The Waiting Game: Patience, Hard Work, and Staying Ready

Six months. That’s how long I had to wait to officially be cleared to play football in Portugal. Six months of training, watching games from the stands, and putting in the work without knowing exactly when I’d get my chance. It was frustrating at times, but looking back, it was a good lesson in patience.

The FIFA Approval Process: Hurry Up and Wait

When I moved from Canada to Portugal to join Estoril Praia’s Elite Academy, I knew there would be paperwork involved. FIFA has strict rules about international transfers, especially for young players, and since I wasn’t an EU citizen, my process was even more complicated. Every document had to be reviewed—my residency, my education plan, and my football history.

I was training every day, working as if I was about to play my first match, but I wasn’t allowed to play in any official games. That was tough. Watching my teammates compete while I was stuck on the sidelines wasn’t easy, and there were days when it felt like this process would never end.

The Importance of Routine: Staying Ready for Your Moment

Football isn’t just about what happens on match day. It’s about everything you do leading up to it—every training session, every meal, every recovery session, every small decision you make. But what happens when you’re not playing? When you’re injured, not in the coach’s plans, or, like in my case, waiting for FIFA approval to come through? That’s when routine becomes everything.

When you’re in a situation where you can’t play, it’s easy to lose focus. You might start questioning yourself, feeling frustrated, or even losing motivation. But the truth is, these moments define you as a player. If you wait until you’re allowed to play to start working hard, you’re already behind. The key is to have a routine that keeps you improving every single day so that when your opportunity comes, you don’t just take it—you dominate it.

Building a Strong Daily Routine

If you’re in a situation where you’re waiting for your chance—whether because of an injury, a coaching decision, or paperwork delays—you need to structure your day in a way that pushes you forward. Here’s how I approached it:

• Make your training count
  Even though I wasn’t playing in games, I trained every day. I focused on improving my weaknesses and using my strengths. I did end up with an injury which was also very frustrating and demotivating. I’ll share more about that in another post.
  

• Strength & Conditioning Work
  Without games, I had more time to focus on my physical development. I worked on my strength to be ready for the physical level of play that’s required here in Portugal.
  

• Staying connected with the team
  Just because you’re not playing doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the team. I stayed connected at training, watching them play in games and hanging out on weekends with my teammates. The social connection is really important to feeling like you belong.
  

• Mental Toughness & Mindset
  Waiting was a mental struggle for me. Probably the biggest one I’ve dealt with before. I was disapointed and frustrated that I couldn’t play. I had a tough time and ended up speaking with a sports psychologist to help me make sure I was taking care of my mental health.

The Moment Finally Came

Then, after months of waiting, I finally got the message: FIFA approved my transfer. I was officially cleared to play. All the training, all the hard work, all the patience—but the season was over and I only got to play in the last game.

The Biggest Lesson: Trust the Process

Football teaches you a lot, but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t control everything. There will be obstacles—paperwork, injuries, setbacks—but what you can control is your attitude, your effort, and your belief in yourself.

Every day is a chance to improve. No matter what situation you’re in, keep working. Stay ready. Stay positive. Because when your moment comes, you want to be the player who steps in and makes an immediate impact.