BEYOND THE GAME

By BRIAN YALUNG

Shane Neil Clemente is one of those Filipino footballers who aspired to make it big in the football scene
but never got the chance.

The 21-year-old from Malabon City would however not be denied, takin his act to the United Arab
Emirates to continue his dream of playing the game he loves to the world stage.

Shane Clemente in action in Dubai. [Photo credit: Alex Fajardo]

That gamble has now paid off.

Clemente, who moved to the UAE at the age of 19 years old, got the break he wanted after he was
called to join Spanish football team, Club Deportivo Llosetense.

Speaking exclusive to this writer, Clemente detailed his journey and narrated how he grew to love the
game after watching his elder brothers.

“Nag-umpisa lang po ako sa kalye po. Na-curious ako sa brother ko who is avid football fan. He is an avid
football fan and he supported the Azkals,” the 21 year old started.

It was when Shane was only 8 years old that he his curiousity led him to ask his elder brother about the
game.

“Tinanong ko sa kuya ko, ‘Kuya, paano po ba laruin yan? Tara laro tayo sa labas.’ Tapos dun na ako
nagkaron ng interest na parang maganda itong sport na ito, parang gusto kong subukan,” Clemente
recalled.

Standing just 5-foot-4, Shane added how he marveled at some football players who did not have the
height but were pretty good handling the ball.

“Sinubukan ko po sa kalye. Pinagtatawanan ako ng mga kaibigan ko noong inaaya ko sila maglaro ng
football kahit di kami marunong. Hindi kami marunong lahat, we just tried the sport,” Shane said.

Clemente shared how he attended several tryouts with universities but ended up getting rejected a lot
of times. When asked on why he was passed up, the 21-year-old said he was clueless as to why.

“I’m not sure because it’s their decision. Pero lagi ko naman sinasabi sa sarili ko na I’m doing my best
when it comes to tryouts,” he explained. “I did my best pero masakit din sa akin na di ako nakuha.
Maybe there is something better meant for me. Naiintindihan ko naman.”

With his luck wading, Shane reached the point of giving up on any chance to play for any local club. Then
the idea of heading to the Middle East cropped up, something sparked when one of his brothers, Bryan
Clemente, was headed to the UAE in 2017.

“May isa pa ako kuya na nagwo-work sa Dubai. Before he left the Philippines to go to Dubai, I was
already asking him to bring me there because I know that football is good in the Middle East. Kasi when
you hear Middle East, passionate mga tao diyan when it comes to football,” Shane said.

Shane Clemente continued to try his luck on local soil until 2022 but still he was rejected. It was at this
point when he told himself that it was time to move on.

“I tried a club sa Pilipinas pero hindi na naman ako nakuha. So sabi ko sa sarili ko, it was time to move
on. Kumbaga, kalas na ako ditto. I need to find new opportunities sa ibang bansa.

When he got the chance to go to Dubai, Shane needed to put himself in reset. He had to start from
scratch once more by being a student again of the game.

It came to a point where he got an opportunity to play for a UAE second division team, Al Ittifaq Football
Club.

“I had a trial there and kinuha nila ako as their fullback. I got selected and played a lot of games. I put up
my highlights on social media para ma-market ko sarili ko as a player. Kumakausap din ako ng mga
connections, mga agents pero ganon din. Hindi rin nila tinatanggap ang mga email ko,” he said.

“Pero may isang agent na tumanggap sa akin. He was really good. Siya yung nagdala sa akin sa Spain,
dahilan kung bakit andito ako ngayon,” Shade added.

Shane is now gearing up for this grand opportunity as he starts to train with Club Deportivo Llosetense
that is set to see action in the Tercera Division, a fourth tier of the Spanish football league system.