Fiba Europe Cup Basketball

Walking onto the pitch last weekend, I couldn’t help but think about something NorthPort’s head coach, Bonnie Tan, mentioned in a post-game presser a while back. One of his players, William Navarro, put it perfectly: “We have a chip on our shoulder na people don’t even talk about NorthPort even if we are No. 1. Underdog kami, no matter what happens. We are not satisfied here. We want more.” That mindset—playing with something to prove, even when you’re on top—is exactly what separates good footballers from great ones. And honestly, it’s something I’ve carried with me since my early days in Sunday league matches, back when I thought scoring a hat-trick was the peak of football brilliance. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Let’s rewind a bit. I remember my first season playing competitively—I was fast, I could dribble, but my decision-making was all over the place. Our coach used to say, “It’s not about how many goals you score; it’s about how you read the game.” At the time, I shrugged it off. But over the years, I’ve realized he was right. Football isn’t just physical; it’s deeply psychological. Navarro’s quote captures that underdog spirit—the idea that no matter your ranking, you train and play like you’re chasing, not leading. That mentality fuels discipline, and discipline is what turns raw talent into consistent performance. In my own experience, adopting that mindset helped me improve my pass completion rate from around 65% to nearly 82% in just one season. Sure, some of those numbers might be rough estimates, but the progress was real.

Now, if you’re looking for actionable advice, let’s dive into some Evra soccer tips and strategies for improving your game today. First, focus on your first touch. I can’t stress this enough—so many players waste opportunities because their control lets them down. Spend 15 minutes before each practice just receiving passes under pressure. Use both feet, different surfaces—inside, outside, even your chest. When I started doing this regularly, my confidence in tight spaces shot up. Second, watch game footage. Not just highlights, but full matches. Break down how players like Kevin De Bruyne find space or how fullbacks like João Cancelo overlap. Navarro’s point about wanting more isn’t just about effort; it’s about studying, learning, and applying those lessons on the pitch. I’ve seen players in my local league jump two divisions just by analyzing their own gameplay weekly.

Another thing—fitness isn’t optional. I made the mistake early on of thinking technical skill alone would carry me. Wrong. Modern football demands endurance. In a typical 90-minute match, top midfielders cover between 10 to 13 kilometers. If you’re gassing out at 70 minutes, you’re a liability. Incorporate interval training: sprints, jogs, lateral movements. And don’t skip strength work. Core stability, in particular, changed my game. It helped me shield the ball better and reduced my injury rate by what felt like 40%—though I’ll admit, I didn’t track it with a sports scientist. Still, the difference was night and day.

But here’s where Navarro’s words really hit home for me. That “chip on the shoulder” attitude isn’t just for teams; it’s for individuals too. I’ve played with guys who had all the skill but no fire, and they plateaued fast. Meanwhile, the ones who played like they were always proving something—they kept evolving. Take set-pieces, for example. Most amateur players treat corners and free-kicks as afterthoughts. But if you spend extra time practicing deliveries—aiming for specific zones, varying pace and spin—you become a weapon. I started dedicating 20 minutes after training to free-kicks, and by the end of the season, I’d assisted 7 goals from dead-ball situations. It’s those small, consistent efforts that add up.

Of course, not everyone agrees. I’ve had teammates argue that overthinking kills instinct. And yeah, there’s truth to that—football should be fun, fluid. But balance is key. You can’t just rely on talent alone, especially when opponents are getting smarter and fitter. Navarro’s NorthPort squad, even at the top, refuses to get comfortable. That’s a lesson I’ve taken to heart. Whether it’s tweaking my diet—cutting down on sugar, increasing protein intake—or using tools like tactical boards to visualize formations, the pursuit of improvement never stops. And honestly, that’s what makes the game so rewarding. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being better than you were yesterday.

So, as you lace up your boots for your next session or match, remember Navarro’s defiance. Play with that edge. Work on the details—the first touch, the fitness, the mental resilience. Because in football, as in life, satisfaction is the enemy of growth. Keep that underdog spirit alive, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one people start talking about.