Panaji:

Life is about to get a lot depressing for Sahil Tavora . It’s freezing in Portugal at the moment and the winters can really make life difficult for anyone, leave alone a Goan.He has to grin and bear that; he’s opted for this life and must go through the grind. When Christmas comes next month, it might be a lonely one for him. There is a 10-day break in the Portuguese league but the midfielder doesn’t really know if he would be allowed a short break to celebrate Christmas with his family in Goa.“Even if I cannot come to Goa, I won’t have any regrets. I knew what I was getting into when I signed for GDSC Alvarenga. I knew of the sacrifices I would have to make. I am ready to go through this,” said Tavora.When most Indian footballers don’t look beyond the glamour and perceived riches of the Indian Super League (ISL), Tavora, 23, has chosen the road less travelled. If he wanted, the former FC Goa and Dempo midfielder could have settled for a comfortable life in Goa, or with any ISL franchise. There were options with I-League teams too, and it’s not all that bad – judging from the attention. Yet, Tavora chose the relatively unknown world of Portuguese football “This is the third-tier of Portuguese football. Matches are not like what you see in the ISL but I am assured of game time here; there are 34 league matches and a cup competition. I’ve always dreamt of playing in Europe and had to make a beginning somewhere,” said Tavora, who helped Goa to a gold medal at the Lusofonia Games 2014.Grupo Desportivo Santa Cruz de Alvarenga or GDSC Alvarenga plays in the third division of Portuguese football. Not many flock for home matches here; some local rivalries get the village all excited, but many games are played in anonymity. That hardly bothers Tavora, or the 12 other foreign players – all Brazilians – all of whom are looking to grab attention and move to the next stage.“A lot of players from this club keep moving up the rank. We have a lot of young Brazilian players, and training with them, besides the competition in the league, is bound to help. If I can climb the ranks gradually, half my battle would have been won,” he said.For now, neither Tavora nor his team has set the league on fire. The energetic midfielder, who scored one of the most memorable goals from a long-ranger with FC Goa in 2016 and did duty for Mumbai City FC last season, has started nine of the 10 matches so far, and should be an automatic starter for the next league clash on Sunday. He’s scored a goal and has an assist too. There is hope.“Adjusting to the league, players and the new surroundings has taken some time. But it helps that I speak Portuguese, so it’s easier to communicate with the coach and players. I’ve had Brazilian players at Goa and Mumbai. My Portuguese has been put to use,” jokes Tavora.Tavora — who has had a training stint in Brazil — admits he feels lonely many times. There are not too many villagers around, and as the winter sets in, it’s going to be more depressing.“Away from my family and friends, I feel lonely, particularly in the winter. The sun sets at five and it gets dark so soon. It’s a challenge but I always remind myself of why I landed here in the first place. Why I chose to make this sacrifice,” said Tavora.As winter sets in and Tavora’s hands get numb in training, he soldiers on. He knows this will pass, and hopefully at the end of the season, there will be sunshine in his life.