ISAI GETS HIS BIG CHANCE WITH SPORTS
ISAI Marselia is ready to make his mark in English football after moving from Holland to pursue his dream of professional football – starting at Mickleover Sports.
The 21-year-striker left Go Ahead Eagles at the end of last season and after impressing in a game back in May, Sports boss John McGrath invited him to pre-season.
Marselia impressed enough to get a contract and now he wants to show off the talent that has seen him captain the Curacao U20 national side and top the goalscoring charts in the Caribbean World Cup qualifiers as well as win a titles with Go Ahead Eagles’ U15, U17 and U19 teams.
And the 6ft goalscorer hopes Non-League football can give him the platform to succeed.
“I came here for a game in May and played really well,” Marselia told The NLP. John McGrath said to come in for pre-season and after a few weeks they gave me a contract.
“It’s different of course from Holland and I’ve lived in Curacao as well, but I’m adapting well. It’s not a big, big step.
“The football is a bit more direct, a lot of duels, but we had a good pre-season. We won almost all of our matches, I scored a few goals so it was good.
“But, of course, now it is different. When the season starts that’s what it is really all about where people will play for their lives.
“By coming here I can get adapted to men’s football, English football and learn a lot. Then if you do well you can move up. In Holland, if you go to Non-League the chances are so small that you can come up again.
“I could have stayed in Holland and played for another pro U23 team but my agent Prince said I should get men’s football now.
“As I said, people want to die to win. I see tackles and think, ‘There’s no way I’m going to stick my foot in there,’ but you have to! It’s a learning process. I’m working on becoming stronger and fitter. It will do me good.”
Marselia made his debut from the bench in Tuesday’s NPL Premier defeat to Gainsborough Trinity.
He knows his first task is to become a first team regular but he has the perfect mentors at the club who know what it takes to be successful at these levels and higher up.
Ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison plays for the club, along with former Derby County and Crawley Town defender/midfielder Pablo Mills.
“Pablo Mills, Clinton Morrison, John McGrath – they all help me a lot,” Marselia said. “That’s the good thing about Mickleover as well. They know the ins and outs, they can teach me the things that will improve my game.
“I’m enjoying it, it’s a good club – I still have to understand the English humour sometimes! It’s a bit different but I’ll get there, I’ll get there.
“I need to get myself in the starting line-up at first, get some goals and see where it takes me.”