Inesquecível, incroyable, spændende, trillend, givande, 지루한, wunderbar, vittoriosa. No matter what language we speak in this team, we can only use intense words to describe how this season was.
To start, I cannot express my gratitude to those girls. Starting with the athletes who returned from last year to be once more part of this team. I was so happy to see simply all athletes from last year’s team that were still in school trying out. Girls, you are craaa-zy! One more season with me shouting my lungs out my unique Brazilian footballer jargons? Crazy practices and weird lucky charms (Hail R2D2!)? You are definitely in love with the beautiful game.
The returning athletes were concerned and they should be, so many good 9th graders trying out that was a risk of the veterans not making to the team. Hailey, Katy, Olivia, Kyra, Janie showed that in this team there was no seniority but skills and dedication. You add Cassie with her goalie skills to the mix and we have a team that I could foresee a positive future.
I will confess something to you, girls. I was desperate to win a football tournament. Last year we were so close twice, being in the finals for both SISAC and ACAMIS so this year, with more experience, I was decided to do everything in my power to prepare you to win and I was really glad when you all trusted me and did not question any of my crazy drills or practices.
In the whole season we lost 3 matches, tied one and and had 13 wins. It’s around 76% of success. A great number. We fought in all tournaments. In the league, until the last match we had chance of being champions. SISAC, we were in the Finals and finally at ACAMIS, our moment of glory. This only happened due to your competitive spirit and dedication to the team.
Oh captain my captain Louise, your passion for the game and respect for the team made you a perfect captain, sharing your opinions about formation and tactics with me and being present in virtually every practice. Your never ending endurance pushed the team forward when we were running our of energy. You together our German Panzer and 2nd captain Franziska were the perfect link between the coach and the team.
If our team had a strong point, it was it’s defensive system. Our goalies were solid. Cassie and Janie did an amazing job and they had a front line that is extremely powerful. Inês shared the company this year of Elisa and two amazing freshmen, Lefty Kyra and the unstoppable Katy. We did not suffer a single goal during ACAMIS. That’s a feat!
The brain of our team, connecting defenders with the strikers, our midfielders had the burden of at the same time protect (sometimes even shadowing other teams players) at the same time push the ball forward for the strikers. Suh-Young, Victoria, Esmée, Louise, Celine and Olivia, without your stamina, energy and skills, we would not had scored 40+ goals, where many of those were scored by you.
In football wins who scores more goals. Obvious but that’s the job of our strikers, the Panzer Franziska and Hail Gribble. If you had a chance, you were shooting at goal and that’s your job, driving the adversaries defenders crazy.
I cannot forget to thank all the support from the parents and Mr. Amirouche and Mr. Martin. All my crazy practice schedule that I presented, they accepted and supported.
On a sad note, the serious injuries of Hailey and Kyra. I am here cheering that you both recover very soon so we can play a match Champions Vs Teachers. It will be great.
So my Amazon warriors, now it’s time to rest. Rest on the laurels of your success because you deserve it all. Heal your wounds and I hope in the future, maybe in a class reunion or something similar, you will remember of your teammates that helped you to achieve this new entry in your resumé; ACAMIS Football Champions.
See you all Thursday, 7:00PM at Latina Xintiandi to celebrate this wonderful season because next season… I want more. 🙂
