Reinildo has been speaking about his start to life with Sunderland

Sunderland full-back Reinildo Mandava has spoken of his pride at representing the club, as well as opening up on his “difficult” journey to the Premier League.

The defender signed for the Black Cats on a free transfer this summer, and has wasted little time in establishing himself as a key component of Regis Le Bris’ high-flying side. In another interesting quirk, he has also become the first player from Mozambique to feature in the English top flight.

And in a fresh interview with the club’s official website, the 31-year-old has reflected on his upbringing and how it shaped him into footballer that he is today.

What has Sunderland defender Reinildo Mandava said?

Speaking about his switch to the Premier League, Reinildo said: “I feel very proud of myself and the journey I’ve made to be here today because it was not easy. My life was very difficult.

“I don’t know if many people know this but I was born into a poor family so I made everything for myself. I had to start growing up as a kid. When I was kid, I tried to give my best to have something to give to my family. I lost my father when I was a kid. Before he died, he watched me play once and afterwards he sat with me and said, ‘If you keep going like this, you will be a big player’. In that moment, I started to believe. To be here today, a lot of things have happened.”

On the importance of having his family around him, he continued: “One person who is always with me is my wife. She also said she believed in me. When things haven’t been going well, she said ‘I believe in you, you will be there’. She gave me something more.”

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He continued: “One of the things that makes me proud is the feeling of giving a chance for the people of my country” he continued. “For every kid in the world and for the people of my country especially, to believe anything is possible. It doesn’t matter where you come from. If you work towards it, you can be there. They might go on to believe that they can do even more. They might look at me and think that it is possible to be there. That’s been the idea from the first time I played football.”

Reinildo reserved high praise for Sunderland’s support too, stating: “I can talk about the fans because they are amazing. They give us so much power. In away games like the Chelsea game, we are looking at them and there are so many in the away end. They give you the power to want to say ‘yes’.

“I know it’s hard when you don’t win the game or you lose, that’s normal. You want to give your best to give them three points. For us on the pitch, that’s why we give everything. This weekend [against Bournemouth], we need that feeling again. I don’t know one person in this team that isn’t fighting for a win.”

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