A VIDEO posted by Google about teenager Alberto Balde’s time at Portadown Youth Football Club has been viewed more than 1.2 million times.
Alberto came to the Co Armagh town with his mother in 2013 when she moved from Spain for work.
He was passionate about football but found it difficult to get involved with the local community due to the language barrier.
“When my mum moved her for work, I was a little scared at first. I really wanted to play football, but I didn’t speak any English at all,” he said.
Portadown Youth coaches Gary Magee and Glen Traynor came up with the idea of using Google Translate to reach out to Alberto, as well as Portugeuse teen Taylor Simoes.
Speaking to the Portadown Times in January 2014 , Gary Magee said that the translation service was ‘a real asset’ in helping Alberto and Taylor settle in with the squad.
“We have a squad of 16 this season and Alberto and Taylor really bring plenty to the group, as players and boys," he said.
"Technically both would be very good and we play passing football as a squad so that helped speed up the adjustment process."
“However, there would certainly be times when I needed to pass on specifics and Google Translate helped bridge the gap."
Google heard about the story and sent a film crew to meet Alberto, his coaches and his friends. They published the video in October and it was later aired on Sky Sports during a match between Liverpool and Southampton and the Manchester derby that same day.
In a blog post, Google said that they were drawn to Alberto’s story because what Gary and Glen did “was so much bigger than translating sentences from one language into another.”
“They didn’t just find a way to coach Alberto in football – they found a way to invite someone who was on the outside into their community.”
The video has also been shared online by Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and American football legend Landon Donovan.
Tim Howard tweeted the video saying “No matter what language you speak, futbol is football is soccer.”
No matter what language you speak, futbol is football is soccer. Glad to join @Google to share this https://t.co/R5LBVfumPx #vamosalberto
— tim howard (@TimHowardGK) October 26, 2015While Donovan posted the video on Facebook, saying that it was "proof that soccer & tech can help break down barriers."
Gary Magee said that it was “amazing to think the film has reached so many.”
“Our social media accounts basically went into meltdown after the Sky Sports coverage and it was the latest surreal moment in the experience.”
“The support from everyone has been wonderful and this is a massive boost for the whole town as well as the club.”
Alberto's career has blossomed at Portadown Youth Football Club and he recently represented Everton FC at a tournament in Poland.
Along with Portadown team mate Barney McKeown, Alberto helped Everton to victory as leading goalscorer in the tournament.
Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Under15s National league player Barney McKeown and Under14s player... Posted by Portadown FC Youth on Wednesday, August 19, 2015
