Soccer Futuro

Accommodations, food, fields, transportation, were all top flight. In fact, we will not play on such nice pitches when we're here in the States. Outside of the 4 games we played and the 2 professional games we attended, highlights included white water rafting for a half day, a beautiful jeep tour, and an evening of Capoeira in which everyone participated. SOCCER FUTURO organized a professional trip that included appropriate games with high caliber competition and a good balance of cultural activities for the group to enjoy.
Geoff Wheeler, Wesleyan University Men's Soccer Coach- 2006

This adventure has been everything we expected and much, much more. We sat around last night reminiscing about the past two weeks and marveling at what these girls have experienced. Again, thank you, SOCCER FUTURO, for all you have done for our team in making this dream possible. We have enjoyed each and every minute. Tchau from your Futebol Amigas!
Kris Norelius, The Portland, Oregon, SVU FC, girls Under 14 Soccer team Travel in Brazil - 2001

As I mentioned earlier we won by losing. Not one of the Wizard squad had ever known a five-game losing streak in their soccer lives, yet it was worth fifty wins for the education we gained. We could have stayed in the USA and won a trophy somewhere thinking we were great, but learning very little.
Graham Ramsay, Director of Coaching Maryland on his 1997 Bethesda Wizards trip to Rio de Janeiro-1999

Last years event in Brazil was a fantastic experience for our players and we look forward to similar success this year.
Erik Liekoski, Manager, Youth National Teams Administration, US Soccer

Overall, the entire Brazil trip was amazing. Besides the great training we were able to get in and the talented opponents we played in our scrimmages, we were able to immerse ourselves in the culture. We enjoyed a white water river rafting trip, a horseback riding tour of a coffee plantation, and a jeep tour. In addition to these adventures, the team was able to spend some money shopping and enjoyed eating at a Brazilian style restaurant, complete with an amazing assortment of meats. Soccer Futuro made the trip easy, affordable and an event our players are unlikely to ever forget.
Steve Swanson, Womens Coach University of Virginia, August 2004

The last day in Aguas we visited the Oscar soccer Academy. This posh facility is where the New England Revolution has done their pre-season training the last two years. Seeds were planted on this trip. We are seeing some fruit now. When the boys came home, they asked if we could practice another day; they were so inspired to become better players. This has been our most successful and skillful season ever. Players want to go back to Brazil again this summer.
Elizabeth Rappolt, San Francisco Vikings Coach- 2003

< I recommended that US Soccer consider Brazil for every one of our youth teams and that our U21's should do the trip every year and our U 19's should do the trip once in their 2-year cycle. Click here for more
Chris Petrucelli US Womens National Under 21 team coach, September 2003

Even when we attended Mass on Easter Sunday and was introduced to the congregation by the priest once they found out we were an American team, his first comment was that he hoped we were Corinthians fans because he was a strong supporter. The game is embedded so much into their everyday culture; it was difficult for the players not to appreciate it in a different manner.
Jim Launder, Region II ODP Coach

Bottom line, I cannot think of anything that could have been better. I may never see another match like the one in Sao Paulo for pure soccer atmosphere. At the Opening Euro 2004 match, Portugal- Greece had a lot of pageantry but only England - France were able to even approach the atmosphere in the Morumbi Stadium. It was a very special evening and I think even most of the players grasped that as well. Kudos to Soccer Futuro for being able to make the necessary arrangements at the last minute to permit attendance at the match. Will actually look forward to other MSYSA officials making the trip next year.
Jerry May Executive Director, Maryland State Youth Soccer Association

We learned a ton. The first ball out of the back for the Brazilians was never more than a six or seven yard pass. Then it was loads of short passing as they moved as a unit forward. They were skillful and unpredictable, and tremendously athletic.
Scott Allison, Roanoke University College, Mens Coach

I want to thank you and all your colleagues for making our trip so successful
Fred Schmalz, Region II OSP Head Coach

I can’t tell you how impressed I was with not only the high level of play, but with the creativity and vision to which my team was constantly exposed. Since our return, the boys are continually alluding to playing like the Brazilians. They challenge themselves to be patient on the ball, knock it around and probe, and to penetrate with numbers. Its one thing to talk about these principles in training, but to actually experience them, as individuals and as a team, has brought the boys to another level of understanding of the game they love.
Barclay McKinnon- Nordic Vermont Spirit

14 days, 6 games, and numerous training sessions after we left for South America, we returned to the States as a more cohesive, experienced team - eager to begin the fall season. We gained valuable experience playing against some of the top players our age in the world. Most valuable of all, we were able to spend time in one of the best soccer cities in the world.
Dave Ramich, Davidson College, defender, August 2000

Dear Mike and Patricia,

I had a great time in Brazil and learned a lot of soccer while I was down there. I am looking forward to going back this summer, and I would recommend the trip to anyone that loves soccer. During my three-week stay in Brazil, I played soccer every day for about 6-9 hrs each day. Training included capoeira which is a Brazilian dance/fight, futsal (indoor soccer) , technique, and scrimmages. Everyday I learned something new. I was immediately placed on a Brazilian team. Even though I did not speak Portuguese, my teammates included me in the game. Tony, one of my coaches, was great, He taught me so much and was very enthusiastic The experience went way beyond playing soccer. I went to some pro games, which were very exciting and very loud. I visited Santos, and played soccer on the beach. I also went to the museum which showed Santos' trophies and Pele's memorial. I even milked a cow! Summer school included Portuguese language classes and classes about Brazilian culture. I learned a little of the language, but thankfully always had Patricia, Emilio, and Karina to translate and to act as a tour guide. They were so nice and were always making sure that we were having fun. The food was great. Brazilian barbecues were the best. Guarana was my beverage of choice. And, you can drink the water. The people in this country are so nice, and I always felt safe. I was in Iceland and Sweden the summer before, and it did not even compare to the experience that I had while in Brazil. I came home a much improved player and loved playing soccer in a country where soccer is king.

Thanks for a great summer,

Wil Kamin, SOCCER FUTURO Talent Channel player- 2005

During the trip we took in three professional games of high quality. The players paid as much attention to the action as any group before them and they demonstrated some soccer knowledge as spectators! Most notably the players appreciated the importance and significance of the #10 player in Brazilian football.
Ian Barker, ODP Region 2 Coach 2002

The Brazilian players themselves possess an extra quality that is known in their country as ginga. American women players rarely if ever face this type of special quality. American women don’t possess it and may never. But they will have to play against it and these games gave the players that special experience that can’t be found at home. Ginga is that special intangible those American basketball players refer to as got game. Ginga is a skill that cannot be taught. It is learned from watching and playing against players that possess it. The country of Brazil is full of these players. Ginga is a feeling. A rhythm. A deception. A trick. A dance. That individual moment of skillful brilliance.
Toby Rappolt, reports on the USA WNT U-21 trip to Brazil, May 2003

Culturally the trip was very insightful and especially appreciative that we were able to go different places and interact. Everyone was in awe when we visited Santos ground. The tour, trophies, pictures, and just history involved made everyone stop and pinch themselves just to be sure they weren’t dreaming. The beach soccer gave the boys a chance to test their skills on a very different surface and it was certainly an eye opener for them.
Kris Ward Maryland State ODP Coach April 2003

We are here for the second year, we came a year ago looking for quality matches. When we choose our tours we are always looking for quality matches. One of the things we find when we go around the world is playing against the national teams, but with this kind of trip you want to win the games. And we found right way last year that we could find more than one game here. We played two club teams that were difficult games for us. We played the national team twice, which were an extremely difficult game for us. And we thought it was a great experience on the field, a great experience off the field. And we do believe that the experience we gain playing against the Brazilian women was a huge factor for us being able to prepare our women for the World Cup, which is our championship every year. Playing against quality players, playing in difficult environments, being tested and challenged in every match as we are here in Brazil really makes a big difference. So, as we started to settle our schedule again for this year, the first thing we thought, we should come back to Brazil because we knew we would have a quality experience. We have been here close to a week now where we have played a couple of matches, again the matches were challenging and that was what we were looking for. We are staying in the Oscar Inn, which is a beautiful facility, great training fields and really a great soccer environment for us. The whole time we have been here, our players have had wonderful time off the field as well as there are plenty of things to do and our team really enjoys it here. The big game for us will be on Saturday, when we play the Brazilian national team, which is in preparation for the Olympics and certainly is one of the best teams in the world. It would be a difficult test for our young players to play against these great players. The Brazilian team has impressed us with their technical ability, which I think everybody knows about. The Brazilian flare and the ability of the Brazilian players on the ball. One of the things that really stand out for me is their athletic ability; they have quality athletes playing the game. And watching them training over the last week, they are becoming more and more organized and they are one of the top teams in the world and I think they keep getting better. We obviously think we have quality teams in the U.S. and our national team certainly is one of the top teams in the world and they are proving this in the course of the time. When we compare the two teams I think athletically the two teams are very similar. I think technically the Brazilian team may have something on us, I think typically we have been a little bit more organized and that is giving us some successful years when two national teams meet. For us the younger team trying to step up against the full team, it is a difficult test for us. Our two tours here have been great tours for our team, we have met a lot of people, we have made great friends especially with people from SOCCER FUTURO. I think it is a must trip for our team and for under-21-team, and I certainly think you will see in the future many of our national teams coming, maybe some of our younger teams coming because as I mentioned earlier it is hard to find quality games and when we come to Brazil we find quality games. So, over all the experience of coming to Brazil has been wonderful for our team, for our players and I think it is certainly the destination for us in the future.
Chris Petrucelli,U.S.A. Womens National U-21 team Coach- 2005

Every Phoenix player who went to Brazil with Soccer Futuro and played with us in the tourney demonstrated a new level of skill, confidence, and enjoyment for the game that has shown immediate results.The teams the Bethesda Phoenix played against were all first class. We played teams that ranged from good to excellent. We had five outdoor games and one indoor game and did not come away with one win. I thought this was perfect because I really wanted the girls to be pushed.
Jerry McNeal, Co-Coach-Bethesda Phoenix- 2004

The SOCCER FUTURO will be really glad in receiving your testimonial. If you have already traveled with us, please send to our email your impressions about your soccer trip !