Amond Off The Mark For Pacos
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With the last of the confetti just about cleared and the champagne most certainly emptied, the celebrations following Sligo Rovers’ FAI Cup final victory have drawn to a close. Fans of the Bit O’ Red are sure to still be revelling in their momentous penalty shoot-out win over Shamrock Rovers, but one of their most recent stars has recently experienced some cup joy of his own.
Padraig Amond opened his account for new club Pacos de Ferreira 12 days ago, as they edged out Leixoes 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the next round of the Bwin Cup (Portugal’s League Cup). Having been in Iberia for three months now, Amond is acclimatising well to his new surroundings.
“It’s been very good so far. I’m enjoying it an awful lot. I’d like to play a lot more than what I am at the minute but that comes with trying to adapt to the game. The football over here is a lot better than what it was back in Ireland. But it’s been fantastic so far and I’m really enjoying it,” said the 22-year-old.
Amond has played sparingly, just one start thus far, as he adjusts to a new style of football. But the man who was the Airtricity League’s leading scorer at the time of his departure is very positive about the change in philosophy.
“Here there’s more emphasis on your skill, your touch and your passing whereas back home it’s not about that, it’s about being intense, being in people’s faces. It’s a good thing for me to try and adapt to.”
As for the change in culture, Amond believes he’s beginning to settle in, despite the challenge of learning a new language. He’s also enjoying the slightly more familiar weather of late.
“The lads have a laugh at me in training, they think it’s cold and I’m standing there in shorts and a T-shirt and I think it’s warm. The first day I arrived here it was 38 degrees, having left Ireland at three o’clock in the morning where it was minus three. But I’ve slowly got used to the temperature and it’s starting to rain now, so it’s getting more like my weather from back home in Ireland!”
Amond has his work cut out to win a starting place for his new side, with the highly-regarded Mario Rondon and Nelson Oliveira amongst 11 forwards on the books at Pacos. A good cup run could provide the platform for Amond to display his skills to an unfamiliar audience, and having seen his former side’s run to cup glory, perhaps it would be a fitting way to do it.
With thanks to PortuGOAL.net and Tom Kundert.
Padraig Amond opened his account for new club Pacos de Ferreira 12 days ago, as they edged out Leixoes 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the next round of the Bwin Cup (Portugal’s League Cup). Having been in Iberia for three months now, Amond is acclimatising well to his new surroundings.
“It’s been very good so far. I’m enjoying it an awful lot. I’d like to play a lot more than what I am at the minute but that comes with trying to adapt to the game. The football over here is a lot better than what it was back in Ireland. But it’s been fantastic so far and I’m really enjoying it,” said the 22-year-old.
Amond has played sparingly, just one start thus far, as he adjusts to a new style of football. But the man who was the Airtricity League’s leading scorer at the time of his departure is very positive about the change in philosophy.
“Here there’s more emphasis on your skill, your touch and your passing whereas back home it’s not about that, it’s about being intense, being in people’s faces. It’s a good thing for me to try and adapt to.”
As for the change in culture, Amond believes he’s beginning to settle in, despite the challenge of learning a new language. He’s also enjoying the slightly more familiar weather of late.
“The lads have a laugh at me in training, they think it’s cold and I’m standing there in shorts and a T-shirt and I think it’s warm. The first day I arrived here it was 38 degrees, having left Ireland at three o’clock in the morning where it was minus three. But I’ve slowly got used to the temperature and it’s starting to rain now, so it’s getting more like my weather from back home in Ireland!”
Amond has his work cut out to win a starting place for his new side, with the highly-regarded Mario Rondon and Nelson Oliveira amongst 11 forwards on the books at Pacos. A good cup run could provide the platform for Amond to display his skills to an unfamiliar audience, and having seen his former side’s run to cup glory, perhaps it would be a fitting way to do it.
With thanks to PortuGOAL.net and Tom Kundert.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile