After two weeks of games canceled we were excited to be able to play again on our CIF League. And the rain in Los Angeles decided to give us a break exactly to allow us to face our biggest rivals: Panorama High School.

Last season Panorama was the only team who really beat us severely with a sound 9 x 1 and when the 2007-2008 season started we had decided to focus our goal on them. We didn't even expect to beat them at first. We just wanted to play a better game against them. We wanted them to see that the result from last season didn't reflect our capacity.

Our first game against Panorama this season was really amazing. We were inspired and we managed to end with a 2 x 2 score which could've been different if the ball didn't insist on hitting the post or going just inches from their goal. We could've won and that was already more than enough to make us anxious to play them again.

***

Curiously that chance came on our following game. With four games canceled in a row we were to face Panorama once again. We got to the field early and we warmed-up properly this time (possibly for the first time this season).  Everybody already knew their positions. Everybody knew what we had to do.

The field was in a very poor condition because of the heavy rain that has fallen the past 5 days straight in LA. Mud, water puddles, holes, it all made the game a little bit ugly specially in the first half. But we got our first goal anyway. A ball that was kind of lost inside the small box found Jeanette to push it inside the net. We were up by one and in conditions like that, it means a lot.

***

I don't even remember how they tied the game but somehow they did. They are a respectable team and they know how to put up a good fight. But during the first half break I had told Kimberly and Jeanette that this was a good game for them. They had to use their skills and speed to put the ball in front of them and run… nobody would catch them. And I was right Jeanette had two more chances to score our second goal but the shot ended up in the goalkeeper's hands.

And then came the worst

I don't have enough words to describe Kimberly. She's is simply the best, most talented, intelligent and skilled female soccer player I have ever watched live in my life. Of course there is Mia Hamm, Marta, Bridgitte Prinz but I never saw those ladies playing live. But I SEE Kimberly. She can take on defenders as if they were just practice cones. She does what many boys her age cannot do. She still has a lot to learn,  but at the level she already is if we had WUSA scouts watching her play they would take her instantly.

You might think I'm exaggerating. "Oh, you're her coach", one might say. But remember that I am from Brazil. A country where 10-year old kids are taken to European teams to sign pre-contracts. I've played soccer my entire life in Brazil with and against all-level-of-skill players. I, myself, am not a bad player at all. I understand this game more than I understand anything in my life. I'm a very critical sports journalist. So I would never compliment a player so much if I wasn't sure about that player's talent.

Kimberly is simply stunning!

But as I mentioned above, the worst happened.

Ball on the left side of the field, Kimberly face to face with a defender she's dribbles her and a second defender comes like a train wreck and hits Kimberly's right leg; a nasty foul that sends Kimberly in the air. She falls hard on her right shoulder and doesn't get up. I'm all the way on the other side and as the referee doesn't either bother to show a yellow card to the defender I start rushing into the pitch. I knew something serious had happened. I make my way among a circle of players and I look at Kimberly. "Where does it hurt Kimmy?"  "My shoulder, I can't move", she cried.

I tried to have her stand up but she said it was too painful to walk. I carry her in my arms out of field already hoping that my players are strong enough to restart the game and continue playing with the same focus and determination.

I laid Kimberly on the bench and had Caesar,  my Athletic Director, help her. We still had a game to finish and now I really wanted to win!

I screamed my lungs off  telling the girls that we had to win this one for Kimmy. We had to play like never before. We only had 2 subs. Hilda and Paola. Two sisters who were new on the team and had never played soccer before they join the team. I bring Hilda in for Kimmy and she knows that all I want is that she plays as hard as she possibly can. I tell Jeanette – my other amazing striker who scored most of our goals this season – that the game is hers now. She had to really play everything she knew. 

Everybody was getting exhausted but, playing with all their hearts, our girls managed to score a second goal. Audelina – the engine – sends Jeanette on the right side. Maria – the brain of the midfield – runs in the middle and attracts the defense. Jeanette puts the ball in front of herself and shoots. We score. We are on the lead again.

But I got nervous when I realized that the other team would not go down without a fight. My girls were tired. We lack practice, we lack tactical drills. We lack support from the school.

Our opponent knows how important Kimberly is for the team. Right now she is at an ambulance on her way to a hospital. I'm trying to focus on the game and I tell the girls that we have to keep the ball away from our defense at all costs and we tried. But they came strong on us. The second goal came, and five minutes before the final whistle they scored the third goal.

Game was over. I was crying, my team was crying, the other team was celebrating. Then I realized that even though we didn't win, we had now become a respectful team. Our opponent knew that. They knew the game could've turned our way. They knew that if we had Kimberly on the field they might not have the chance to move up so many players to attack us. They respect us now.

As for our team… we are sad, very sad. We are also frustrated to see that no matter how much leadership we learn, how much academic improvement the soccer team causes, how much commitment, discipline, dedication these teenagers learn, the direction of the school does not show the necessary support. We have a good AD who wants to help but there is a wall blocking us to achieve further success. No transportation, a practice field that is far for all of the players to get to, no soccer balls for practice.

The mentality of "College Ready, College Bond" is great and it could be a lot better if they could understand that the Athletic Department plays a huge role in stimulating the kids to improve their Academic Performance. And it has. Players with ridiculously low GPAs had improved their grades so much that now they are safely on the first team (the CIF demands players with a minimum 2.0 GPA). Even the players who couldn't continue on the team due to low grades managed to bring their GPA up from 0.5 to 1.8.

I love my team. And that's why this is my last season coaching Camino Nuevo HS. The reason is that I wanted to continue with this group and more than half of them are graduating. We are already creating our own soccer club and I know we are going to be very successful.

***

We are not simply a soccer team anymore. We take care of each other. We are a family!

Kimberly (number 6 in black jersey) about to leave defenders in the dust

Brazilian style is on for Milan. Kaká, the world footballer of the year received the company of Ronaldo (finally back to the pitch) and the new sentation ALEXANDRE PATO.

The Rossoneri anxiously waited for this day when the 18 year old signing had all his paperwork legalized to play for Milan.

And it worked. The kid combines talent, speed and technique with the energy that is characteristic of young players.

Ronaldo then finally looked like having a good time playing amog his fellow countrymen. 15' on the first half and a good triangle passing line had the touches of Pato, Pirlo and ended up with Ronaldo shooting hard and the ball just made past the goal line. AC Milan 1 x 0 Napoli.

But Napoli wasn't dead. 12 minutes later the team in blue tied on a beautiful play through the right and Sosa finished perfectly.

But with Ronaldo playing well, Pato's enthusiasm, Kaká's finesse and the world class of the other great players on the squad, it was just a matter of time for AC Milan to take the lead again.

Pato's only problem on the game was Napoli's goalkeeper, Iezzo, who denied him twice after a beautiful pass from Ronaldo. But Seedorf was there: Milan 2 x 1 Napoli.

But  here comes Napoli again. Another super-fast counter attack with Lavezzi and the referee calls a penalty inflicted by Kaladze. Domizzi ties the game one more time: AC Milan 2 x 2 Napoli

The second half starts and once again Ronaldo proves why he still one of the most dangerous strikers in the world (when he wants to). 1 minute on the second half and after a perfect cross by Seedorf, Ronaldo finishes with a even more perfect header. AC Milan 3 x 2 Napoli.

Napoli now felt the goal and Milan started contolling the game with shorter passes and you could see Ronaldo and Kaká really having a good time on the pitch. And when brazilians have a good time playing football that's when they're more dangerous.

During the whole game Kaká played more like a secondary role. Humbly leaving the spotlight for the debut of Pato and the return of Ronaldo. But he’s Kaká; the best footballer of the world and once he got two seconds with the ball and 80 centimeters of space to turn he shot a fantastic ball from outside the box and led AC Milan to a  deserved 4 x 2 score at minute 68’.

And completing the party, to make it all a very special day, an unforgettable game, PATO scored on his debut!!! The kid deseved it more than anybody. He's been waiting for this moment since he signed with the Rossoneri. The fans have been waiting too. And the whole San Siro came down with cheer and happiness when the 18 year old kid put his fingers in the shape of a heart and had tears in his eyes, showing how thankful he was for the fans support.

Oh man, oh man... What a game!!!

This match is a landmark for AC Milan this season. It's the World Champions showing that now they are up to fight for the title. And it's also a warning to rivals Internazionale.

Can the Brazilian Power Trio - Kaká, Pato, Ronaldo - make AC Milan repeat the sucess of 2007?

Well, I believe they can.

If you walk around almost every lower class neighborhood in Los Angeles (and I imagine that this might happen in many other big cities in the USA) you will see a soccer field or a park with kids and teenagers of different backgrounds playing soccer.

As right now I'm still recovering from my ACL surgery all I can do is sit and watch them play. But standing by the side-line it's possible to see a lot of talented young teens that could've already been scouted by the MLS teams but that's something you can forget about.

The 2008 season is going to start in March and on the MLS Official Website one can already find news about the College draft that will give the teams  the chance to pick the new talents from Universities from all over the country. I've always admired this school-oriented way that the American sports have to stimulate the students/athletes to pursuit their dreams while studying. I wish I had that chance when I was younger BUT I also believe that it would be a great advantadge for the league and for the evolution of soccer in the US to have a stronger scouting program.

The teams do promote tryouts but what kid, from Compton, Inglewood, Echo Park, South Central... will pay about $150 bucks for ONE day of tryouts???

Most of these talented kids that I've seen have hispanic backgrounds and are not even legal in the country. They come here with their parents to work VERY hard to give their family a better opportunity and they play an important role in the American society and economy.

And what is the most important for our subject here: THEY LOVE SOCCER!!!

So, why can't the MLS Teams get out of their comfortable zone and send some scouts out there. Make them go to the ghettos, (not only to the fancy suburbs) and bring some more passion into the league?

It's just an idea... What do you think?

Anyway... I'll get back to this subject soon!