» Video  |  » Photos  |  » Trip Reports  |  » Testimonials  |  » News  |  » Last Trips Maryland ODP ’89 Boys Brazil Trip Report-Brazil April 2004 Jerry May, Executive Director, Maryland Youth Soccer Assoc. Wesleyan University Trip Report-Brasil August 2006 Geoff Wheeler,Team Coach, Wesleayn Univertsity, August 2006 Dear Mike: The Wesleyan Men's Soccer Team had a great pre-season tour from Aug -10-22nd in Brazil. 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. 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 halfday, a beautiful jeep tour, and an evening of Capoeira in which everyone participated. The team bonding, the training, the games, have set us off to a great start for our 2006 campaign. We have already beaten two teams that had our number last year. Best Regards, Geoffrey Wheeler, Team Coach, Wesleyan University Maryland ODP '89 Boys Brazil Trip Report-Brasil April 2004 Kris Ward,Team Coach, Maryland ODP 89 Boys Dear Mike: Let me first thank you and everyone at Soccer Futuro for putting together such a quality trip for us. The trip was not only a learning experience in soccer but also a tremendous opportunity to experience a new culture. It certainly enriched everyone and was definitely unforgettable. The matches you were able to set up for us were challenging but fantastic. I can say it was an honor for me to meet and compete against the Santos team and their coach Lima. I was amazed at the collective thinking of the group and their ability to problem solve during the match without needing the advisement of their coaches. They definitely showed our boys that ball skills are only a small part of their game. We then had the distinct pleasure of playing against Pao de Acucar, a relatively new club, but certainly experienced. Their training center was certainly an amazing sight, but we were more amazed by their abilities. They gave us a lesson on speed of play and just how good they are at using it to take apart their opponents. They were gracious hosts and told us we were welcome back anytime. On to our tournament in Aguas De Lindoia, we were welcomed warmly by Lindoias coach, Antonio. Our match against Lindoia was certainly a high scoring affair for both teams and enjoyable to watch. It was interesting in that match to play against both Brazilians and their Korean exchange players. Makes one wonder why more countries aren’t sending their players to Brazil for a spell. Finally to play against Portuguesa was a treat, probably the most technically proficient team we played against. Even now our boys still talk about their players and their quality. Culturally the trip was very insightful and Imp appreciative 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. We have to thank Guto for sharing some of his expertise in their area. The town of Lindoia was a great way for everyone to search around and get their own unique experience. They all found some great souvenirs in all the little shops around town and it enabled them to walk around and unwind and soak in the environment around them. We all got a lesson in meat at the Churrascurria and I think we all left about 10 pounds heavier. The Sao Paulo-Alianza Lima match we got to see was certainly a sight. Normally you’d think 45,000 people was a good turnout for a match, but at Sao Paulo it was only half full. Not to let their team down though, every fan in attendance made up for everyone who didn’t come, dancing, singing, chanting and willing their team to a 3-1 victory. It will be impossible for the boys to forget the name Luis Fabiano. His performance and goals on the night is a memory that is forever etched in their minds. The part of the trip that had the biggest impact on everyone I believe was the last night in Lindoia. The time spent playing futsal with Lindoia players was a great experience. To see the joy, the learning, the abilities exhibited that night was something Ill never forget. I myself want to thank you again and everyone involved in our trip, Emilio, Guto, Oswaldo, your time spent with us showing us Brazil is greatly appreciated by all the kids, Maryland ODP, and myself. I look forward to going back very soon. Best Regards, Kris Ward, Team Coach, Maryland ODP '89 Boys Canada WNT Rio Trip Report- April 2006 Bob Birarda,Asst. Team Coach,Canadian National Team Dear Mike: I want to thank you for the job that you and the rest of your crew did to make our tour to Brazil a successful one. I understand how much it takes to keep an international group happy, and your commitment to that, with your passion for what you do made this trip a truly positive international experience. Having the opportunity to play and train at the only National Training Center in Brazil, while playing such quality games is an experience hard to match. Training and playing at the site where all of the legends have spent so much time is inspirational. The staff, the people, and the food were also top class. Bob Birarda,Asst. Team Coach,Canadian National Team Bethesda Phoenix Evaluation of 2004 Brazil Trip through Soccer Futuro Jerry McNeal Coach-Bethesda Phoenix Accommodations: The three locations, Aguas de Lindoia, Limeira, and Guaraja, where the Phoenix stayed at were fantastic. The hotel staff was great with the girls and we were pretty well taken care of throughout the trip. The food that was provided by the hotels was excellent, well varied, and plentiful Soccer Futuro: The staffs of Soccer Futuro, Gabriel, Patricia, and Emilio were great! Gabby's and Patricia's job was initially to be translators, but after a few days they were more like good friends as well as translators who were constantly working to make sure we were as comfortable as possible. The Soccer Experience: Even though the accommodations and Soccer Futuro were fantastic and in ten days there were only the most minor of problems, most of my evaluation of this trip has to be about the Brazilian soccer experience we had from June 15-26. 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. The scores of the outdoor games were 6-2, 0-0, 1-0, 5-0, and 7-2. Each team was very different from each other as far as ability and style of play. The one thing that all the teams had in common was the way the Phoenix girls were treated after the games. During the games the Brazilian girls played so hard and smart and treated each possession like it was their last and treated each goal like it was the World Cup. After the games the Brazilian girls gave the Phoenix hugs, kisses, and even a few Samba lessons. It was as if they thought it was an honor to play us when, in reality, they were doing us the honor. The total immersion into a soccer world was an eye opener for the girls. Whenever the girls turned on the TV, looked out their windows, or just turned their heads, some one or some team was playing soccer. Going and watching Flamengo vs. Corinthians provided an atmosphere the girls could not have imagined. We also spent about ten minutes in Guarani stadium before we went to the Guarani store and the professional team happened to be training there. Watching how intense they approach preparation for a game was inspirational for us and a television news crew actually interviewed one of the Phoenix players to get her take on Brazilian futebol. The Effects: I thought that having 15 girls in a foreign country for 10 days who were forced to constantly be together was going to be a challenge. I could not have been more wrong. The team was so busy playing soccer, training, taking in the culture of Brazil, and having a good time as a team, that they did not have any time for any problems. The girls appeared to become a tight unit. Even at the airport the girls did not want to leave Brazil. Once we landed and parents and boyfriends greeted the girls, it took time just for the girls to go their separate ways because they did not want to leave each other. After the trip we did Summer training and our first test was a local Labor Day tourney with two teams participating that we had not beaten in over a year. Not only did we win the PWSI Tourney, but in 4 games we scored 10 goals and we were scored on just twice. We beat two teams that had man handled us just six months earlier. 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. Jerry McNeal Coach-Bethesda Phoenix Nordic Spirit Boys - Brazil April 2004 Barclay McKinnon,Team Manager, Nordic Spirit U16 Premier Boys Dear Mike: Im sorry its taken so long to get back to you, but things have been very busy since our return from what I can only describe as a spectacular two weeks in Brazil. Our time with you and Soccer Futuro was better than we ever could have imagined. Quite honestly, things ran so smoothly and were so much fun (and challenging) for our boys, its difficult to know where to begin. My sense is that Id like to offer feedback about our football experience, our interactions with the culture of Brazil, and the quality of the Soccer Futuro staff. Ive been involved with high level youth soccer for over two decades, and during that time have coached, and have seen play some of the most talented young players in this country and abroad. To my utter delight, I was amazed at the extent of creative flair and the level of competition to which we were exposed. It now comes as no surprise to me that Brazil has won more World Cups than any other nation. The passion and fervor for the game is palpable everywhere you go. Our boys were given the opportunity to play against the likes of Santos (club team of the great Pele), Guarani, Inter, and Portuguese; an opportunity that theyll never forget. What I found remarkable was that Soccer Futuro was able to schedule these quality matches, and others, with seeming ease. Your relationships with these clubs allowed our boys a chance to play against the best, while at the same time being able to experience the inner workings of a number of the top clubs in the world. We stepped out onto the Santos and Sao Paulo pitches, and then were immediately escorted into their locker rooms for private viewings. A number of the boys loved taking their pictures next to the locker that was once Peles locker. I cant 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. Id hoped, in our matches, that the boys would be exposed to a high level of creativity and flair. The reality is it never stopped. One of my central midfielders, a Region I team and National pool player, said that it was hard for him not to just stop and watch them play. I had to keep reminding him that it was okay to watch them, just not when he was playing against them. In the weeks preceding our trip, Id asked you to be sure that the boys had a good dose of Brazilian culture while they were there. As with the soccer, you never failed us. Ive traveled a lot internationally, and its my experience that a culture is best learned by spending time in that culture. Its easy for Americans traveling abroad to make sure that they stay and eat at places where there are only other Americans staying. Your years of experience in Brazil has allowed you to identify hotels, restaurants, and other points of interest that are comfortable (and safe), but are also peculiarly Brazilian. The team (and the adults traveling with us) constantly had the feeling that we were smack in the middle of Brazilian culture. At the same time, I can honestly say Ive never been exposed to a friendlier people. We were always welcomed with open arms and a smile. On another note, I remember a fellow coach (whod just returned from a Soccer Futuro trip with the Maryland ODP) telling me just before we left that hed never eaten so well on a trip before. Well, the food was great and there were large amounts of it wherever we went. This is particularly important when you are traveling with 16 teenage boys. At meal times they were continually amazed at both the quality and the quantity of the food. I think I gained close to 5 pounds, that I really didnt need, while we were away. Finally, we were all amazed at the quality of your staff. We always had at least three people with us who were fluent in Portuguese. Not only were they fluent in the language though, they were friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable about every aspect of the trip. If they couldnt answer a question immediately, they quickly found out the answer and made sure they let us know. The boys will never forget Patricia, Gabby, or our bus driver extraordinaire, Osvaldo. I hope that someday well have the chance to introduce them to our country, with the same style and grace with which they introduced us to Brazil. So what can I say, Mike. The trip was everything wed hoped for and more. That I can guarantee you. I think the real testimony, though, is that we are already planning our return trip next year. Not only that, three of the boys are hoping to return to Brazil, on their own, this summer, in order to train with one of the teams that they played against. They just couldnt get enough! Thanks for everything and look forward to talking with you soon. All the best, Barclay McKinnon,Team Manager, Nordic Spirit U16 Premier Boys San Francisco Toros Boys U13 Boys Team -Brazil June 2003 Libby Rappolt, San Francisco based, player, coach and mom accompanied the team. San Francisco Toros Boys U13 team was not a powerhouse squad. They played class 1 soccer and thought they were serious about their sport. A trip to Brazil could be just the impetus to lift their game to the next level. The team traveled after school was over for the summer: June 20-July 1. This is mid-winter in Brazil, but we found the temperature pleasant, and warm enough to swim at every opportunity. The team was initially 15 boys, but as word of the trip spread, 4 friends asked to join as players. Soccer Futuro arranged that we would play three 30-minute periods for all the outdoor games, so that each player could have the opportunity to test his skills against the Brazilians. We were a group of 19 players and 14 parents and 1 nervous coach. The itinerary was to be Santos-Aguas do Lindoia- Rio de Janiero. The team flew into S㯠Paulo and was met by Professor Miranda, two translators, and our luxury bus with friendly driver. This bus was our transportation the entire time. The bus was very comfortable, and many of the group slept all the way to Santos. The first day the boys had training on the beach with Professor Miranda. The parents organized our own beach game. We played barefoot. The soft, powdery sand was not at all abrasive on our feet. We played, and then dove into the ocean to cool off and refresh. The kids enjoyed their training and swim as well. Outside Santos is a little club, a subsidiary to Santos, where the juniors play futsal. Their trainer, Kleiton Lima, had been to San Francisco. He spoke English for the training, as did all the trainers. He gave a demanding yet fun training to the boys. The SF boys mixed in with the Brazilians, and all had a good time. In the afternoon, the boys played a different junior team, Maria Morea, outdoors. The field conditions were a little rough, but their players didnt have any problem moving the ball around and beating us badly. That evening we attended a professional match: S㯠Paulo FC vs. Goias at the S㯠Paulo stadium There was a lot of atmosphere provided by the passionate fans, but we were sitting in a different section, so there was never an issue of safety. After the match, we had a nice team dinner at a restaurant, and snoozed on the bus back to the hotel. Portuguese was the next team we played. The boys enjoyed the novelty of dressing in a dressing room at the stadium, and then running through a tunnel out onto the field. That was probably our most successful play, since we lost 1-10 once the game started. Oh those Portuguese players were skillful; it was the most pleasurable loss I have ever experienced. Later we toured the Santos stadium and viewed their trophy room. What an impressive collection of silver! We also had the opportunity to watch the U15 Santos futsal team train. On our way to Aguas do Lindoia we stopped in S㯠Paulo. We feasted at a churrascurria, the Brazilian barbeque restaurant, before loading up on shoes and soccer jerseys at a major modern shopping mall. Aguas do Lindoia is a beautiful little resort town. The people are friendly and the town is safe to stroll around, even at night. Tony, the coach for Alec soccer Club, was a very warm host. Soccer Futuro and Tony arranged for a schedule that included training in the morning, a game in the afternoon at a small local stadium, and futsal at night. The staff at our hotel, the Panorama, was also very nice. It could have been that my boys were too tired to cause any trouble! The food was excellent, with many delicious salads. 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. We were to play a match against Oscars youngest kids. At this match the only negative event of the trip occurred- every coachs nightmare: a broken leg. Max tackled the ball and broke his tibia and fibula. I have to say, Soccer Futuro was great with the way they handled the situation. An ambulance took Max to the hospital, Mike stayed with him while his bone was set and casted, and then Mike stayed in Maxs hospital room overnight in case he needed anything, and there was a communication issue. Soccer Futuro handled the situation so that we didnt have to wait for the US insurance to approve the procedures. When Max came back to SF, he was x-rayed at UCSF, a top medical facility in the United States, and they didnt do anything- the Brazilian doctors did a perfect job. In fact, Max is back playing soccer this Fall. The team had flown to Rio without Max, Mike and me. They did a tour of the city- Sugarloaf and Maracana stadium, and Copacabana beach. They really enjoyed building sand castles on that beautiful beach. When we rejoined the team, we had a party. 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. Eclipse U-17 Girls - Brazil August 2003 Authors Note: Matt Mathias, journalist and photographer accompanied the Bethesda Gentlemen: When people ask Bethesda Eclipse midfielder, T, How was Brazil She cant describe it. I mean, it was a great experience, shes looking for words Awesome, says her teammate. Amazing. Ten days in Brazil and lessons for life. T (short for Tatiana) and the girls from Maryland played futebol against girls with a refreshingly passionate interest in the game. They competed against teams with more individual skill and aggressiveness than anything they see at home. They had ten, fifteen boys running up to them after the game, asking for autographs, shirts, anything, kissing you! They visited the worlds largest club stadium, Morumbi, home of the S㯠Paulo Futebol Clube. They attended exciting professional games and emulated their play the next day. They played futsal and learned to move the ball quickly. They got inside the famed Corinthians Futebol Clube to watch a professional practice and fell in love with a young, handsome keeper. They met Rivelino and played at his school in the evening. And he signed our shirts, they remind me. Yes, they smiled nearly every time I took their picture. They had fun. Such is life that I was only able to join this team a few days into their trip. I flew nonstop to S㯠Paulo with the Bethesda Cannons boys team and sped on to the sunny highlands to meet the Eclipse in a lovely, relaxing spa town, Aguas de Lindoia. At Soccer Futuros request, I went to video the trip and take some timely pictures. This was my second time doing this. First time with a girls team, though. And I must say, as a player, I was surprised by the skill I sawperformed both by the Eclipse players and the Brazilian girls. The girls played tough ball and then got along so strikingly well with each other. A visibly excited Aguas team came to the hotel lobby to say goodbye. Their cheerful Brazilian coach snuck into some pictures and the girls exchanged emails. They hugged. And when language barriers went up they started dancing and showed off familiar steps. So we spent part of the time in the mountains, then in the big city of S㯠Paulo, and then we stayed at the beach in Guaruja. Toward the end of the trip we enjoyed the first ever Soccer Futuro Tournament for girls teams. The opening ceremony included a truck driven in and parked inside the stadium to mount a DJ and huge speakers. She announced the ceremony and introduced the teams. Four professional players from Santos made an appearance and one stood with each team for pictures and anthems. They played music during the entire game. It was a good time. The Eclipse took home second place and a trophy. They lost to a very good team in Santos FC. One of the four articulate girls I interviewed after the trip made this very clear. Yes, it was about pride. They wanted to win for their country and we wanted to win for ours. But they were also very skilled, strong, theyd bump you off the ball. This was solid, aggressive competition, with an element of adversity. Thus the Eclipse brought back more than a trophy. They learned new skills and what it sometimes takes to win. They experienced soccer at the highest levels, and from many angles, in a country and culture that simply loves the game. It was awesome. Matt Mathias - Journalist and photographer ECLIPSE GIRLS-PARENTS TRIP REPORT- Brazil July 2003 Now that we have returned from a wonderful soccer, no futbol, experience in Brazil, Marcy and I would like to share our observations; as both parents and chaperones, on the Soccer Futuro (SF) adventure. On the futbol scale spanning the UNLUCKY, WELL DONE to BRILLIANT continuum of performance we would rate the experience as a smidgen less than BRILLIANT! I believe this assessment is equally shared by the players, chaperons and coaches as well. Our ten days in Brazil was a far easier experience than any of our soccer tournaments that we organized and chaperoned during the past five years. The Bethesda Eclipse, U-15 Girls team/family had very high expectations for an international trip: (1) a unique soccer experience and education, (2) cultural immersion - to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of our host countries, (3) find an all inclusive trip program, and (4) assure the overall safety and welfare of the players during this experience. The Eclipse team evaluated alternative proposals for soccer trips to England and Italy. After weighing the alternatives, the team selected the all inclusive and very reasonably priced SF program as the best program to achieve all of our goals. Soccer Futuro took care of everything - the schedule, all arrangements, air transportation, 24/7 coach bus at our disposal, lovely hotels, 3 meals/day, guides/interpreters, and even the laundry. All we had to do was show up and count heads. The Bethesda Eclipse was the second high school level girls team to travel to Brazil. For this reason, we believe SF made every effort to make this a special experience for all of us. We had our own video/photographer creating a digital chronicle of all aspects of our adventure. Our trip included an entourage of 17 players, 2 coaches and 10 parents/chaperons. We were especially blessed with a ringer. One of our players family, the Bertolos, and their Brazilian friends joined us on our tour. All of the Bertolos are fluent in Portuguese and knew the local customs, since Mr. Bertolo grew up in S㯠Paolo. The Bertolo familys language skills and local knowledge were a splendid and unique supplement to the considerable SF resources. After months of planning, preparation and several iterations of our trip schedule we finally agreed upon a very exciting agenda of futbol, cultural and tourist activities. For our trip we were escorted door to door by SF. Mike flew in from San Francisco and met our entourage at Dulles International and joined us on the flight to S㯠Paulo. He translated and introduced us to Brazil for the first six days. After a twelve hour flight, two meals, two movies and a sublime sunrise we were met at the S㯠Paulo international gate by Gabriella, Patricia, Professor Emilio, and Joao (Joe) from SF and the Bertolo family who arrived a week earlier. After introductions (Bom Dias), setting our watches ahead one hour, and currency exchange, we transferred from airplane to our land cruiser bus which became our second home for the duration of our trip. Our 10 day odyssey included very comfortable hotel accommodations (versus college dorms for the other trips) in 3 locations: uas de Lind󩡬 S㯠Paulo and Guaruja. Aguas was our first destination. Its a small, quaint town situated in the mountains and is a popular spa resort, since its the home of crystal clear air and mineral springs. Lindoya water is bottled for sale through out Brazil. Immediately upon arrival SF had to adapt to a change in schedule. First up on our futbol experience schedule, was an invitation for the coaches and chaperons to attend the private practice of the Flamengo professional team. Apparently the Flamengo players were too tired to practice this day. That would never be an acceptable excuse for the Bethesda Eclipse players. The SF mobile phones were busy. Almost transparently, SF arranged a jeep trip to the surrounding mountains and a petting farm. It is inconceivable that we had to fly all the way to Brazil for the players to milk their first cow when we live only 100 miles for the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Their flexibility and resourcefulness turned a potential disappointment into a charming and dusty drive up and down the mountains with stops for spectacular vistas of the Northern California Sierra like scenery. WELL DONE! Did we mention the quality, quantity and variety of food Our, all inclusive, hotel accommodations include three buffet meals that enchanted and satisfied the most demanding appetites of hungry teenage girls and their chaperons. We were amazed at the variety of fresh fruits, homemade rolls, and, of course, the desserts. Girls and chaperones were pleased to learn to order Coke light, i.e. Diet Coke! Our bus doubled as a water bottle truck. At every hotel and stop we tapped the numerous cases of bottled water. There wasnt an unquenched thirst to be found. This experience was repeated at each hotel and stop on our itinerary. This was one of numerous team chaperon responsibilities that SF assumed during our trip. BRILLIANT! Our first futbol experience was an evening futbol match with the Guarani FC womens team (Brazils champ of a 40 city region) based in Campinas (a city of 800,000 residents), about 90 minutes from our hotel. Emilio arranged for a tour of the entire club with its extensive sports and entertainment facilities. The Futbol Clubs are the equivalent to our country clubs. Since our match was the first match of the night, chaperons and players were allowed onto the FC stadium pitch for team pictures. The pitch was an 80 by 120 yards. This is a huge, huge field compared to the normal 65 by 100 yard fields commonly found in the US. While the Bethesda Eclipse played to a 1-0 victory, the parents mixed with the local Guarani FC fans and coaches. The previous coach of the womens team sat next to us. He was fluent in English and had coached in the US. We enjoyed his futbol commentary. He complimented the Bethesda Eclipse on their speed, skill and team play. He was the first of many local futbol coaches and fans that highlighted the lack of individual flare and creativity in our teams play. You could see the difference in the game as well. Out of sight from all of us in the stands there was a minor drama unfolding down at the Bethesda Eclipse player bench. Little did we know that Joe, our bus driver, had quickly become the Bethesda Eclipses number one fan!! Our daughter described how Joe wildly cheered the teams play and challenged the referee calls against the Bethesda Eclipse. Some things dont change no matter where you travel. While Joe did not speak English, our Bethesda Eclipse player Tatiana, who is fluent in Portuguese, explained that Joe was a bit concerned that the local fans would not treat him kindly for cheering for the Bethesda Eclipse rather than the home team. He was worried about his fate on their exit from the field. No problem. Despite the initial language barrier, Joe became an integral member of the Bethesda Eclipse team and great friend to the players, coaches and chaperons. He was both an accomplished professional driver and a wonderful source of entertainment and support to our team. We constantly marveled at his driving skill squeezing through the packed streets around the futbol stadiums; snaking through narrow, winding streets/roads in and around Aguas de Lindoia and patiently enduring the endless traffic jams of Sao Paulo freeway system. BRILLIANT! That night we were introduced to our first Brazilian Futbol etiquette lesson. We learned not to applaud for fine play by the opposing team when sitting in the home teams side of the stadium. We also experienced food vendors continuously crossing each row of seats rather than traversing up and down the wide aisles like they do in stadiums back home. After the Bethesda Eclipse game, a universally familiar scene unfolded. The Bethesda Eclipse players joined the fans in the stadium to watch the mens futbol match. Like bees to honey, all the teenage boys in the stadium swooped down and hovered around the Bethesda Eclipse girls. Language was a barrier but there was no doubt that this was a friendly trading of the best local lines scene. They could watch Guarani any time, but this was something special for the Brazilian fans witnessing for the first time, a US high school girls team playing in their country. This scene was repeated at every futbol match except for the final days showdown with the Santos FC womens team. More on that match later. Little did we know that the post-game dinner planned for our entourage would be so special We ate dinner at a pizza buffet which served endless varieties of thin crust pizza. So whats special about this Mixed in with the variety of cheese and veggie pizzas were the CHOCOLATE, BANANA, AND ROMEO & JULIET (to die for combination of guava and cheeses that tasted like crè­¥ Brule) dessert pizzas. These last three selections were a BRILLIANT hit with all of us! From here it was a 90 minute ride back to the hotel for a well deserved first nights sleep. Our hotel rooms all had balconies with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. This was our first experience of the sun rising in the Northeast and not Southeast. From our balcony we observed first hand, what distinguishes the futbol experience in Brazil from that in the U.S.. We could watch and hear the spirited, small sided, pick up futbol matches being played from morning till night on the small fields located in every town and section of S㯠Paulo. Like the basketball pick up games in the US, we observed players refining their individual skills and flare. Today, the girls enjoyed massages in the hotel before our futbol experience started with a morning training session with a Brazilian coaching legend, Jose Filip Fernandez. Mike noted that Jose Fillip coached Brazilian mens teams to two World Cup championships. Our training site was a local club field outside the city limits. We would soon learn that each of these club team fields includes a local watering hole with pool tables for pre, during and post-game celebrations. WELL DONE! Since our coaches did not speak Portuguese we had to bridge the language barrier during the training session. Gabbie and Patricia served in a dual role as translators and assistant trainers and the Bethesda Eclipse supplied Tatiana and her brother Luis as additional team translators. From Mike we learned that the boys teams that travel to Brazil from the US do not take advantage of the Brazilian futbol training expertise. What a shame, UNLUCKY for them. For many of the players the training session was one of the highlights of the trip, as it should have been. BRILLIANT! After training and lunch the next item on our trip agenda was a highly anticipated shopping excursion to Serra Negra. Its another quaint town in the mountains, with 2 long streets of open-front stores, especially known for great bargains on leather goods. I remember reading a book, written by Anson Dorrance, about his experience coaching the US Womens World Cup team. He conceded that his World Cup players first task upon arrival at a new destination was identifying and planning their all-important shopping excursion. Why should the Bethesda Eclipse team be any different While I dont get it, almost everyone in our entourage did. Based upon the number of packages and the size of our VISA bill, I can assure you everyone had a very successful shopping excursion. WELL DONE! That evening we all drove to the local indoor Futsal arena for matches with the local womens team. While many of the Bethesda Eclipse players have played Futsal it took time from them to adjust to the speed of play, individual technical skills and rules. As always, there were local fans cheering on the competition. Each player and chaperon attempted to arrange for communications back home. Many of the strategies did not work. The girls tried to leave a daily message on our hotline number, but unfortunately they never went through. UNLUCKY! Our experience suggests relying upon the 0800 international access telephone numbers supplied by MCI, AT&T and Sprint. We did locate an internet café ¡nd one of the chaperons sent an email update to the US based parents The next morning we were greeted by another bright, warm morning sun shining from the North. This Sunday morning the Eclipse played a womans team from Serra Negra. One of the players on this team was a starter for the most recent Brazilian Womans team that played in the World Cup. The kids went out and played a brilliant game of Brazilian futbol. You began to see the positive influence of the training and play on their individual performance. They played to 0-0 tie in the citys concrete futbol stadium that provides an amazing view of the surrounding mountains. The two teams danced together after the match and exchanged - no, more precisely, we donated team uniforms and shoes to the SN team. Their team came to our hotel for group pictures, more dancing, hugs and kisses and to say goodbye. We were packed and ready to travel to S㯠Paulo. There wasnt a dry eye in the hotel lobby. BRILLIANT! We stopped in Campinas, on our way to S㯠Paulo, to see a professional league match between Ponte Preta and Flamengo. Our seats were in the home section of the Ponte Preta stadium. Prior to departing, SF offered us all fashion advice. We were advised not to wear a combination of black and red as they are the colors of the visiting Flamengo team from Rio. SoccerFuturo didnt want our fashion decisions to disrupt our enjoyment of the match. This is the match where we first truly experienced the Brazilian futbol passion. The fans jump and chant the entire game waving shirts in a well-practiced choreographed unity. During the game the radio announcers interviewed Tatiana for the Regional Brazil radio network. Another futbol first, we cheered-on a goalkeeper attempting to score off a corner kick. The Ponte Preta goalie sprinted to the opponents box on successive corner kicks. He finally scored on a header off of the final corner kick with less than a minute to play. The home town stadium erupted in delirium. We spontaneously did likewise. It is infectious. The game wasnt over but you wouldnt know that. After the goal all the TV and radio announcers and cameramen sprinted onto the field for real-time interviews with the goalie, players and coaches. The coaches, without any prompting from the referees, walked off the field knowing that their on-field celebration earned them a game ejection. That tying goal was the talk of your nights meal. It allowed Ponte Preta to advance to the next round of the playoff. BRILLIANT! Next, our futbol adventure took us to S㯠Paulo for three days of futbol, cultural and tourist activities. We arrived at our accommodations at night a gated, secure high rise apartment complex. We had two-bedroom suites, each with full kitchens and a living room with cable TV. The girls were happy to shop for snacks at a local grocery store and to catch some US shows in English (and it was also fun to watch them dubbed in Portuguese). Our first stop was a tour of Morumbi Stadium, home to the S㯠Paulo FC. Morumbi seats 85,000. It is architecturally unique to any futbol stadium that any of our entourage had seen. There are severed eggshell-designed Brazilian telecom pay phone booths erected behind each goal. The kids naturally asked, Why the pay phones behind the goal Mike tried to convince us that SPFC tradition requires the player who scores the first goal at a match must call Mom. Sure! We saw the twinkle in his eyes as he explained this tradition. He wasnt kidding, as we discovered. Back home, while watching Fox Sports World Copa South America games on cable, a SPFC player scored. He jumped the advertising banner barrier and ran to the phone and called Mom. He did it twice that game. The SPFC trophy space spans six; museum sized rooms and has a 4x6 foot enlarged photo of the player who invented the bicycle kick. The enlarged photo is of the player actually performing it for the first time in the mid 1950s. We all thought Pele invented it. He just made it world famous. Another highlight was the teams invitation to the world famous Rivelino Futbol Academy. The kids played 7v7 against a local womens team which included Gabbie, Patricia and the coaches. They met Rivelino and he autographed the backs of their SF t-shirts and posed for pictures with them. Brazilians consider Rivelino second only to Pele in the cast of futbol gods. We teach players the Rivelino move that he created and perfected. BRILLIANT!! Our S㯠Paulo days were filled with shopping, eating well (churrascaria - endless barbecued meats and salad bar) and site seeing at Sao Paulo University. We had a futbol match with the local womens team at the National Sports Training Complex. During the match, friendly fans serenaded our team with The Lion Sleeps Tonight and James Browns I Feel Good while performing the wave. Unfortunately, it was at this game that some of the players and chaperons started exhibiting flu like symptoms. During the remainder of the trip five players became ill and missed playing some or all of the remaining futbol matches. Chaperons were affected but not as seriously as the kids. Not until we returned to the US did some of the parents discover that there was a local DC area viral infection that must have been transported to and spread in Brazil. Some of the kids made it through the entire Brazil trip only to catch this viral flu upon returning home. UNLUCKY! During our stay in S㯠Paulo Gabbie, Patricia, Mike and Emilo along with the Bartolos spent hours at meals, while sightseeing, touring in the bus or while shopping describing the everyday experiences of a Brazilian. Did you know that every Saturday men and women in Sao Paulo all get manicures! We met and shared our dinners with young kids from the Flaval. These are kids who have nothing. Emilo and Patricia donate their time to offer these kids a chance to escape the Flavel grind through futbol and other organized activities. WELL DONE! With Emilios connections, we were fortunate to be invited to watch the professional team, Corinthians, training session. During the first couple of minutes of our Corinthians FC tour we could sense how painful it was for Emilio to lead this tour. He informed us that he is a most passionate fan of S㯠Paulo FC and setting foot on Corinthians FC facilities may be considered a major transgression for a truly loyal SPFC fan. Despite this, he led us on a wonderful tour of the club. This was a special visit for everyone. I believe we were all amazed to observe our girls watching the 1 hour practice with intense attentiveness. While we were watching from the stands, the Peoples Republic of China Futbol Federation leadership stopped by for a visit in preparation for an exchange program. The practice opened and closed with goalie training sessions. The closing session included PK practice. Our players crowded around the fence closest to the goalie training area to closely study goalie technique. Only at this moment did it occur to some of us that the great attentiveness of the Eclipse players may have had more to do with the presence of hot goalies than the intense desire to absorb the finer details of Brazilian goalkeeping technique. We confirmed another universal truth to add to the shopping truth that transcends cultures. Girls will be girls. Sometime during our stay in S㯠Paulo a ground swell of interest began to build for a night at a disco. This was not on our itinerary. Coaches and chaperons discussed options with SF. Once again, we observed the mobiles phones out working the local connections. Within two days, SF organized a private disco party down at the beach near our final hotel stay, Guaruja. While the players were anticipating a visit to a public disco with local boys and a band, the chaperons and coaches were relieved when they attended the private party with DJ and dancers performing to the local adult audience. Chaperons BRILLIANT, Players UNLUCKY!! Our final destination was Guaruja, an island off the Atlantic Coast and across an inlet from Santos. Our first glimpse of Guaruja appeared during our descent from the high plains of S㯠Paulo down through an environmentally protected jungle covered mountains sliced by descending one lane, switch back roads. Guaruja is a lovely seaside resort town with broad, packed white sand beaches, thatched huts serving drinks, pick-up futbol games, and nice waves for swimming and surfing. It was deserted in the off-season. Our resort hotel was right on the beach and a nice walk to the craft market in town. Naturally, we encountered the worst weather while at this beach haven; rainy, windy, and cool instead of the sunny, dry 80 degree weather we grew fond of during our prior 7 days. UNLUCKY! Undaunted, the bikinis got a workout in the waves. We also enjoyed the local aquarium and ecological boat tour. We understand that SFs philosophy is to create evenly matched friendlys when the youth teams travel to Brazil. Their experience indicates that they need to schedule Brazilian boys teams that are 2 to 3 years younger than the US boys team to accomplish this goal. With the Bethesda Eclipse it was just the opposite. To schedule competitive matches, Soccer Futuro had to schedule womens teams that are the professional development teams for the major futbol professional clubs. So we played the womens teams from Santos, S㯠Paulo and Guarani Futebol Clubs. The last three days of the trip the Eclipse played in the Soccer Futuros First Womans Futbol tournament. The entire town of Mongagua, not far from Santos and Guaruja, came to the stadium for the preliminary matches. The tiny stadium was humble; the dressing room had no running water. Yet they went all out for this tournament. They hired a sound truck with PA loudspeakers and played music the entire game. The stadium was bumping and grinding to the music. The players were pumped-up by the atmosphere. During the introductions, starters from the mens Santos FC (Peles club team) attended and had their pictures taken with the teams. The Brazilian teams were more excited to meet these Santos players than the Eclipse. We didnt know the players at that time. Later on we saw Santos FC play and we recognized 4 of the players from the tournament. All of this was just a dramatic build up to the tournaments finale, Santos FC vs. Bethesda Eclipse. During the first two nights of the tournament the stands were filled with the spectrum of Brazilian fans of all ages, sexes. They all had one thing in common, a passion for futbol. During these matches the fans cheered wildly for the Eclipse and our individual players. We still hear their Brazilian accented chants for Ma-liss-a, E-clips-a and Laur-a!! The local kids asked their school English teacher to come down and help them ask questions and translate our answers. The most pressing question on one genders mind was, can we marry your daughters!!! After the games both boys and girls swarmed the Eclipse pressing for autographs from the girls. They surrounded our bus declaring their love. It was truly an amazing experience for all of us. BRILLIANT!!! As expected, both Santos FC and the Eclipse reached the finals undefeated. The finals match was held the Saturday morning of our departure to the US. It was a rainy, mist shrouded day. At the last minute the location was switched due the weather, so our new fans werent with us. We played in another stadium which was much smaller than all the other ones. This field was no larger than 60/65 by 100 yards with the barb-wire fence only a yard or two from the sideline. We knew this match would be different when we queued in front of our bus in preparation for the trip to the field. We were met by two guards hired to escort us at this match. One fellow was 66 and at least 280 pounds. He was a mountain. Our destination took the bus through the back streets (muddy dirt roads) of Mananagua. The local fans filled the open air bars surrounding the club field. Try to visualize this scenario: (1) playing in a nitty-gritty industrial town; (2) small, barb-wired enclosed field at the foot of the mist shrouded mountains; (3) its pouring rain; (4) the stadium is lined on each side by these open air bars with pool tables sitting under canvas awnings brimming with local patrons on stools sitting only 20 feet from the barbed wire fence; (5) trash cans are elevated 4 feet in the air so the dogs roaming the dirt streets, wont vandalize the trash; (6) Santos Womens team players range in age from 15-20 years old. (The Eclipse are 14-15 year old girls); (7) Santos back 4 players averaged 6 feet tall; (8) they had a center-mid who was 5-8, built like a fireplug and had the moves of Pele and (9) last but not least of which, this was the first and only openly partisan crowed that we encountered. Brazilian futbol pride was at stake!! The Bethesda Eclipse players and parents were escorted by our guards to the club dressing room area. The guards remained parked at the entrance to the field during the entire match. The kids were locked into the field and we all had to stand and watch through the barbed wire fence. All the previous games we encountered periods of home town refereeing. Our kids would be taken down, no call. We would bump into a Brazilian girl direct kick. Todays match was no different. The kids played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time. Until the Santos match, the Eclipse had not surrendered a single goal. The game went into golden goal, double overtime. Santos scored in the second OT period. The game ended Santos 2-1. The crowed erupted with glee and set off firecrackers. Brazilian futbol pride was restored. This was the first match the Bethesda Eclipse players were in no mood for hugs and kisses during the post-game photo op. They are a competitive group of girls. They wanted to win and felt a bit cheated by the home town refereeing, the partisan environment and the experience disparity of the Santos team. Eclipse, welcome to international futbol competition. WELL DONE! After the Santos match we returned to S㯠Paulo by ascending the same mountain jungle route we descended three days earlier. Our door to door service did not end until we were all safely screened for final boarding for our flight home. Emilio, Patrica and Gabbie helped all of us find the one last airport futbol clothing store to spend all of our reais. The girls were able to maneuver on their own through the food courts with confidence they had learned enough Portuguese to shop effectively! From a chaperon/parent point of view, this soccer experience was far easier than any local tournament. Soccer Futuro did everything to maximize our soccer, cultural and tourist desires. NEXT TRIP, RIO!!! U.S. Womens Under 21 National Team Brazil Trip Serra Negra, S㯠Paulo, Brazil May 15 to May 25, 2003 San Francisco based coach, Toby Rappolt was along for this trip and submitted this report and analysis: The United States Womens Under 21 National Team traveled to Brazil on May 14, 2003. The primary purpose of the trip was to experience traveling a long distance to compete and live in a foreign environment in preparation for the Nordic Cup. The Nordic Cup is an Under 21 Womens National Team tournament that takes place in Denmark this September. THE COMPETITION- The primary goal of the Americans was to play highly competitive matches in a foreign environment. According to the players and the American teams staff, that goal was met and exceeded. The Americans found all the Brazilian teams to be very skillful and very well organized. The team played four games in total, two against the Brazilian Womens Under 21 National Team and one game each against womens club team, SAAD F.C. of S㯠Paulo and Santos F.C.. Both clubs teams included several players from the Brazilian Womens National Team. All games were played at the Estadio Municipal Antonio Barbosa Pinto da Fonseca Serra Negra, the home stadium for the citys 5th division mens team. The games were produced by the Serra Negra Sport and Tourism Authority. Each game began with young Brazilian gymnasts carrying the American and Brazilian flags into the stadium and onto the field. The two teams then joined the procession onto the field for both national anthems, followed by fireworks. The games were televised live on national television, and officiated by the three highest-ranking women referees in Brazil. The Brazilian players themselves possess an extra quality that is known in their country as ginga. Ginga is that special intangible that 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. The Brazilians had it and the individual playing performance of their players was often breathtaking and entertaining. American women players rarely if ever face this type of special quality. American women dont possess it and may never. But they will have to play against it and these games gave the players that special experience that cant be found at home. The American staff and players were completely satisfied, if not surprised, by the skill and organization of the Brazilian teams. A well-organized team that also has ginga is a formidable opponent indeed.