Ruben Martins’s life in France

Interview

Ruben Martins comes from Alenquer where he completed his whole training, except for a junior season with the Sporting CP, before coming back to S Alenquer B where he stayed until the 2012-2013 season.

Ruben Martins couldn’t resist the invitation of Noisy-le-Grand, a club in the surroundings of Paris, France, playing in the French First Division. One more Portuguese player leaving his home country, trying to improve the good reputation of Portugal’s rink hockey.

For his 3rd season in Noisy-le-Grand, Ruben Martins is one of the key-players of the team, best scorer with 9 goals and 5th scorer at the National 1 Championship, the main event in France. We wanted to know more about the daily life of the 24-years-old in France.

How do you like your adventure in foreign lands, after three seasons?

This adventure is better than expected, it’s probably the greatest experience I’ve had so far. Each season has its own story, with lots of moments that helped me get more experience, both on personal and professional levels. No doubt that the two highlights so far since I’ve arrived in France are the final we lost on a golden goal, and the CERS Cup round we lost by one point. On the personal level, it was a radical change compared to my life in Portugal, having to rely on myself, my parents not being around, having a job — since in Portugal I was only a student, not forgetting the stress of daily life in Paris.

What were your biggest difficulties in France?

The biggest difficulty I met was the language barrier. When I arrived in France, I didn’t even know how to say ‘hello’ or ‘thank you’. It was also the way of life, the weather, and even some things specific to hockey that were different. And to be honest, the mentality here is very different from Portugal.

What are the main differences between Portuguese and French rink hockey?

The main difference between Portugal and France, it’s the speed of the game itself, here everything is more tactical, less aggressive. In France, the game is slower, more tactical, with more long-distance shots. There’s also a difference of mentality because in Portugal hockey is a non-stop activity, whereas here, for example, during the holidays, there are several clubs that stop straining, because their players are on holidays. It’s only details, but that’s what makes the difference between Portugal and France and, for me, one of the biggest dampers, it’s the referees. No offense but I think that the referring level in France is lower than in Portugal. I had the luck and pleasure of meeting my girlfriend, who is French and who plays hockey too, and she’s probably the best thing that has happened to me since I’m here. I also have several friends on whom I can count. Moreover, I’m lucky to have a job, a home, and hockey. I think that France may very well be my present and my future.

As for sport, how does the season go?

Personally, my season goes better than expected, I’m in the Top-5 scorers of the championship, and I managed to finish the 2015 season with only two goalless games. I’m starting to make a name for myself and getting more play time. As a team, we are well organized, with the CERS Cup as our main objective. Our second leg will be tough probably, but I think that we work well to earn the maximum points we can.

What do you do for a job?

I already have three professional trainings: two specific to hockey and one as a sports instructor. I work for the Regional Committee of the Île-de-France department and my job is to run classes in schools and clubs, including coaching in Noisy, and in a smaller 3rd-division club where I’m in charge of all levels and the senior team. I can say that I’m a lucky man because I had the opportunity to come to France and get my dream job.

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By Plurisports.com
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