My Beloved Amazon Warriors,
Our journey together is coming to an end and it’s time to reflect and analyse those four years together.
If you had asked me four years ago where would I see our team in 2014, I would never imagine us undefeated for two years (46 matches) but I would have told you I would work for that. Although it may seem so nowadays, it was not an easy journey and I praise a lot those of you that have followed me every step of the way for those four years. It was very easy to think about quitting when we were the underdogs. Hey, I thought about it when, for a moment, I felt I was not able to help you out. For you girls that were part of the team who lost 6 x 0 to YCIS at home in 2011, this season is for you.
To the rookies of the team, congratulations. You bore the weight of our uniform with talent, courage and pride. Trust me, I know it’s not easy. I sincerely hope you always felt included in our little family and I think I can talk for all the veterans that without you, this season would not had been so amazing. This season is for you.
To the players that are not in our team anymore but deeply contributed to what we are today, my most sincere thanks. Without the skills and dedication of Nelis, Esmées, Lines, Victorias, Katys, Louises or Martas, we would not be the Amazon Warriors.
Often I caught myself thinking “Ok, we are good but how come we are always winning, year after year?” After all, we lose players, other teams get stronger but we still on the top. The only answer that I have for this question is: we always want it more. Our biggest adversary is not BISS Pudong or any other team. It’s our own goals that we set in our minds to achieve and we will not stop for anything to achieve it. The best example of this was the match in the Round Robin vs BISS Pudong. If the Elders remember, I was considering doing a crazy formation and risking losing so we could rest to be better prepared for a possible final later on. Your answer immediately was : “no, we don’t want to lose”. Ironically enough, the match itself offered some challenges with BISS Pudong scoring an amazing goal and us being behind in the score until the last two minutes of the match. Like you girls told me; you did not want to lose, so we didn’t. 17 matches, 16 wins and only one tie. That’s represents a team that was not ready to lose.
You may not believe when I’ve told you in Beijing but my time as a coach has come to an end. Where would I find such a committed group of athletes willing to follow my instructions to the letter, participating in crazy drills, or crazy practices like Zumba or Yoga? Where would I find a goalie that played a final match of a tournament with a broken foot? Or a player that even with the risk of a concussion played fearlessly? And a defender that even being out of breath, kept running until the last second of a match? Those are just some elements that makes this team special and unique.
I have one last drill for you, my Amazon Warriors. I want you to bring to your life the motto that I kept shouting from the sidelines to you in almost every single match, especially the matches when we were behind in the score. 0 x 0. The ball goes to the center, 0 x 0. No matter if you are ahead in the score or behind. That ball goes on the center, you must reset and play like it’s just beginning. Life will offer challenges.Life will offer comfort. No matter what you get, you should never accommodate or feel defeated. You have the power to put the ball on the center of the field, and restart the “match”.
Thank you for everything. I could not be prouder of all of you girls who had been part of this team, that gave me the honour of being your coach throughout those four years and I hope we can actually have a reunion in five years, somewhere in the world.
So, before I go, let me tell you a story… No.. Let me tell you the LEGEND of the Invincible Team… The Amazon Warriors… The Varsity Girls Football Team from SCIS Hongqiao.
BELLATORUM INVICTUM
Erick Pessôa
