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