We meet Ryan José and learn of his ‘dream job’ working for Sporting Clube Farense and of his passion for life, family and God.
Ryan José met his future wife when he was just four years old. Their lifelong relationship overcame the not inconsiderable hurdle of, at times, being separated by the Atlantic Ocean and more than 11,000km. It’s a remarkable story as is Ryan’s achievement in now working for the football team he’s supported all of his life, the Faro-based Sporting Clube Farense.
Ryan was born in South Africa to Portuguese parents who are originally from Faro, as are his grandparents. It was eight years ago, at the age of 30 that he left Johannesburg and headed to Faro. It was a major move and a life-changing one because it reunited him with his childhood sweetheart and soon-to-be wife, Nicole.
It was at the tender age of eight that Ryan wrote a letter to Nicole saying that one day they would marry. The possibility of that happening seemed to diminish when Nicole and her family left South Africa to return to Faro. As they say, however, love always finds a way. In the following years, the families kept in touch and despite the distance, Ryan and Nicole’s relationship blossomed, aided as it was by Ryan and his family frequently returning to Portugal to see extended family and to holiday.
At one point, Nicole went to live in South Africa but struggled to settle in a country that had changed so much since she had left, leading her to return to Portugal. They lost contact for a little while, but when Ryan was holidaying here, they reunited. It was time for Ryan to return and start a new life with Nicole. Was all this written in the stars? Quite possibly. On the day of their wedding, Nicole read out the letter that the eight-year-old Ryan had written to her. She had kept it all this time. It had meant so much to both of them.
It’s Ryan’s faith, family and upbringing (he attended the prestigious Jeppe High School for Boys, Johannesburg’s oldest public school) that shapes his outlook on life. He and his family – which now includes two young daughters – attend the Loulé-based International Evangelical Church of the Algarve. As he told me. “Everything I have in life is due to God.” This includes his job with Sporting Clube Farense, who are currently the only Algarve-based football team in the top tier of Portuguese football and competing against the likes of Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon.
It’s a job that Ryan loves and stretches way beyond the parameters of his notional job title and job description. Ryan is the man who makes things happen and, I know first hand, is always friendly and professional when dealing with colleagues and supporters alike. His responsibilities include ticketing, accounting, membership fees, gate receipts, the provision of training equipment and match shirts, gate access and staffing and management of the club shop. And this is not just for the high profile senior football team, but for all teams run by the club, such as the numerous junior teams and the other teams that are part of the Farense family, including futsal and basketball, plus many others.
For Ryan, a lifelong Farense supporter, it’s the dream job and one that gives him the opportunity to do something for the city that means so much to him and his family. As he told me, however, there is a hidden downside. “One thing people probably wouldn’t know is that I am so busy when we are playing at home that I hardly ever get to watch the game! It’s a small sacrifice, though, for doing a job I love so much.
It was a pleasure speaking with Ryan. He has a unique job here in the Algarve and an interesting backstory, shaped as it is by his faith, family and his love of Farense.
