Leadership: leader function; leadership; guidance; ability or competence to lead
Whether with loud instructions, an arm pointing the way to colleagues or a cart made at the right time, Rafael Assis is the definition of the aforementioned expression.
At 33 years old, and after a long journey in the professional championships in Portugal, the defensive midfielder decided to accept Trofense’s invitation to compete in League 3.
After the training led by Nuno Manta Santos ensured permanence, the zero zero was talking to the number 14 shirt. In this first part of the interview, the project of the Trofa emblem was discussed, the differences between League 3 and professional competitions and the way in which Rafael Assis, an extremely shakenseeks to positively influence the young people on the squad.
(Part II of the interview will be published later this Tuesday)
Zerozero: How enjoyable was it to reach two rounds to go with the maintenance objective already achieved?
Rafael Assis: It was something very pleasant. I arrived at Trofense at a time when the club had lost three points due to administrative problems related to the previous management and things were not as they should be. I arrived together with the new presidency and the new technical team and the objective has always been maintenance. We, inside, wanted much more than that and we were able to go further, but it was not possible. However, we are very happy to have managed to maintain the club, which is currently being rescued. We feel that the connection with the fans and the city is appearing again and that for us, the players, is spectacular.
ZZ: What led you to accept Trofense’s proposal? The truth is that it was the first time he competed in a non-professional championship in Portugal…
FROG: This was something that came up at the last minute. I had just had a really good time in Bahrain and then came on vacation, together with my family. Meanwhile, my wife and I sent our son to school and I didn’t want to be away from them. She said she didn’t want to go back there and that the ideal would be for me to stay, but if that didn’t happen I would go back and she would stay with the boy. However, I spoke to my agent and explained that I wanted to stay close to my family, here in Portugal. Clubs in the higher divisions already had closed squads and at that time my club in Bahrain was already putting pressure on me to renew. Meanwhile, manager Nuno Manta Santos spoke to me, told me that he was about to sign for Trofense and told me that he really wanted to count on me.
I was happy with the way the coach got in touch with me, and that later also passed on to the presidency. From the moment I saw everyone’s desire to count on me, I didn’t think twice. They explained to me the problems the club was going through, but it was another challenge ahead of me. Fortunately, we managed to keep the club in League 3. Many people, as a result of the club’s problems, considered us the biggest candidates for relegation. Getting this maintenance was like a title for us.
ZZ: Assis arrives at Trofense shortly after a major management change (the club had purchased SAD’s shares days before being introduced). How do you describe the conditions you encountered and the management’s work?
FROG: It was something I hadn’t experienced yet. I arrived at a time of big changes at the club, but everyone was honest with me from day one. They told me that the situation was very difficult, but the players on the squad that I spoke to before signing told me that the new management was already resolving the outstanding situations. Due to everyone’s sincerity, I decided to accept the invitation. A spectacular job has been done and I’m sure that Trofense will be where they need to be, in the elite, in the meantime.
ZZ: What is your assessment of this season at Trofa on a more individual level? And how do you describe Liga 3?
FROG: I’ve been talking to friends who are in the 1st League and 2nd League and what changes is the name of the competition. In competitive terms, League 3 is at a very high level. Last year, Varzim eliminated Sporting from the Portuguese Cup, at a time when they were fighting to avoid relegation to the Portuguese Championship. It only gives strength to what I said now. This is a semi-professional championship, but competitiveness is very high. Still, it is clear that the financial conditions are not the same and that the logistical conditions that some clubs in League 3 provide are not the same as those of clubs in the 1st League and 2nd League.
From an individual point of view, I was very happy with my performance throughout this season. I wasn’t expecting to have this sequence, but, fortunately, I managed to help the club, who placed great trust in me. I try to help both on and off the field, it’s incredible to go back seven months and realize how much the group has changed for the better throughout this season. In addition to achieving maintenance, we managed to do so with good quality of play. The club is happy and, if the management maintains this path, I am sure the club will get to where it needs to be.
ZZ: He is the second oldest player on the squad, just behind Diogo Viana. Do you feel the responsibility – positive – of being one of the leaders of the locker room?
Trofense ensured maintenance after victory over Canelas @FPF
FROG: Without a doubt, it is a delicious responsibility. The players on the squad have a good mentality, so they know how to listen and draw a lot from the experience of those who have played at higher levels. I often talk to younger people and they have absorbed a lot of what we say and what we do. I believe that, above all, we have to show that our attitudes on the field impact young people. They are happy, they talk to us and we, the older ones, are happy to be able to help them. When I passed SC Braga I had the opportunity to work with the Alanin Chaves I lived with the Ricardo and I got a lot of advice from them. I absorbed a lot and now I’m at the stage in my career where I try to pass it on and give back what they did for me.
ZZ: With Assis having the career he has, is there this curiosity among younger people to understand how they can reach a higher level?
FROG: There’s a lot! We have Simãozinho, André Rosa, Ousmane, Semeu, Edu, Wilson…. Young players who sit down to chat with us, especially when we arrive in the morning to have breakfast. They ask a lot about our journey until we reach the level we have reached, what we feel when we are there… This is very rewarding and I try to show them the importance of individual work and unity as a group. I believe that Trofense will do big business soon because there is a lot of value there.
