Jéjé Vidal
“Staying humble, persistent and hard working, without losing focus is how I got this far, and I would say that this is vital for those who want to surf as well. Talent isn’t enough, hard work is key.”
“My name is Edmilson da Cruz Camblé, and I go by the name of Jéjé Vidal. I was born in São Tomé and Príncipe, on the 30th of December, 1998. My father is Manuel Fernandes Camblé and my mother is Leopoldina Antónia Cruz da Glória.
The love for surfing started when I saw a Portuguese man, Pedro Almeida, surfing. After watching him surf, I ran back home, grabbed a wooden plank and ran back into the ocean, that’s when everything started for me.
After this moment I never stopped thinking about surfing. Surfing and the ocean breeze calmed me down, it relaxed me. Whenever I surfed, my problem ceased existing.
In 2017, Paulo Pichel and Miguel Ribeiro, two Portuguese people living in São Tomé, saw an opportunity in a school in Ericeira (Sintra, Portugal). Ericeira is known for being one of the best spots to surf in the world, so this opportunity was unlike any other. I accepted the challenge and my new life started in Portugal.
Right now I plan to win surfing titles at an international level. I wish to compete in the surfing Portuguese league (Liga MEO), needing first to gain Portuguese nationality.
Afterwards, I intend to get a good enough qualification in order to participate in the upcoming Olympic games, in 2024. However, I never lose focus when it comes to helping my home country and its children, that’s why I became a surfing ambassador in São Tomé.
As a surf ambassador, I can promote the sport as best as I can and I can teach those who are new to the sport. I also make sure to remind children that school is a priority and it is extremely important to get an education.
Every time I go back home, I bring with me surfing material, so that surfers can enjoy the waves with proper material. I always try to do everything I can in order to help them. My goal is to let the world know that in São Tomé there is a surfing culture, and an important one at that.
I am a strong-willed person, with several ambitions in my life, and in order to achieve them, I always give it my all. I know that together with those who have helped me this far, I can stay humble and achieve great things together.
Staying humble, persistent and hard-working, without losing focus is how I got this far, and I would say that this is vital for those who want to surf as well. Talent isn’t enough, hard work is key. Everything takes its time, we just need to wait and keep working hard.”
-Edmilson da Cruz Camblé, who goes by the name of Jéjé Vidal, is a pro surfer born in São Tomé and Príncipe, and currently staying in Portugal. A humble and hardworking person, who never forgets those who helped him, and he neither forgets his home country nor people. He seeks to compete in the #2024Olympic games and raise awareness on how great surfers from São Tomé and Prince are.
