Trialing in Portugal: Believing in Yourself First
"The moment you doubt yourself is the moment the game beats you."
When I first came to Portugal, I knew the level of football here—especially around Lisbon—was going to be intense. It’s one of the most competitive regions in the country, where talent runs deep and opportunities are slim. This year feels different though. It feels like the year I have to step up and prove I belong.
Through the help of my advisors and the connections we’ve built since moving here, I’ve been given an incredible opportunity with Sintrense FC. This week I’ve stepped into a new environment: new coaches, new players, a new club—and two sessions a day to show I can make an impact.
Starting at the Bottom
Walking into a new locker room isn’t easy. Nobody knows you. Nobody owes you anything. You’re the outsider, and that means every touch, every sprint, every decision is being judged.
On top of that, I don’t speak the language yet. The drills are explained in Portuguese, the jokes are shared in Portuguese, and the little moments that build chemistry happen in Portuguese. I’ve had to rely on watching, adapting, and proving myself through effort and focus.
It’s tough, but it’s also what I signed up for. If you really want to play at this level, you can’t expect comfort. You have to be ready to fight for your place.
The Challenge of Trials
Trials are about more than showing talent. Everyone has talent. What coaches look for is attitude—do you work hard off the ball, do you push through fatigue, do you make your teammates better?
With double sessions, my body is sore and my mind is tested, but this is where belief matters. If you don’t believe in yourself first, no one else will.
Dedication Over Doubt
Being new, being foreign, being unproven—it’s easy to let doubt creep in. But this journey is about flipping that doubt into determination. Every sprint I run, every challenge I go into, every training session I leave exhausted is a step closer to proving I can earn a spot here.
The truth is, football doesn’t hand out opportunities. You earn them. And the only way to do that is to show up, work harder than the guy next to you, and believe you have something to give, even when everything feels stacked against you.
The Final Push
Now, I’m almost at the end of the trial. What’s left is one last training session and then a match on Saturday evening. This is the true test. Training is one thing, but games are where coaches decide if you can really compete.
This is my moment to leave it all out there—every run, every touch, every tackle has to show that I belong. The chance to earn a spot comes down to ninety minutes under the lights.
The Next Step
This trial with Sintrense is a huge opportunity. Whether I earn the signing or not, it’s another step in building my football story. Every trial, every setback, every success is part of the grind. My goal is clear: keep pushing forward.
For anyone chasing this dream, know this—there will be moments when it feels impossible, when you feel like you don’t belong. But if you believe in yourself, you’ll always give yourself a chance.
Follow the Journey
The 2025/26 season is just beginning, and this is only the start of my next chapter. Stick with me as I chase my dream here in Portugal—I’ll share the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
"This journey isn’t just about football. It’s about never giving up on what you believe in."