Jerson Monteiro is in his first year for the Chicago Fire but is already making an impact. Monteiro has played in five games so far, one start, and recorded a goal in the 54th minute of the Fire's match at D.C. United on June 16. A first round draft pick (eighth overall) out of University of Alabama-Birmingham, the six-foot forward from Angola is considered a domestic per MLS roster rules and regulations. Fire Insider had the opportunity to catch up with Monteiro before the Fire's ESPN2 Primetime Thursday match against the Houston Dynamo (8:00 p.m. CT) at TOYOTA PARK.
Fire Insider: What is it like to be a player on the Chicago Fire?
Jerson Monteiro: I like the fire a lot. like team and I like the stadium. I've only been here for like seven months but I really like it so far.
FI: What is the main difference between playing college soccer and now playing professionally?
JM: The level of competition is much higher. There is higher competition in games and they are more competitive. We also have players with much more experience and they push you to challenge yourself, which is good because it makes you a better player.
FI: What do you do in your free time?
JM: I hang out with friends a lot. I like playing video games, watching T.V., and listening to music. Some people I knew from UAB and youth soccer live up here now so I hang out with them and my roommates Osei (Telesford) and Nick (Noble).
FI: What other sports do you watch?
JM: I really like basketball. I watch NBA and NCAA a lot. Football is good too, college mostly. But basketball is really may favorite. I'm from Houston so in the NBA I like the Houston Rockets.
FI: How are you developing as a player in the professional environment?
JM: For me it's hard to see myself change, I just think I'm playing. But really my touch is getting better - the professional game is faster so I am improving my decision making. I'm faster with the ball and my movement is coming along as well.
FI: What do you feel you should continue to work on?
JM: I'm a forward you know so I always want to work on shooting. I always want to shoot the ball more. Scoring is pretty much the main objective for forwards so I want to continue to practice shooting and finishing.
FI: You were tagged by the Angolan National Team, what was it like to be a part of that system?
JM: I went to the training camps when I was 13. In Angola it's kind of like here: they select some youth players and train them, and then they go to youth world cups. I came to the United States before I really got to play with the team but if I got a call from the national team that would be great. That's something I would definitely want in the future.
FI: Why did you choose the University of Alabama-Birmingham?
JM: UAB has a great soccer program and at the time my brother went there, so in high school I would go hang out there. I got recruited by a lot of good schools, but I already know the school and I liked the campus and the guys on the team. So I went there and majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish.
FI: When Fire drafted you what were you feeling?
JM: I was excited about coming the dream to become a professional player and realizing my dream of playing professionally.
