantin Maradishvili

— Kostya, happy birthday! Tell us who congratulated you and how.
— Thank you! My parents, brothers and sisters, fans, the coaching staff and team, they all congratulated me. It all started last night, Moscow time, and this morning, physiotherapist Tony was the first who congratulated me just like last year.

— What did Viktor Mikhailovich wish you?
— He wished me all the best, health, progress, as it usually happens.

— It is at the age of 21 that a young boy becomes a man according to popular opinion, in some countries this is the age of adulthood. Do you feel like an adult?
— I would not say that this is a very significant age for me or that everything has changed right on this day. Just another year of growing up. All the previous ones were quite difficult, and 2020 turned out to be a little blurred due to the pandemic. I hope it will only get better in the future.

— What are your plans for the evening? How will you treat the team? Aleksandr Ermakovich, who also celebrated his birthday here in Campoamor, organized seafood dinner for everyone…
— Yes, I want to bring something sweet, so we agreed with the chefs that they will help me with the choice. Everyone misses ice cream - so there will be ice cream.

— I myself saw how experienced players managed to cut a couple of laps for the team during a running training session on their birthday. Have you already discussed this with the coaches? This is the gym training tonight, can you cut a couple of sets?
— (Smiles) I think no, but I guess sweets are also good. I talked to Ryland Morgans, told him about the ice cream idea, and he agreed. So, we can relax a little at the dinner.

— The team played various games last evenings — mafia, quiz. Does it help to distract from the trainings?
— Sure. The work is monotonous, we are almost a month here. Therefore, all these games are very helpful, we stopped bothering each other, as usual at the end of training camps because of them. We go out to training in a good mood, because we spend the evenings with each other, it brings the team together.

— What was not enough for your Internacional to enter the top three in the quiz?
— We, the young, need to continue to develop intellectually, to acquire knowledge. To be honest, I did not think that playing quiz would be so interesting. The questions made me reflect. I answered a couple of them, but mostly I tried to come up with versions. We were betting on a team game, but others were stronger this time (smiles). I am glad we spent the evening like this.

— But you have won in mafia already…
— Yes, the first day I had to fit in the game, but the next evening I really was among the winners twice. One time I was mafia, another time I was a doctor. This is also a great leisure time at the training camp.

— Try to remember your most memorable birthday present. What was that?
— We have never made a special emphasis on gifts on this day in our family. I had everything, as well as other children, including a game console, but there was no connection with date. This could happen on any other day or after achieving some result — for example, to complete a quarter with good marks. We agreed with my parents, and if I did this, I received encouragement.

— Then tell a few words for them at the end of the interview.
— My parents congratulated me last night. The most important thing a person has is their family, it is your blood and flesh. I want to thank my parents for bringing me up and for continuing to bring me up, making me the person I am.

— What are their names?
— My father is Koba Avtandilovich Maradishvili, my mother is Maria Igorevna Pryanikova. I am proud of my parents and miss my grandmother Galina Sergeevna very much, I have called her Galyunya since childhood. I constantly communicate with her, I love her, this is the person on whom my mood depends. I want to spend more time with my family, it is hard to be apart for a whole month. But we will see them as soon as we arrive in Moscow. That is also why I am looking forward to going home.