German Kotsubinskiy has had a lifelong passion for football since seeing boys play as a child in Murmansk. He began attending a football sports school in 1983 and started playing as a goalkeeper for Murmansk football club at age 14, earning the nickname "Black Panther" due to the black color of his uniform. German had great success as a goalkeeper, winning championships at the city and regional level, and was featured in local newspapers for his play with the famous football club "Sever". Today, he works as a coach for "Sever" and trains the next generation of boys, hoping some will become champions like him.