FROM dodging gunmen in Ukraine to keeping a clean sheet against Staines Town, Concord Rangers goalkeeper Evandro Rachoni has a remarkable story to tell.

Beach Boys supporters could have been forgiven for not recognising their goalkeeper last weekend...but with regular keeper Josh Vickers taken ill before the game, Danny Cowley handed the 24-year-old Brazilian his debut in the 1-0 win over Staines.

And his appearance for the Beach Boys continued an astonishing journey for Rachoni, which began in his native Brazil before taking him to Angola and, more recently, a lucrative move to Ukrainian side Arsenal Kiev.

Full name Evandro Rachoni de Lima, the former Fluminense goalkeeper moved to Ukraine in a bid to realise his dream of becoming a household name.

But his move to Ukrainian Premier League side Arsenal Kiev turned sour when the club ran into financial difficulties.

And in November 2013, and with the majority of Kiev following the capital’s premier side Dinamo, the club was declared bankrupt after financier Oleksandr Onyschenko, who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, stepped down.

Rachoni, in a search of regular football, joined local club Retro FC but made the decision to flee the conflict-ravaged nation after gun-wielding rebel forces boarded the team bus on the way to an away game.

The 24-year-old admits he feared he would be targeted on the coach as the only Brazilian on board but after parting ways with his agent, who wanted him to stay in Eastern Europe for money reasons, he flew to England.

He had been one of many players who had feared flying while in Ukraine, after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over the country in July last year.

But following a safe flight to London last September, he joined Essex Senior league side London Bari before, two months ago, joining Concord.

And Beach Boys manager Danny Cowley said the goalkeeper did well to keep a clean sheet, the club’s first in six games, at the weekend.

“Rachoni came in and did well for us,” said Cowley. “The defensive performance was superb but he did what he needed to do to keep the clean sheet.

“To be honest, I never thought eight years ago when I joined that we would have an Australian (Jeremy Walker) and a Brazilian in our team down the line but it is great to see.

“He has been in and around the first team for a while now and I was pleased to give him some game time. He has looked sharp in training and has worked hard.”

Rachoni has admitted he may not stay in England, with Concord admitting it is unlikely they can fund two goalkeepers, although he says he has been watched by scouts from West Ham.

And, with interest also coming from the USA and France, who knows what the next chapter in Evandro Rachoni’s life will be.