What caught his attention went beyond the scoreline. The league is structured around local identity, with teams composed primarily of amateur players from various professions rather than professional clubs.

"That creates a connectivity," Victor noted. "Your friends, your neighbours, your coworkers could be out there. When you go watch, you feel more connected, more attached to it."

The fans of both teams also left a mark. "Extremely passionate," he said. "As a player, we always expect a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm from our fans. That's what I saw in the game."

As for what he hopes to see from the teams still to come this season, his message was simple. "Just represent your city. Play with honour. Play with passion. Play together. That's what the fans want to see the most."