Post by Gurkirat Tatla

Last year, I travelled to Rio de Janeiro to train with the youth coaches at Fluminense FC and play a full match against their academy team in Xerém. It was one of the most intense football environments I’ve been in, but it pushed me in all the right ways. The pace, the pressure, the level of talent, it all forced me to raise my game fast. During the match, I earned an assist on a through ball in behind the defence, one of those moments where everything just clicks. But what made it even more meaningful was when I was told that I am Punjabi and Sikh student-athlete to ever train or compete with Fluminense FC. That hit me hard. It felt like I was carrying more than just a number on my back, I was carrying my culture with pride. Huge thank you to Fluminense FC for opening your doors and making this experience possible. It’s something I’ll always remember, not just for what I learned on the pitch, but for what I took away off of it. More to come. 🇧🇷 #FluminenseFC #SikhRepresentation #StudentAthlete