The first team players, Celso Borges and Pedro Mosquera, and Deportivo Abanca A player, María Gordo Perdiguero ‘Perdi’, had a meeting with all the Academy’s teams in Abegondo this Thursday.

Except for our Under-11 team who did not train that day, all our other nine teams, from our Under -9s to our Under-19s, were present.

Celso Borges, who reached the quarter-finals in the last World Cup and who has played 100 international games with Costa Rica, told his story of personal sacrifice and how to overcome one's own limits to our Under-19, Under-18 and Under-16 teams: “I know I’m not the best at this, but I strive every day as if I were”. He also told the three eldest teams to focus on “what depends on oneself”.

The international ‘Tico’ midfielder has played 75 games in first division for RC Deportivo, but he is also studying the Football Coach Level 2 course in RC Deportivo’s Football Institute.

Pedro Mosquera, who is also studying the same course as Borges as well as studying Law at the Camilo José Cela University, spoke to our Under-15, Under-14 and Under-13 teams. He urged them to make the most of the opportunity they have of being in a ‘Primera División’ Academy in the city, as he had to leave his family and city behind to have the same opportunity when he was only 12 years old.

The midfielder from A Coruña who has played 124 games in Spain’s top-flight competition, reminded the Deportivista kids that they represent the Club at all times; that they must set an example on and off the pitch, and looking for someone or something else to blame when things don’t go well does not take anyone down the correct path: “If you don’t play, do your best to improve and gain minutes. Neither the coach nor the teammate playing in your place are to blame”.

Perdi spoke to the Under-12, Under-10, and Under-9 teams. The Deportivo Abanca A defender, who is a psychologist and is currently studying a Master's degree in Sports Psychology, explained to the youngest blue-and-white players the importance of not giving up and told them how her teammates have supported her throughout the season when she was badly injured twice.

They also learned how a girl whose teammates did not pass the ball to her in the first two games, became the player to take all the free-kicks, all the corners, and become an indisputable player in a boys’ team.

After their talks, Borges, Mosquera and Perdi answered all kinds of questions about their journey from amateur to elite football.