Working with a great team and good leadership brings joy to one soul, Sportzone gave me that.

– Tiago Dias (2026)

I’ve got to experience once again what ticks my clock. I love customer service onsite. The first experience was with McDonald’s, and this one was with Sportzone.

I worked with an great team, there was moments of laughter, and moments of seriousness, like in any job. I loved to work with the team in trying to bring the best to the customers. Specially on the shoe corredor.

So I’ll start with the bad things I found on this job.

The dark and ugly side

Unfortunately, for the people that want a bad thing in everything, there wasn’t any bad sides that I could find working on Sportzone.

The truth about Sportzone

On tecnical terms, it’s a store that sells different types of sport gear, from shoes, to clothes, to equipment for outdoor or even for beach and pools. It was a different experience that I got, for the first time I entered the sports field and for me it was different from everything I’ve experienced.

Now I can say, undoubtedly, that my calling on the store was the actual customer service on the shoes section. I found difficult, due to my mental disabilities, the other sections. The other sections weren’t hard to master but I can only save as much information in my head. This was one of my disappointments that I had with myself, because I wanted to do more and I couldn’t. I tried and tried the other sections, did the best I could and still, for me, I was a disappointment to my superiors.

Sportzone as a fixed employment

This is where things fall apart for me. Even if I tried everything, and gave as I tried everything in my power, I wouldn’t be satisfied with myself. If I can’t master everything, I cannot satiate the hunger for more knowledge.

My boss and superiors

My boss, Mr. Filipe Duarte, was a true leader, a friend, and a listener. He understood, at least for me, my disadvantages, And still made things easier for me, or at least tried his best. I now have him in a special place in my heart for him.

My other boss, Ms. Sónia, even without we interacting as much as I wanted, she also has earned a place in my heart, because she, at least for me, was special and kind, like my boss Filipe.

To my superiors, Cláudia and Beatriz, I can only say that I wanted more. More time to interact with them. They also were kind, forgiving, tried to teach me everything and I only have one thing that I want to tell them, I’m sorry for not being able to do more for the company. They also have a special place in my heart.

This people, my bosses and superiors, that I’ve talked about in this section, weren’t, for me, normal superiors. I say this because of their team spirit, leadership, kindness and more. For me they were exceptional. I don’t know for other cases but for me it was truly special working for them and with them.

My coworkers

I cannot enumerate everyone, I can’t really enumerate because I would have to say the names of everyone. On this Sportzone, the one in Parque Atlântico, was a great place. I only worked there so my opinions and feelings are to this team.

This team also were great, they helped me when I needed, they looked out for my well-being. I can say proudly that when I had a problem with my heart, that it started to acting very wrong, like my BPM was more than 200 per minute, they looked out for me. They didn’t ask anything of me, they simply helped a co-worker that needed help without strings attached.

This companionship and comradeship that I had was even deeper to the most of the teams I worked on. And I’m grateful for that.

Sportzone, Parque Atlântico, a small letter for you:

I hope that the team stays great and that you accomplish everything that you need. I appreciate everything you and your team did for me and I only wanted to stay working with you. Unfortunately, the destiny wasn’t the one I wanted but I will always appreciate everything you taught me and hold in my heart all the moments that made me happy to work with you. And saying that, I loved everyday. And I wished for more and I’m still wishing for more.

I send a virtual hug to all the people that made this employment happen.

See you soon Sportzone, maybe as a customer or, if the destiny aligns, as a employee again.