By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: From Portugal to England and now Shillong, Edon Júnior Viegas Amaral, also known as Edinho Júnior, wore a big smile while speaking to The Shillong Times in the city on Thursday.
The striker arrived in Shillong on Tuesday and had his first training session with his new Shillong Lajong FC team mates the following day. While still early for the 19-year-old at his new club, he was enthusiastic about his experience thus far.
“The training here is the same as it is in Portugal and England. It’s good,” he said.
The Portuguese player had started out in the youth team of Olhanense in his native country and was then snapped up by Blackburn Rovers in England.
He said that he was “happy” with the move and received support from his family, too. “They said, ‘Enjoy, Edinho, you’ll like it there,’” he said with a laugh.
Lajong, who are currently in 11th place in the I-League, are not out of danger when it comes to relegation and there has been notable excitement among the club’s fans at Edinho’s signing.
Asked whether he felt pressure to perform, the youngster brushed it off. “No pressure at all,” he said. “It’s the same as it is in England. No pressure.
“I have always wanted to play football. My father played football, now my brother and I do so, too.”
And although he only had one day with the team, he feels that SLFC have “good players” and he is eager to play his first match, which is likely to be against Pune away on March 24.
Away from his new club, Edinho is a passionate Real Madrid fan, describing compatriot Cristiano Ronal-do as his favourite player.
“This is the year of Real Madrid,” he said confident-ly, before admitting that their chances in La Liga were slim. “But no problem, in the Champions League and Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) Real will win.”
