Former Gallatin High standout Sanchez Holder currently plays for the Recife Pirates in
Though it’s not the most popular form of football in Brazil, Sanchez Holder is hoping to make a name for himself in the football ranks of South America.
Holder, a 2009 graduate of Gallatin High, is a starter at running back and at defensive back for the Recife Pirates, competing in the North Conference Group A of the Brazilian Superliga.
Recife is Brazil’s fourth-largest city, approximately two hours by plane from Rio de Janiero, which hosted the recent Olympic Games. Although such a big event was fairly close to him, Holder said he didn’t attend the games due to safety concerns.
“I didn’t go to the Olympics, because it was dangerous,” Holder said. “Poor Brazilians will target tourists, and they’ll try to rob them and stuff.”
Recife is 2-2 with two games remaining in the regular season, and the team is on a three-week break before contesting the final two games.
Though the game isn’t different than football played in the United States – Holder says the rules are similar to college rules – the talent level has a wider disparity than at the higher levels in North America.
“It’s a little different down there,” Holder said. “The football is not much different, besides the talent level. Most of the Brazilian players don’t have as much talent, because they haven’t been playing since they were younger. They’re just starting to learn American football. But there are some talented guys who are simply athletes and they adapted to the game fast.”
Holder is ranked seventh among American-born players in the league, according to the American Football International website. Holder did not play in college, but did play semi-pro football for three years with the Middle Tennessee Football League’s Lebanon Hitmen.
Sanchez Holder
Holder hadn’t been on a plane before his departure to Brazil, and what he found when he arrived was a bit different than in Middle Tennessee.
“It was a big shock, but it kind of wasn’t,” Holder said. “Basically, it’s kind of a free-for-all in Brazil. It seems like there’s no traffic laws in Brazil. There are, but people don’t abide by them, so it’s kind of crazy. The police down there don’t care about the laws like they do in America.”
Players in Brazil are typically on year-to-year contracts such as Holder’s. American players also get housing, gym, food and transportation paid for in addition to a monthly salary.
Holder has been adjusting to life in Brazil, at least a little bit.
“I love the beaches and some of the food,” Holder said. “I live 15 minutes from the beach. I’ve got my own apartment, so it’s pretty nice.”
Holder hopes that his play in Brazil will open up some opportunities north of the Equator.
“My goal is just to get noticed,” Holder said. “I have been noticed by a couple of Arena (League) teams in the states, but I don’t think I want to play Arena ball, because I don’t like the smaller field. My goal is to maybe one day get a CFL (Canadian Football League) tryout or maybe even an NFL (National Football League) tryout.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.