Nikolai “Core” Samofalov is a fan of the football club “Metalurg” (Mariupol), a representative of the team “Azov Front”.
Nikolai Nikolaevich Samofalov was born on December 19, 1990 in the city of Mariupol. He studied at the secondary school No. 65, and after the 8th grade he transferred to the sports school No. 4. Sport occupied an important place in the life of the young man. He was engaged in athletics, participated in competitions in pushing the core, fulfilled the title of candidate for master of sports.
Metalurg came to the fan sector of Mariupol in the 2006/07 season. Since then, he has participated in almost all football events. Nicholas was an example of a football hooligan and the most dimensional man of the movement. He was interested in the forest, there were interesting events in the city, support in the sector and outings. He was engaged in martial arts and led a healthy lifestyle.
In civilian life, Nikolai worked as a metallurgist at one of the industrial enterprises of Mariupol. Had a very difficult schedule “from fourth to fifth”, or popularly “goodbye youth”. This is called a working schedule with shifts of 9 hours, you work 4 shifts in the first, then 4 shifts in the second, then 4 shifts in the third, and only then a full day off. With such a crazy schedule, I found time for football and movement.
Teammates remember Nikolai as one of the brightest people among the fans. He is the one who led the youth behind him, from whom they took an example. One of those who was followed home by the police after certain street events. One of those who took part in the first victorious football events of Mariupol. One of those who was at the stage of changing generations, changing rules and changing things in the movement.
In the winter of 2013-14, during the events of the Revolution of Dignity, he stood up for the patriotic population and took part in direct action actions against the separatists. In 2014, he was one of the first representatives of the ultras community to join the ranks of the newly created Azov. On June 13, he participated in the liberation of Mariupol from Russian terrorist forces.
On August 27, 2014, the Azov reconnaissance group was ambushed while performing a combat mission in the area of the village. Oleksandrivka, not far from Novoazovsk. At first, the brothers reported that “Core” and two brothers were wounded and taken prisoner. Of the relatives, Nikolai had only a grandmother, who was informed by phone that he was no longer alive.
Since 2016, the teams “Project 32" and “Brotherhood” have held permanent mixed martial arts tournaments dedicated to the memory of the courageous Mariupol fan. Also in 2017, the Project initiated the release of the team in T-shirts with the image of “Core” to the match against the stars of Ukrainian football and the creation of two banners. In the same year, together with the local magazine “Domaha”, an issue was released, which was dedicated to Nikolai.
As of the winter of 2023, the fate of Nikolai Samofalov is not known for certain, his body has not been found.