Afonso Moreira retains the same body feint and the same gestures on the pitch that he had when he was a child and played for Lamego. José Pedro trained the Sporting Clube de Portugal winger in the lower categories of Cracks Clube de Lamego, and TSF The coach recalls that Afonso Moreira is an athlete who, when he was not on the field, liked to stand in front of the television to watch the matches of his idols, and perhaps be inspired by players like Neymar.
“From the moment you joined Cracks [Clube de Lamego] He was always accompanied by Sporting, both in summer tournaments and during the Easter holidays. Even there he differentiated himself ”, sums up the technician.
The difference was expressed in the form of each game, even in the lower categories of the formation, with several goals, dozens per season, recalls the former coach of Afonso Moreira.
“I played more forward, forward in seven-a-side football. He was a very combative player, very competitive physically, he improved a lot with his signing for Sporting. Just the other day I was with him and I saw that difference, the effect of high competition”, explains José Pedro.
Afonso Moreira conquered spaces in the lower categories of Sporting and the Portuguese team. In the 2022 European Under-17, Afonso Moreira scored four goals in five games, including a goal in the final lost to France (2-2 and 6-5 on penalties). In the sub-19, the athlete played the elite round, this March, on the left side of the attack, a position in which he also stands out in the lower ranks of Sporting, who make history in the youth league.
But, where can Afonso Moreira act in the model of Rúben Amorim? For José Pedro, the answer may lie in the position held in the squad by players like Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão or Rochinha (although they have not been filled in recent months).
“From the front, close to the striker or further to the left, I think he can play. He can also play on the right, ”explains the soccer coach about the right-handed winger.
Standing on his right foot, Afonso Moreira asked the coaches to let him express himself.
“His favorite player was Neymar and, I don’t know if you remember, but I remember, Afonso sometimes said: ‘Sir, let me play on the left like Neymar’. And there we made it easy for him from time to time”, recalls José Pedro.
Source: TSF
