New Finn Harps signing Bernardo Monteiro wants a positive start at Finn Park

Finn Harps new signing Bernardo Monteiro is looking to make a good start on home soil on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) as the Harps host UCD at Finn Park.

Monteiro joined up with the team at the beginning of January and got good minutes in the five friendlies the Harps had over pre-season and the Portuguese midfielder has settled well.

“It has been amazing, the guys welcomed us in with open arms, and they’re all really nice,” Monteiro said at Monday’s press launch.

“We had the preseason trip to England, so we got to spend more time with the team and got to know each other better so it has been great so far.

“We got to play against good teams but it was important for building that chemistry. We had a great time and it’s important to know the people you’re playing with, as it makes you want to go the extra yard for them.

“It was different playing here against Sligo and Galway, Galway are a very physical team and Sligo also. 

“Then you play the Under-23s at Bolton and Wigan, it’s different, but it has been a good experience because in the league we will have that.

“Some teams are going to be more physical and other teams want to play on the ground more and we need to be prepared for both.”

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Monteiro began his career with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Estoril in the academy before he moved from home at just 17 to Dutch second division team Almere City, before moving to current Cypriot champions Pafos for a short spell.

Another spell back in Portugal with third Division side Sintrense followed, before he moved to America.

Studying Sports Management in Miami, he spent four years studying Stateside and played with USL League One side Lexington SC before coming back across the water.

“I have always wanted to play professionally, and it has happened for me, so I’m grateful for that. Football is a big part of my life, it’s not everything for me, but it has dictated the places that I have been.

“It has given me opportunities where, if I wasn’t a footballer, I may not have got, going to different countries and seeing new places, and it’s brought me here now, which I’m really excited about.

“I started doing my own private football coaching business that I am also looking to bring here.

“Football is obviously my focus, but I also felt it was important to get a degree and get myself ready for the next stage of my life after football.”

It’s a first time living in Ireland for the 26-year-old, but other than the difference in climates, he has enjoyed the move so far, living in Ballybofey.

“We hang out a lot around the house and go to the gym together. The good thing about Ballybofey is that everything is close by, so we pretty much walk everywhere, but hopefully we can get nicer weather!

“But I like that people have been really welcoming to me, Daniel (De Lacerda) and the other guys. When we’re walking on the street, people will come up to you and recognise you. We can tell that Finn Harps has a lot of support from the people that live here, and it’s nice to feel that love, which we want to give back with results.”

Monteiro made his debut on Friday night against Athlone Town, starting in the 2-1 loss in Lissywollen.

The Harps took the lead after just eight minutes with a debut goal from Temi Ajibola, but that was soon cancelled out by Peter Grogan’s header.

And an own goal from Idir Zerrouk made it 2-1 to the hosts just after the hour mark, which is how the scoring stayed.

The Portuguese got 67 minutes under his belt and will be hoping to make his home debut on Friday night against UCD.

Buncrana man Willie O’Connor is still in charge of the Students, who came from behind at home to Kerry to win 2-1.

A fourth-place finish for the Belfield side last year saw them finish in the play-offs, where they lost out to Bray Wanderers, and they will have aspirations of a top-half finish once again this year.

“It was a mix of emotions. It was my first official game for the club, so it’s a milestone to have that first experience, but at the end of the day, we didn’t win, and we’re not happy with that.

“There are things we need to improve on as a team, and that I need to improve on individually as well, but that is in the past. We’ve looked at the game and seen what we can do better, and we're preparing now for Friday night.

“Athlone were definitely a physical team, but they also had good players. They had a good mix, but I also feel we have that as well. We have the physicality and the technical ability, and it’s just about bringing those together and starting to win games.

“First impressions last, and we want to give a good one to the fans on Friday night, and we want to win on Friday and start well in our house. Getting the three points is the most important thing.”