Guinea Bissau Teenager Fernades Promoted To Senior Sporting Club De Portugal Squad

Playing in Europe or any top league in the world is every footballer’s dream, but few do get the chance to showcase their talent.

Perhaps the difference in the football environment and facilities can explain why it is comparatively easier for a player who is brought up in Europe to play in Europe’s top-ranked clubs.

Like the Spanish Anssumane Fati who has Guinea-Bissau roots and now plays for Barcelona, another youngster, Joelson Fernades is coming through the ranks of one of the biggest football clubs in the world — Portugal’s Sporting Club de Portugal.

Born in Lisbon, Fernades has been in the Sporting Lisbon’s Under 23 side from July 2019. Before signing a two-year contract with the U-23, the young talent had been playing for the club’s U-17 until he was promoted.

After hard work and determination the Guinea-Bissau striker Fernades, who scored eight goals and registered a further eight assists in 22 appearances during the first half of the season, has been promoted to the senior side.

Guinea Bissau national team head coach Baciro Cande has hailed the 16-year-old after making the move to the senior squad of the 18-time Primeira Liga champions.

The Portugal-trained gaffer noted success in football comes from setting well-managed structures like the ones that have seen Fernades’ steady rise.

“It’s all about football structures and youth development. I’m happy to learn Fernades has joined Sporting Club de Portugal and that is a big plus for us because playing for SCP senior team shows that Fernades is a big player.

“There is talent in Guinea Bissau but we do not have that serious development structures from the lower stages. The success stories of Fati and Fernades explain it all,” the retired defender added.

According to Tvi-24, Fernades is expected to be part of Sporting de Lisbon squad that will take on Braga in a Spanish League Cup fixture set to be played on Tuesday at Estadio de Municipal de Barga on Tuesday night.