My Full Debut (2 important to put this anywhere else)

Thanks a lot, I turn 17 next week but im so glad how my life at 16 has gone, i've learnt so much playing with and against men in men's football, and am very glad i've already got that experience behind me, it really does make the difference.

So yea i'd love to have some offers on the table, but like I said at worst i'll be playing a league down from Semi Pro in england in the first team, which will be good. Next season's gonna be huge but I do have a slight problem with my left (main) foot. It's inverted and may need somethin which costs £200 to correct it! But I can make it with my foot like this.

I see the specialist a day before I go but it's not a huge deal because I just feel it there every now and then.

But yea im so excited about goin to Malta, I really cant wait. I cant describe it haha. I got some new boots, about to get some new pads, everythin's gonna be in place.

Im practicin every day as it is but im gonna practice harder, this is it.. It really is. It's not make or break, not by a longggg way, but I wanna do it and I wanna do it now.

I just cant describe it!

Yah mate. Don't ever back down and always play with originality. Don't make the same mistake i made... if you believe in God, then anything will be possible

well spoken donovan929.

Char,

Hopefully I will have those shinguards shipped to you tomorrow. Best of luck to you and your career.

Good luck mate, you deserve it!

Thanks Kyle mate, thanks guys

Yea it might sound funny but if I got the guards before I went, I donno.. It would just make me feel so much better because everythin would be in place you know? I'll make it without em and i'll make it with em. But it'll feel good gettin on that plane with them in ma hand u know? I think it'll take about a week to get here maybe not even that, so that's cool!

Thanks bud

Im back, I went, and im back.. Here goes

My trip to Malta

Ok.. hey everybody, I got back in England Wednesday night from Malta.

I had a two week trip which was 100% focussed on Football, we do have family out there hense why we tried that country, but I went for Football.

I had emailed pretty much all the clubs and spoken to them on the phone before I went but I did go with nothing so to speak, the best team in Malta are Sliema Wanderers, they're in the Champions League, they could of played Liverpool but drew Sheriff instead, i'll talk about thata bit later. But yea, i'd spoken to them and a lot of the other Premier League and some lower league teams before I went, but I had nothing officially set up for when I got there.

I got to Malta and a smile lit up on my face, I was actually in a country where it's sunny and hot every day, I love it. So I knew it was gonna be hard, but im confident in everything I posess, I know I can do it, fact.

Anyway when I got there I took a list of all the teams numbers and addresses and I familiarised myself with how the league season finished last year and obviously went for the higher teams. The thing was with Sliema is that you're allowed to sign on 3 foreign players in a team, I hold a Maltese passport anyway so it didnt really apply to me (I think). But I got no luck with the top team, which is fair enough. So I tried some others.

I got a bit of luck, but I wanted to be spoken to in a confident way, not "ok umm you can come" kinda thing. I got that response from one guy, but I kept trying and managed to get ahold of a club called Pieta. They 1 place above the relegation zone last season, but survived and won the relegation pool. So they're no mugs.

I set up a training session with them and that was it, they sounded an organised, big and promising club. So I wanted to do that. They had been training 3 weeks before I got there, and my english season finished in March, so unless i'd been running intensely every single day, I don't think it was physically possible for me to be as fit as them. I practiced most days, but it was nothing compared to what im about to explain.

I turned up on the Monday which was their running night, so it was on an athletic track. I was introduced to the coaches, and it seemed very professional. Basically what we did was run the whole night with say a 15-20 min game at the end, but the grass we played on was a joke so you cant judge by that, it's not their Football night so they just used that grass for the sake of kicking a ball.

But the running was very, very hard. We ran the 200m more than ten times, over and over, the only rest we got was walking back to the start. After that we did the 100m more than 10 times, this is at full pace and with only a couple of minutes rest. It's amazing how fit they are, it's more than I expected. Fitness is a big thing there. Which is good, and is fair enough.. Well done.

In the game situation at the end it wasnt much to go by but I did a little trick, beat the defender and crossed the ball in, that was a sign for me that I can do it, i've got it. It's me.

So that was that session done by, I did a sign of the cross and thanked god, I know I can do it and I was confident. We also did that Tuesday. Their main Football night was on a Wednesday, they train every day apart from Saturday and Sunday in which one is a game and one is rest... So I presume.

Anyway I went along to their Club HQ on Wednesday and it's a nice set up, a few fans, locals. A proper building with a lovely new type astro special turf, u know the green grass with little black things in em? Yea that. I even saw a Wall in the corner, u know the ones where you practice free kicks? Hehe that was cool.

So yea I went alogn and still it was lots, lots of running, and I mean lots. Sprints but continuously, no rest at all pretty much, a lot of work. I was slightly.. Not worried but it made me think hopefully I don't lose all my energy for the end game, which is my chance. Coach knew I wasnt completely fit, and he was good about that.

It came to the game and I noticed that the Football was completely different to England, a lot more respect, and it's slower, but fast if you get me. It was a standard i'd never played before. And I loved it.

I got a few easy touches on it which was fine, I didn't want to do anything which could be silly in the first session, I was put at right back, now as you probably know im a Left, or right.. Mainly Left, Midfielder. I think he put me there on purpose to see how i'd react. Which was fine, I got on with it and tried to do my best.

Like I said I got some touches which were fine but couldnt do much, I tried to get forward and did on a few occasions but I didn't get the ball as much. I think because I hadnt got their respect , which is fair enough. I want to earn it, but I got the ball and think I did ok.

After the first game, the coach sent away a few players, obviously the ones he'd made his mind up about. So he left the ones who he probably needed to see more, so I was obviously there. The game now became smaller, so I thought "im gonna go over to the left, and show him what I can do".. So I did. I wasnt disobeying orders, but it was around about 6 or 7 a side, where you don't need set positions like for example a set right back, so I went into attacking left.

I picked up the ball a few times, did some turns which were ok and tried to take on some players. Im being honest. I didn't do as well as I would of liked to, but it was ok, I scored 2 goals, 1 was nice, just slotted it in. I did a stepover or 2 which were fast but I should of done better, I don't know why I didnt, well I do, inside.. But I cant explain it. But anyway it was fine, I think I did enough to show that im promising.

So that was that session over, I felt happy because it's a new country, a completely different game, different people etc etc, so I was just looking forward to the next session.

The next one was good. We did a lot of running as usual, and a few little games which were fun, I got to know a few players which was good, pretty much all speak English which is cool, Maltese is a very hard language and almost sounds arabic. Anyway I was on the left this time and we practiced a few situations because they had a friendly game on Saturday, so fair enough they practiced some things. The positioning was good, completely different to my team in England. I prefered this style.

I did ok, but still simple.. Maybe I should of done a bit more, but I didn't want to mess up so I mean I did run at players, but gave the easy ball a lot more than I should of, which is fine and is understandable, but I had a nice shot which just clipped the bar, but yea I got a few crosses in and it was ok. I wasnt dissapointed because I know what I can do , and I know I can do it.

So yea I felt good after the session. And I hadnt expected this but the coach told me I was in the squad for Saturday's game, my heart lit up and I thanked someone high above. This was it.

They had a friendly on Saturday afternoon at one of the main grounds they play their weekly games on, gorgeous grass, and a proper proper stand.

Everything was perfect other than that my legs were hurting a bit because I wasnt used to all the fitness, so I did the best I could to rest in the days.

So Saturday came... The game was against a fellow Premiership team, which was brilliant because i'd never played in a game of that standard before, so it was brilliant.

I started which I was very happy with, on the left. I was confident, and happy.

So the game started.. I didn't know exactly what to expect but I had an idea of the speed etc due to training. The speed for me felt faster in England, not so much the running of the ball, just the quick, slick passing. The heat aswell, I was in the sun and I felt it. But that's good, atleast I can say i've played in the proper heat!

So yea the game started, when I first got the ball I turned outside the defender, turned back in, layed the ball and ran on. Which I was happy with. I noticed the level of respect when their right back has the ball and it's a waste of time me sprinting to close him down, because he'll either do a perfect pass, or he'll take it round me, that's what it's like. And if you're ever invovled in a high standard game you'll know yourself.

The second time I got the ball at my feet, able to run at the defender.. Great

I was going to do about 3 fast stepovers to sway him, but seeing as we werent far from the half way line, I nocked the ball around him, made it into a 70/30, nudged him off and regained the ball, its like Italy, so as you can imagine he did lots of tricks to try and get the ball back, shirt pulling etc etc. So I turned and nocked the ball back as I felt I couldnt go any further without being tackled by either him or another team-mate.

I was happy with that.

It was hard, running wise because like I said I wasnt anywhere near at the fitness levels as any of the other players. Even the subs.

I was the youngest there I noticed but it was good to be in the game.

I picked up the ball a few times and laid it because I didn't have a chance to run with it.

One time I came deep for the ball near ish the center circle, I received it, tapped it once with the outside of my left foot, turned and sprinted and the ball was nocked back to me! I wouldnt of expected that in England, But I got it back, out-paced the defender and ran for goal. I got brought down, it should of been a booking but I was happy that I caused it. I was nearly through on goal.

This was nearer to the end of the first half, and I admit I was tiring, but i've explained the fitness, so I accept it. Im not fit.

So I was happy, I took the corners too which was a good feeling, there were quite a few fans there and the team I played against had foreigners in their team so I would imagine they're on proper proper contracts!

My corners were good, from both the left and right side, so I was happy with that.

The whistle blew and I was happy. I felt my hamstring a bit, but that was because I have tight hamstrings, a problem which I need to sort out.

So yea I was happy and sat in the dressing room, got a drink and some ice and sat down. The coach didn't say much, im not really sure why, but the mood was good. I was then told I was being subbed. I wasnt sure weather to take the news as good or bad, but I think it was because you could see I was tiring throughout the half. So I was off, but I think I did enough for them to see something.

It was 0-0 at half time and we went on to lose 1-0, im glad we didn't conciede when I was on the pitch, but we lost the game. They were just a bit better on the day. At half time a couple of players looked at me and nodded and said well done, that made me feel good.

So that was Saturday, we had Sunday off and then training on the Monday. Which again was hard running wise, but I did well. Coach spoke to myself and my dad and he said im very promising and that they can see that. That made me happy, and he said we'd have to arrange a meeting with the president as I was to leave that Wednesday (doesnt time fly!)

So I had training on the Tuesday, and then had the meeting with the President after. The end result was that the door's open now, but because their season starts in literally a few weeks then if I were to join now, I couldnt by far expect to be in the plans for the start of the season at least. Which was fair enough, And i'd have to move over there and settle in that way. The last thing he said to me was see you next year which was a good thing, so we've left it at that. I may come back in a few months, I may come back next season. Who knows!

But it was a good outcome, my opinion. I know the standard and I think I can do it. Now im playing it by ear in England maybe organising a training session with some teams here, but if not i'll stay with my club and hopefully am in the first team's plans, I should be anyway, But I don't entirely agree with how the club's run but we'll see.. We'll see.

So im gonna work on my fitness a lot. I plan to carry on with my situps and weights at home, but do running every day, with track running a few times a week. Also when the season starts I might get a personal trainer to make my body pretty much perfect. It's good now I admit, but everything can always be improved.

So yea, that's it. On my last night in Malta I watched Sliema Wanderers v Sheriff in the Champions League, the same batch as Liverpool. Sliema lost 4-1 but it was a good game to watch.

Overall my experience has been amazing, I am very very thankful for everything that's happened and it's given me a sense of knowledge that I know I can play to that standard, if im 100% fit then ability is no question, I know I can do it. And im thankful for that!

So yea, sorry if it was a bit long but I went for Football and have taken a lot out of this, thanks a lot! ;D

always great to here some good news from epl's next ronaldo

awesome. I wish you the best of luck in your career. You should get somebody to film your games so that you have some vids to show to clubs, which will/may make it easier to get tryouts

Talking about long posts

Anyway great to hear your story. Good luck!

great to hear things are going the way you wanted! keep workin' hard, dude, if u join their league you might noticed by sum english scouts, heh?

I just saw this thread, read the first page and this last one and I have two pieces of advice for you; one of them not really important, and one of them VERY important.

1...the not really important thing) You are 16 years old, so no one expects you to be at the fitness level of grown men of 25 or so. It would be silly to think you should be able to blow by or muscle off everyone (or anyone) at this stage in your life. Condition like you've never conditioned before (because it is soooo important as you're starting to find out), but don't get discouraged if you're putting in a ton of work and don't see the playing field level between you and the older guys. You won't be on that level until you are their age, so don't try to rush it and over work yourself or hurt yourself.

2....the very important thing) You might not believe this now, or fully understand it now, but soccer/football is a very small small small part of life. It's a game. Until I was 16 years old I still believed I would play some sort of sport professionally because that's just what was supposed to happen. I'm competitive and just LOVE sports. Right now as I'm about to turn 22, I could care less if I never play the game again in my life. Don't get me wrong, it's fun, but it's just so small a part of life. My advise is to don't screw yourself over before you realize what you're doing. Graduate from high school and if you have the opportunity, go to a university and further your education. What happens if you're 30, still playing semi-pro, and working part time at the diner down the road to make ends meat? Education is the most important part of your life. Graduate from high school, that is your #1 priority. If your career does take off and you don't have the time for college, read a lot and better your mind.

Thanks guys, it's the most important thing to me hense why it's a long post hehe

But ShiftyPowers, i've just turned 17 buddy, but I see your point.

1. I understand what your saying, my body at the moment is good, im happy with how it looks, but everything can be improved, and I want to do everything I can to give me the edge to make it.

Players like Rooney, Cristiano, even Adu, are of all high fitness levels, at a 'young' age in Football, so I can be the same, I do see what you're saying though, and I won't blow myself, i know what im doing .

2. The thing is, im 17 and have been in full time work since of January, I don't like work. To me.. I've seen it as a sign, I wouldnt say god, because that may sound silly, but a sign from someone saying this is work, this is how it can be, but work hard, never give up, and always beleive in yourself, and this is how Football can be. I think i've experienced what it's like to even be at semi pro level, and I love it.

My face just lights up when I think of my usual example which is Manchester United. The treatment they get is absolutely out of this world, it's amazing. Everywhere they go they have the best facilities, every Champions League game away, they stay in the best hotel, get the best treatment. They have brilliant coaches who can help them, they even have dedicated skills coaches. They get proper meals given to them, they get team tracksuits etc etc, they get to model the new kits. But most of all they get to play in front of 60,000 people a week and people pay to see them play. People work 5 days a week and that 1 day they watch the players they love play, and while the normal people are at work, the footballers get to train and to practice.

Even if there was no money in Football, i'd still play it every single day and get better. My dream is to train every single day and I think I can do it.

I wasnt good at school, so I won't be doing that (lol)

My job right now isnt a 'career' as such, it's a job which i'd leave tomorrow even if someone said I have to go to Russia to play.

I would actually prefer to be at semi pro and work in a diner making ends meat, if I was being paid to play Football then I wouldnt care mate. That's what i'd more than likely do if I gained a contract in Malta, i'd work in a diner and make enough money to live, but to be paid to play Football is my dream. Whether it's £50, £500 or £5000 a week. I just want it so bad and it's the most important thing, for me education isnt. I know in America and other countries Education is a big thing, but i'd never get in to a University.

Football is my education and thanks for the advise mate!

Amdy Faye said:

1. I understand what your saying, my body at the moment is good, im happy with how it looks, but everything can be improved, and I want to do everything I can to give me the edge to make it.

Players like Rooney, Cristiano, even Adu, are of all high fitness levels, at a 'young' age in Football, so I can be the same, I do see what you're saying though, and I won't blow myself, i know what im doing .

Click to expand...

But even Christiano and Adu get muscled off the ball easily because strength wise they aren't on the same level as the older players. If you are someone with a body like Adriano and just never have to worry about your speed or strength despite your age, that's fantastic, but those players are just so rare. Even Roy Keane wasn't the Roy Keane we currently know when he was 17 in terms of his body and what he could do with it on the soccer field.

Oh of course yea, we all develop, but I havent seen much of Adu but I wouldnt imagine at his age you would get muscled off the ball, it's natural. But i'd disagree with Ronaldo mate, he's very strong and very rarely gets muscled off. He's only 20, I have a long way to go but every little helps, upper body strength is priceless and im gonna do my best to have every advantage I can get Adriano's just hugely built lol.

Keep it up, u can do it mate!

I have read your posts since u first posted it. Your attitude is very good.
"It's good now I admit, but everything can always be improved." - its a really good attitude for every youngster. never give up and try your best, then u ARE the best.
Study is important but i would prefer to do something that i love. Its so good to work alongside your interest. The people in Hong Kong dont get good facilities, and there is no future in professional football career here in HK, so not many football lovers became pro players. You got the opportunity so i fully support what u chose.

We would like to see you in matches on the TV one day
"Football is not about death or life. It's more important than that." - a good saying by a Liverpool legend (i dont really remember who said this one)

Thanks buddy, it's a good attitude to have because I think i've been taught to have a good attitude, it does pay in Football, because you get a better reputation and a manager loves his players to always listen and to take criticism, the best players in the world have taken criticism.

When Beckham joined madrid he did a lot of the simple ball, like he'd pick it up and just give it easy, but Carlos Queiroz said to him that he knows what he can do, do it.. Stop playing the easy ball and show everyone what you can do. Beckham now plays in the Madrid team and feels really confortable on the ball, he'll do a 40yard pass to Ronaldo without any hesitation.

But yeah, tomorrow I should be starting my running, doing what I did in Malta, 200m and 100m non stop, so that should be good and hard. And im gonna do that every day so somethin to look forward to fitness wise.

Thanks for everyone's support, maybe this thread name should be changed to my football life or something, because I first opened it to talk about my full debut, but now use it as a day by day update of how im getting on, can anyone change it to something more appropriate? Cheeers
Thanks everybody!

You've Gotta Feel The Vibe

ShiftyPowers said:

2....the very important thing) You might not believe this now, or fully understand it now, but soccer/football is a very small small small part of life. It's a game. Until I was 16 years old I still believed I would play some sort of sport professionally because that's just what was supposed to happen. I'm competitive and just LOVE sports. Right now as I'm about to turn 22, I could care less if I never play the game again in my life. Don't get me wrong, it's fun, but it's just so small a part of life. My advise is to don't screw yourself over before you realize what you're doing. Graduate from high school and if you have the opportunity, go to a university and further your education. What happens if you're 30, still playing semi-pro, and working part time at the diner down the road to make ends meat? Education is the most important part of your life. Graduate from high school, that is your #1 priority. If your career does take off and you don't have the time for college, read a lot and better your mind.

Click to expand...

Very good advice. Mine would be: Treat everyone you come into contact with - with respect and due courtesy. Believe me the people who you pass on the way up - are exactly the same people waiting for you on the way down. Never ever be afraid to ask advice - there is no shame in not knowing the answer and asking, but there is much damage to be done by assuming. Your attitude in life, as well as football is the first thing people will see, and the last they will forget.

I say this as a 25 year old - and I know through experience.

Also check your PM's.

All the best.


Mike

Amdy Faye said:

I would actually prefer to be at semi pro and work in a diner making ends meat, if I was being paid to play Football then I wouldnt care mate. That's what i'd more than likely do if I gained a contract in Malta, i'd work in a diner and make enough money to live, but to be paid to play Football is my dream. Whether it's £50, £500 or £5000 a week. I just want it so bad and it's the most important thing, for me education isnt. I know in America and other countries Education is a big thing, but i'd never get in to a University.

Football is my education and thanks for the advise mate!

Click to expand...

I hope you don't regret this choice when your career is over and you're a 35 year old with no education or work experience.

Shifty's right... a footballing career is really short, and quite dangerous when you think of career-ending injuries...
I mean... you can make it big, and I'm sure you have the potential for that, but things can go wrong...

Anyways... good luck...

Thanks guys

No no Shifty, im not umm.. Arguing or anything mate, im just speaking the truth and Football is the most important thing, I would play semi pro now any day of the week in any country in the world, obviously there'd have to be a contract for me to move over there, but I would hate to go my whole life and not play anywhere near a standard as my favourite players.

Until you actually play at semi pro level though you don't realise how good the top players are, it's out of this world.

Like for example Nunez for Liverpool, he does quite often look a joke, but if I played against him he'd rip me apart. The standard of top class Football is amazing. You can watch it all you like, on tv, and even at the game, I went to lots of Portsmouth games last year (Chelsea away, Arsenal away, Manchester United away) and you get a good idea of how fast it is, but not completely untill your in that situation, I find it amazing.

See to know I can play at a standard where others cant would give me so much satisfaction, and to play the game I love every single day of the week is a dream. I'd take that any day. In Malta they train every single day. It's brilliant. So yea Football's first mate, definately!

I started my running yesterday, I did 10 100m sprints one after another yesterday, and then again today. Gradually building up. Was good Hard! But good. Yesterday my first 100m was around about 10:50, so 11 seconds really, which isn't too bad so im told. I'd be faster than that in a game though! Runnings harder on your own lol!

Thanks everyone though it means a lot having people's support, I just really wanna do somethin with my life, not work in a crappy job every day. I'd rather play Football every day and get half the money I get. For sure.