Halfback Sergei Kovalchuk didn’t give up playing football. The 23-year-old player decided to continue his career at Kazakhstan’s Okjetpes Kokshetau, which was recently promoted to the first division, IPN reports.

After parting company with the Kazakhstani team Aktobe, Kovalchuk played for no club in 2014. He left Aktobe even if he became champion with this team in 2013, managing to score a goal in 20 matches.

Sergei Kovalchuk was born in Odessa, but started his career at Tiligul Tiraspol. He played for six years for Spartak Moscow with which he won silver three times. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, Kovalchuk was named the best footballer of Moldova.