EUSA Insider:
Francisco Gomez
Age: 26
Place of Birth: Almeria, Spain
University: University of Almeria (ESP)
Published: 16 February 2018
Briefly describe how and why did you get involved in football?
It is difficult to explain the reasons, because before having a reason I was playing football, but what is easy to say why I am still in it, for the values, discipline and enriching experiences. Playing on a European level and being able to meet people from other countries, learn their cultures or customs, and establish friendship with players from other teams.
"Porto as an experience was indescribable"
What do you study? How do you balance your study, trainings and competitions?
I have just finished the Degree in Primary Education. Sometimes it is difficult to combine everything but, it is a matter of organizing time, and that your university supports you as the University of Almeria does for me. It is also worth the sacrifice because the reward is double, it makes you stronger at the time of facing difficult situations because you have been able to deal with them before.
Tell us about your experience of the European Universities Championships 2017. Is this your first time at an EUSA event?
Answering the later first, no, it is not my first EUSA event; including Porto, I had the great luck of being able to play five of them, including Almeria, Rotterdam, Osijek, and Zagreb last year. Porto as an experience was indescribable; it is worth all the sacrifice that all my teammates made, as well as the coaches.
"Everything is very professional, well organized, everything is much easier when the event communication is good."
The ten days or so you spend away from home, learning different ways of living and living with your teammates, as well as rivals who also become acquaintances. Everything is very professional, well organized, everything is much easier when the event communication is good.
In 2018 the European Universities Games 2018 will take place in Coimbra, Portugal, do you hope to be there? Why do you think university sport events are important?
Unfortunately I will not be there since I finished my studies last year, Porto being my last championship with the University of Almería. I wish I could attend in another way and with another role because as I said before it has a great magnitude since in Coimbra will have much more than just football, all sports go and it is amazing to be able to be part of that.
"Represent your university with pride, good performances, not only in the results but also with your behaviour."
European Univeristies Games are important because the organizers give everything they have at their disposal so that nothing is ever missing; it appears on social networks, television or the press which is a great achievement for student athletes.
This is your chance! What is your message to European students like yourself?
Above all, enjoy what they do, compete until the final whistle, squeeze as much time as they can to get to know the city, the people, the experiences of other players. Stay healthy, since in the end you are there to compete, but be alive during your stay because you may only play it once, and you will tell everyone about this experience. Represent your university with pride, good performances, not only in the results but also with your behaviour.
EUSA would like to congratulate Francisco on winning the Best Player Award in Porto,
we wish you good luck in life after univeristy, and we hope to see you at our
future events (this time off the football field!)
