Andre Boudreaux's Brazil Blog #2
March 13, 2011 | Men's Soccer
March 13, 2011
San Paulo, Brazil - We arrived at the Sport Spa Complex in Itu, basically a suburb of Sao Paulo, around noon on Friday. After we pulled through the large gate and cement wall, two full sized soccer fields immediately greeted us on the right, a small field on the left, and buildings and landscaping that looked like they belonged on the beach. After a training session that we thought was only going to be used to get the flight out of our system, we had the rest of the day to relax and get some sleep.
Our first two full days in Sao Paulo have been full of new experiences. Saturday we woke up and played our first game at the sport and spa facility we are staying. We beat the team that is associated with the club, called 2 SV, 4-1. Due to the large amounts of rain the night before, the field was extremely heavy and soft which made for a bit of a sloppy game. Despite the conditions we were able to move the ball well for most of the game and got goals from Colin Rolfe (2), Mark Knight, and Will Vitalis. The team was split into two smaller teams and each team played a half. After our game and trying to get the mud and insects off us and our clothes, we ate lunch and relaxed until we left for the professional game that night.
The game that night was between Palmeiras, the well known, local team, and San Barnardo. While walking to the stadium, we tried to endear ourselves to the locals by buying the green Palmeiras jerseys and flags. Once we walked past the armed guards, bars, and the dirt field turned into a parking lot, we made it into the stadium and sat behind one of the goals. Disguised as locals in our green jerseys and waving the view obstructing flags, no one looked out of place. I think our attempts at dancing and cheering in Portugese helped our cause. All of that hard work went out the window when our group of about 35 players, coaches and family got up to leave before the game ended. The local fans looked at us as if we were missing half our face. Nothing says we are Americans like leaving early to beat the traffic.
Today was a special day for Coach Lolla and his wife, Tina. It was their 23rd wedding anniversary. I think everyone got a little more excited when we learned this meant a big cake in celebration.
Sunday was a much different day from Saturday. The day was dedicated to community service. In the morning, the whole team went to a soccer school called Deco 20. Deco is a famous player who was born in Brazil but ended up playing for Portugal. The kids in the morning came from middle class families. The players we worked with ranged in age from 6 to 15. Even at such a young age, we could tell these kids knew how to play soccer the Brazilian way. Not like in America where kids of the same age just chase and kick the ball.
After that session we went to the Itu Church of Christ and had lunch with the local community. Lunch consisted of rice, beans, chicken, salad and soft drinks. The soft drinks were the first item to disappear. As you could imagine, the coaches had been keeping a watchful eye over us at meals at the sport complex, but they were helpless today. It was Coke or nothing. I think I even saw Coach Proud have a small cup.
After lunch the team split into two groups. Some went back to the Deco 20 facility and worked with a different group of kids. The second group was made of kids from less fortunate families. Despite the differing economical circumstances, the second group was just as, if not more animated in demonstrating their passion for soccer as the first group.
The rest of the team, about eight of us, stayed behind at the church to help with the water purifying system. Here we helped show local members of the church exactly how these systems worked. Even after teaching them how the systems worked, they still had one major question. How do they use these systems to help people? Bill Parker, the member of EDGE Outreach who was with us in the church setting up the systems, explained that it is up to them to make a connection with places in Brazil that need the support. Once that connection is made, EDGE can come in with their equipment and permanently set up purifying systems.
No matter what role we took on today, whether it was being a friend and fellow soccer player for the kids, or a teacher and provider at the church with the water system, we all were able to come away knowing that we impacted lives. The impact was immediately visible on the faces of the children, but the impact the water system will have won't occur until some years from now. Regardless of when our impact takes place, knowing that we helped improve peoples' lives is something we can all appreciate.
Tomorrow is a big day for the team. We play our second game against the Palmeiras Under 20 team. This team will have players that could soon become professionals and play for the first team.
