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Edinho Junior, the Portuguese striker from Blackburn Rovers, paid tribute to former teammate Nuno Gomes for harnessing his skills. The striker currently on loan with the I-league club Shillong Lajong FC for their last six games said, “My first coach was my father. He taught me the basics of the game since my childhood. Then I trained under a few more coaches in the clubs I signed. But after joining Blackburn Rovers, I found Nuno Gomes, one of the great Portuguese international players who turned out to be my teacher during the club’s training sessions.”
Nuno Gomes of Blackburn (R) in action with Chris Solly of Charlton during the npower Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers at The Valley on September 29, 2012 in London, England. (Getty Images)
Edinho has already struck twice in his debut in Indian football, scoring against Pune FC. On Thursday, Edinho was brilliantly marked by Mohun Bagan’s Nigerian defender Echzona in his team’s I-league away match against Mohun Bagan at Kalyani. But in spite of not being able to score against Mohun Bagan, Edinho showed his quality when in the 37th minute, he chipped the ball over a Bagan defender’s head inside the box with precious measurement and struck a calculated header that custodian Shilton Paul thwarted.
Edinho added, “I feel I have been fortunate truly as I have been getting advice from Gomes whenever I ask him for. Even while playing in India I often call Gomes and ask for technical advice. And he likes me so much that he never feels disturbed in replying my questions.” Asked about his 37th minute brilliance against Mohun Bagan, Edinho explained, “I learned the skill also from Gomes. He taught me to acquire the measurement while chipping over someone’s head during training in Blackburn Rovers.”
Edinho does not find any difference in the training style in England and in his present club Lajong FC. He was highly impressed by the quality of the ground at Kalyani Stadium. The only thing he tried to point out was the standard of supervision of the match on Thursday. He stated, “I was pulled up several times by the Bagan defenders in a faulty manner. But the referee overlooked (them). If you overlook the striker in football then the game itself will be destroyed ultimately as the spectators come to watch the strikers all over the world. And FIFA always instructs the referees to protect the strikers throughout the world.”
The 19-year-old is now setting his eyes on the under-19 Europa Cup, to be held in June. That’s because a consistent show in the junior Europa Cup might get him a call in the senior national camp. Smiling, he said, “If I can perform in the junior Europa Cup then I might get a call in the senior national camp, where I will get the opportunity to train with the senior national squad before any international tournament of the senior national team. And the World Cup in 2014 is coming up. So I have started dreaming of those invaluable training sessions where I can train with Cristiano Ronaldo.”
