Thank you for a wonderful season - Until Next Year!

Top from Left to Right: Kiyoshi, Jesus, David, Robbie, Tarkan and McGregor Bottom from Left to Right: Selou, Quin, George, Diego and Luca

Dear friends:

In my last post as head co-coach of this wonderful team, I would like to thank all of you for your support and mostly, thank the boys for their undying spirit. From all perspectives, this has been a great season. All of our boys improved tremendously this year and Dave, Jake and I are all very proud of what they achieved.

I know that this season was special because our team came together literally a couple of weeks before the season began. Yet, through hard work, we surpassed unexpected issues and together had the pleasure to see the rise in skill and understanding of the game in all the boys.

It is clear that hard work does pay off, and for that, I congratulate each one of you.

I also hope that you cherish the awards you won this year:

Tarkan - Team Spirit Award

Selou - Most Versatile Player Award

Quin - Speed Demon Award

Diego - Best Goal Award

Kiyoshi and Robbie - Most Assists Awards

Jesus - Golden Boot Award

Davey - Best Defender Award
Robbie - Leadership Award

Luca - Lionheart Award

McGregor - Most Improved Award

George - Most Valuable Player Award (voted by his fellow players)

La Maquina ~ March 12, 2011

In the end though, award or not, all the boys must be proud of what they learned and how they applied it on the field. Our last two games were tough but just think of this: considering that half of our team was composed of players who are playing a year up (with one of our boys still 10 years old) and also that some of our players had never even met each other, think of this: Out of the 16 games we played, we won 8, tied 4 and only lost 4 ~ it is without any doubt an outstanding achievement.

Congratulations boys!

I want to end by saying thank you to Jake who, despite having to miss part of the season due to other commitments, brought his vision and ideas to the club ~ thank you Jake. I also want to say many thanks to Bela Gomes, who managed our team and worked hard to keep tabs on logistics, stats, practice and game times ~ thank you Bela.

And last, to my friend David del Castillo, whose vision of the game is one I fully share. Together, we managed to ruffle some feathers at the beginning of the season but in the end, both of us, with assistance from Jake, were able to stir this team into exactly what it became: a Machine.

To all the parents who stood in the cold, rain, wind and still managed to scream "come on guys, keep going" I say thank you so much. Although I do not know what the future holds for me, I am humbled to have had the chance to coach your boys this year ~ Gracias.

Best of luck in the future to each of the boys: Much love fellas.

Sincerely, 

Roberto Alberto