A Day I’ll Never Forget – Training at the Portuguese National Training Centre

By Carson Riddall-Jeffs

I had the incredible opportunity to train at the Portuguese National Training Centre, representing Estoril Praia, alongside a select group of teammates. Even more cool was that this session was with the Portuguese Senior Women’s National Team, as they prepared for their upcoming match against England Women’s National Team.

When we arrived, I realized that this is a very unique experience. Getting to see where the best players in Portugal train (like Ronaldo) and see the facilities was amazing.

When we got to locker rooms, we were handed Portugal National Team training kits. Wearing that crest, even just for a day, felt like a privelage.

One of the things that stood out right away was the level of detail. In the locker room, there was actual food prepared for players before training.

It wasn’t just snacks—it was a selection of proper meals designed for high-performance athletes. It made me realize just how different things are at the top level. Everything is structured for peak performance, from training to recovery to nutrition.

One of the best parts of the day was experiencing it with a small group of my teammates from Estoril Praia.

We all knew what a cool moment this was and we pushed each other to perform. When you train at this level, every player around you makes you better. Seeing my teammates hold their own against top players just added to the motivation.

Football is individual in some ways, but at the end of the day, it’s about competing together, growing together, and elevating each other.

Walking back to the locker room after training, I felt grateful. Not just for the opportunity, but for everything it showed me.

Football is about earning your place, proving yourself every time you step on the field, and never being satisfied with where you are. Today was one of the best experiences of my journey so far.

Because the next time I step onto a pitch like this, I don’t just want to train here—I want to belong here permanently.