Not long after my elementary school year had finished, puberty hit me quite hard to be honest. My body became very slim and tall which made my outlook quite skinny. I was 12 at that time where I had a mindset shift. I finally decided to join another football club near my hometown, called Bali Football Academy.
My mindset changed and I knew I was a different person and I was ready to change for good. I became more confident as I became better as a player. Physical appearance has also played a part as I started to do some bodyweight stuff to increase my muscle mass.
First few sessions in with the club was the time where I felt futsal is significantly different to football, especially getting used to the bounce of the ball which took time to judge the trajectory of it. I realised I was good technically but I was lacking that sharpness and fitness that are needed in bigger pitches.
By this time, I was involved both with my school futsal team and playing with my local club. It has broaden my perspective towards the game in regards to the importance of tiny details both for the mental aspect (mindset & attitude) and technical elements of the game.
As my local club has limited resources back then, we only managed to play 8 a-side football in a grass pitch on a weekly basis for friendly matches. However, it started to change towards the end of 2016 where 11-a side games became more frequent. In fairness, I was somewhat behind in terms of game experience of 11-a side football. Regardless, I was still doing my old individual training alongside team training sessions. I remember where not a single day of not touching a football with my feet be it at home or school.
A hit in the face
I did that same stuff from 2013 to 2016 and between those years there were times where I wasn’t feeling it. My mind become complacent and I sort of built a comfort zone around me. At some point, I didn’t put enough effort to train individually simply because I was comfortable with where I was at.
I was the best at my school team, became the captain of the team, other players looked up to me. Likewise, in my local club, I’ve always got picked in the starting 11 and considered as an important part of the team.
Fast forward to March 2017, a foreign coach came to see our training session and they offered the club to have the opportunity playing in a USA ID camp for university scouting in Singapore. I was stoked as I’ve never had this opportunity before. Sadly, the camp was starting soon and there was no time left to prepare.
The week after, we flew to Singapore and had our 5-days camp. It genuinely opened my eyes, the players I faced there were much sharper, faster, better on the ball. It hit at me right in the face. I thought “Damn, the training I’ve been doing is nothing. I need to train harder to get to this level if I want to progress higher”. That thought stayed in my mind since then, that there’s always other players who are better than you.
Raising the bar
I knew I need a new mindset to expand myself to reap different outcome. So, I went back home and started to create a plan for myself. A plan that I know I was able to stick to. I began to go to the gym three times a week on top of my football schedule. My body transformed into more muscular and athletic to aid my development as a player. Shout out to Become Elite for all the content he put online, they have taught me so many positive things.
Towards the end of 2017, I’ve got an offer to have a trial at a regional club in my hometown through my current coach at the local club at that time. The team called, PS Badung U-17 where they compete in a regional tournament with the possibility to play in the national stage if they win regionally. Without a doubt, I went straight in couple weeks later. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the cut after being invited for the second phase. I was obviously disappointed, but I moved on quick on to other opportunities.
In December 2017, I decided to move out from my local club as I can’t see myself sitting in my comfort zone. I joined another local team, called PSG Academy Bali. Basically, a professional team in my hometown, Bali United, had an affiliation with Paris Saint Germain back then. I knew in my mind I had to earn the spot and that’s what I did.
6 months later, in summer 2018, Bali United u19s were looking for players to compete for the U19s Youth National League. I had the opportunity to have a trial with them, however, again I fell short. I didn’t make it to the third phase. Gutted about the outcome, but I reflected on it and moved on.
Learning point
From this journey so far I learnt that mindset has an unbelievable ability to change your action which eventually reap different outcome. It is through putting yourself in uncomfortable situation where new mindset emerged. New mindset breads different outcome. Even though it hadn’t happened for me yet, I did raised my bar to a higher level. I have strived to become the best player I could possibly be and keeping my dream alive.
Click here if you haven’t checked part 1 of my youth football had gone and curious to know what football was like in developing countries.
