Striker Rwan Cruz is one of the highlights of PFK Ludogorets, from Bulgaria, at the start of the season. In a match valid for the team’s debut in Group H of the Conference League, the former Santos and Vasco da Gama player scored one of the goals in the 4-0 victory over Spartak Trnava, from Slovakia.
Rwan is one of several stories of players who managed to change their lives through sport. The striker made his professional debut at Santos in 2022, however, two years earlier, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked as a bricklayer’s assistant and almost gave up football.
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The beginning
The number 99 was raised in Cajuru Seco, a small neighborhood in Recife, where he attended a school at the age of seven. Approved in Náutico’s youth categories, Rwan crossed the city to go to training. Over time, he transferred to Sport, where he stayed for three years and won two titles at the youth level.
Rwan got a chance to play for Figueirense and moved to Santa Catarina, where he spent nine months living under the stands, unable to play, due to problems with his transfer. Without space, he went to Guarulhos’ Flamengo, in 2020, but due to the pandemic the club ran out of calendar and the striker was forced to return to Recife, to help his father.
“I overcame a lot during my life, I remember that at the beginning I crossed the city and didn’t have money to drive. Sometimes I asked the driver to let me get on the bus from behind, so I could train. When I was left without a club, I started working on the construction site with my father, so he didn’t have to pay help. So, I helped and worked happily, without any problems. Then I still found time to do my training on the beach”, says Rwan.
An invitation that would change his life
After good performances for the São Paulo team, he received the invitation that would change his life: a test at Santos. Approved, it didn’t take long for Rwan to shine at the club’s base. The striker was one of the main highlights of the Santos team in the runner-up of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Junior 2022 and competed for the competition’s star award. There were nine games, six goals and two assists.
“Today I look back and smile about it. It was a struggle, but today I can make a living from football and, most importantly, I help my family as much as I can. Playing in continental championships like the Conference League was a dream, but it soon became a goal. And today I’m here, I won through the sport I love and I have faith that many good things are yet to come”, said the player.
Prominent at the base, Rwan Cruz started training with the professional squad and made his debut in the classic against São Paulo, at Vila Belmiro. In total, he played 37 games and scored five goals and provided one assist.
The Menino da Vila was loaned by Santos to PFK Ludogorets for one season and with an option to buy. The athlete was on loan to Vasco da Gama as well.
Rwan’s team is the leader of group H of the Conference League, after the defeat last Thursday (22), in the group that still includes FC Nordsjælland (Denmark) and Fenerbahçe (Turkey).
