Three weeks ago to „Sūduva“ arrived new player from Canada – Sandro Grande, 32 years old. He is the second player from Canada in Lithuanian football championship. In „Ekranas“, Panevėžys another player from North America – Stephen Ademolu is playing. Sandro knows Stephen, they played few times together in national Canadian team.

Parents of Sandro were born in Italy, so the boy from his early years liked football, not hockey, which is very popular in Canada. Sandro started to play very early – as he said he was only 4 years old and was in football team yet, other players at that time were elder – about 6 years old…

After studying in high school Sandro has plans to go to college, he wanted to study computer science in United States, but plans changed and we left to Italy, where started to play football professionally. In 1999 he got an invitation to play in very well known club Brescia”. In that team stars of football Roberto Baggio, Andrea Pirlo, Joseph Guardiola and others played.   

Sandro only for short time played in main team – he was lent to other clubs, played in “Frosinone” and other Italian clubs and wanted to return to “Brescia” as soon as possible. But in 2001 after Italian money were changed to euros, difficult financial situation came to that team and therefore contract with S.Grande was suspended.

”You can imagine my situation at that time – I was young enough, only 22 years old, full of energy and wish to play, so my disappointment was really big. I returned back to Montreal, after seven years of being and playing abroad”, -- told Sandro in his interview.

He played in national Canadian division, his team won the championship in 2004. Sandro was invited to national Canadian football tam, and played 12 games in total. Most successful was game with Spain – Sandro score a goal. Next year, 2005 Sandro again left his native city – he went to Norway, where played in Stavanger “Viking”, later – in “Molde” club.

“Norway is very nice, but very expensive country. I liked people there, with “Molde” we played against “Skonto”, Riga, it was the first time I came to Baltic countries, but have no suspicions later I will play in Lithuania. My career in Norway ended, when I have operation of both legs – the rehabilitation took about 1 year after that”, -- player said.

He returned back to Canada, where near Montreal has own house and lived together with his wife Tanya and small daughter. Sandro still wanted to play, so he signed a new three years contract with “Impact” club from Montreal and started to play there.

Everything was going well until incident, which happened last year. During on of the games, when situation with “Impact” was not very good and all players were very nervous, one player said some not very nice words to Sandro. He reacted very impulsive – gripped that player throat. It was very short blink, but the photographer, who was very near, shoot that moment and next day, when the photo was published, big scandal developed.

“It was said to me, that I must leave the team, my contract was broken. I still am sure, that my mistake was not as big as the punishment. After that I sent to that photographer e-mail and explain him I lost my job, my career was ruined, but he just explained he was doing his job. Even I am Italian parentage, I am not very hot-tempered, only once during all my years in football I got red card, but after that incident in some other North American clubs I heard the same – you are good player, but we can’t take You into the club”, -- remembered Sandro.

Looking for new job, S.Grande went to China, but understood, that it is not for him – the mentality of players is too vicarious for him. Agent from Latvia suggested
to find club in Russia, but there is not easy to establish, because they wanted younger layers, before 30 years old. And then Sandro got an invitation to “Sūduva”, Marijampolė and arrived there.

“After Montreal with 3 millions inhabitants Marijampolė with 45 thousands is very small and very calm town. I am here only 3 weeks yet, so can’t say much about Lithuanians. I am spending my time playing football, working with computer or cooking some Italian food at my place. It seems “Sūduva” is strong enough team, we all have good facilities for trainings and playing. My main ambition there is together with team to win national championship”, -- told Canadian player.