FC Shakhtar captain and Croatia international, Darijo Srna, has learned what’s it like to work in a coal mine. To experience it firsthand and to meet the real pitmen, the footballer went to th Skochinskiy coal mine.
Darijo’s first challenge was changing into protective clothing: from special footwear and puttees to safety lamp on the helmet. Putting on the puttees turned out to be a problem, but it was finally solved after Darijo appealed for help to those who knew how to do it.
Having received a self-rescuer and a helmet, the captain was ready to descend into the shaft. Had he had his face covered with dust he would have looked exactly like a real pitman who has just came up to the surface. On his way to the lift Darijo met a group of workers who couldn’t help asking him for an autograph. Darijo in his turn was kin to know everything about working in a coal mine. To add more realism to his adventure, he asked for a pneumatic hammer. Darijo was impressed. Especially by the weigh of a chunk of coal he had to pick up!
- Actually, I saw everything I was expecting to see here – this work is a real challenge. Miners deserve respect for their hard labour. Of course, every person chooses an occupation they like. But work of a miner is way harder than that of a football player, - said Darijo when he returned on the surface.
He added that it’s much nicer to be here, under the sun, than deep under the ground.                  
FC Shakhtar
Press Office