A championship spirit recently filled the locker room at the famous Alcochete academy. Edson Valencia, a star player from Sporting’s volleyball team, paid a special visit. He helped Sporting win the national title in the 2024/25 season. Now on vacation, Valencia took time to speak to the club’s ‘B’ football squad.
The 37-year-old Venezuelan shared his wisdom before the young players trained. João Gião coaches this group of promising footballers. Valencia spoke about his own journey in a powerful talk. He stood in the same locker room where future football stars get ready.
“I am truly thankful for this chance,” Valencia said later, speaking to the club’s media. “This day means a lot to me. I had not fully seen how grand the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy is. All these fields, the investment, and the comfort for our young players are amazing. Soon, we will see them in big games and championships. It feels good to be a part of their path.” He added, with a chuckle, “I don’t separate sport from life. For me, it’s all one thing. We must live for football or for volleyball. We need to stay focused. If you play volleyball, you must live your life to play it as best you can. That has been my way, and I’ve found some success.”
Samuel Justo, a familiar face on the ‘B’ team, felt the impact of Valencia’s words. The 21-year-old midfielder found the story very inspiring. “His story is interesting and hits on crucial points,” Justo explained. “Even though he plays a different sport, his advice applies. He talked about handling frustration, like not getting chances or finding a good team environment. That made all the difference in his growth. Now, he is one of the best players for Sporting and in the league. You could tell he values physical and mental hard work a lot.”
