Young Feildians players took to pitch to train with Portuguese soccer professionals
Young soccer players from the Feildians Athletic Association Athletic Association had the chance of a lifetime this week in St. John's, training with elite Portuguese professional soccer club FC Porto as part of its Dragon Force World Camp series.
Anticipation for the camp built quickly. Open to Feildians club players, registrations filled up in just 25 minutes, said Feildians coach Sipho Sibiya.
"We want to be able to put Newfoundland on the map, especially Feildians Athletic Association, where I'm a part of now," he told CBC News.
WATCH | Two young players are getting the chance to train in Portugal:
Running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for five days, the players spent the week doing training drills, developing skills and playing games.
Two players, William Coughlan and Georgia Cavanagh, have been selected to attend an all-expenses-paid trip to Portugal and train with FC Porto's Youth Academy.
Building on history
FC Porto's visit to St. John's builds on a long history between Portugal and Newfoundland.
Portuguese fishermen who fished on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland were known to play soccer, or futebal, by the St. John's harbour.
"Now that I've known the history that Portugal's had with Newfoundland, it's even a greater collaboration to tie that piece together as well," said Sibiya.
World Camp coach Guilherme Silva said he's enjoying what the St. John's community has to offer and is interested in the history between the two places.
"I've been enjoying it a lot. The culture here — people are really humble," said Silva. "I've been enjoying a lot, working with these people and getting to know the culture itself."
'An entire new perspective on soccer'
For the young players, it's been a week of development and a chance to experience a different type of training.
"They gave us a new opportunity, and like, an entire new perspective of soccer, you know?" said 11-year-old Alin Ahmad.
The opportunity to train abroad is an exciting one for the players, especially those with aspirations to play professionally.
"If you could ask one of them, they would tell you they want to play pro," said Sibiya.
Sibiya hopes the players chosen for FC Porto's Youth Academy will learn a lot, both on and off the pitch.
"I just hope they get the sense of what training is about. You know, the training being day-to-day, eating with the players, getting the coaching that they would get in a pro level."
"And just to see what the culture is like," said Sibiya. "Portuguese culture or just football and the culture — it's a way of life over there."
Declan Stokes, 10, is already looking forward to the camp returning in the future.
"I hope Porto will come back next year to do it again."
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