Neighbors
January 5 – 18, 2013
Tale of El Tunnél, Part II by Jourdan Rodrigue
This is the second of a two-part story on soccer team Bafana Bafana making its playoff run in the Arizona Sports League men’s tournament at Snedigar Sports Complex in Chandler. Part I was published in the Dec. 15, 2012 issue of the SanTan Sun News. To read it, visit SanTanSun.com and click on Youth.
The Half
With 10 minutes left in the BafanaCeltic championship, neither team has scored and play borders on dangerous. Celtic and Bafana have attempted to force the action offensively but each team has gotten less than five shots on goal. “We’re freakin’ out, I don’t know why,” says captain Sean Nonnemacher as he subs out for a breather. Across the field, midfielder Michael McGowan has the ball. A Celtic defender barrels toward him and McGowan deftly pulls back the ball. Instinctively, the Celtic player drops into a slide tackle, but as he hits the ground he pulls his foot back in an attempt to spike McGowan’s knee with his cleat. The sideline howls in outrage – even Rudy paces and screams at the referee – but a yellow card is instead pulled three minutes later when Bafana forward Rafael Garcia is knocked to the ground. The half ends. The score is still 0-0. Bafana jogs off, no longer smiling — until the players see the orange slices Nonnemacher’s mother has brought
them. Collazo jogs down the sideline to get advice from Rudy as the team talks strategy and Celtic’s size. “They’re not necessarily tall, but they’re pretty wide dudes,” McGowan says drily. “And they’re really strong. And I actually got laid out by one of them and it hurt … welcome to the NFL, right?” They start the second half the same way as the first. Rejuvenated by the refreshments, the Bafana players again jog out laughing. It’s a subconscious tactical move that incenses Celtic. Collazo is the only one not laughing. He was hit hard in the first half and showed a rare burst of anger as he yelled and threw his hands in the air. His eyebrows knit together and his jaw is set as he takes his place as left midfielder and the half begins.
The Decision
“I was recruited by several small schools, but two big ones were Long Island University and Brown,” Collazo says, looking down and playing with the hem of his Arizona State Intramural Champion shirt. “I didn’t think I was good enough. I know a lot of people go to out of state schools and they have these giant rosters and it’s really hard to be one of the starting 11.” It’s a mystery to Collazo’s mother why he didn’t even approach the Brown recruiter when the man appeared at one of Collazo’s tournament games.
www.SanTanSun.com
“I said, ‘QuiQue, he’s here to see you, go talk to him!’” Rosalinda recalls. “But I don’t know why, he just didn’t go. I don’t think he thought he was good enough … we all know he was.” Collazo thought about four more years of structure and seriousness, of competing for a spot and a scholarship and made a decision as quickly as pulling a move. He chose to leave competitive soccer behind and attend Arizona State University. “I realized that once I decided not to play competitive soccer, that was it for me. I’d still be able to play for fun, but realizing it … well, it sucked at first. That’s 10 years I played competitively every day and then it just stopped,” he says. He filled his schedule with soccer anyway — this time just for fun. He plays on seven teams with assorted members throughout the year including the Arizona State club team. “I like Bafana the best. It’s just fun, that’s it. We just wake up and play, there’s no pressure,” he says. “I’ll keep playing for fun as long as I can keep walking.” Collazo started college as an aerospace engineering major. The choice of major paralleled with his past in competitive soccer, channeling his energy into a tunnel with a strict schedule and tough mental regimen. Again, he instinctively chose to do what he loved for the sake of loving
it. He switched into construction management with hopes of creating beautiful buildings in the future. He pushed himself through and away from the confinement and restriction and pressure that comes with great talent, both mental and physical. It was as instinctive to Collazo as flicking a ball through a defender’s legs and darting past to open field and freedom. And he has no regrets.
The Goal
The game clock ticks away, and with each second the intensity and physicality of the game increases. Suddenly, Bafana forward Garcia slips past his defender and speeds toward the goal. Collazo senses an opportunity and begins to sprint up the field, digging into the dry turf. There is a perceptible emotional shift from everyone present as the Celtic keeper screams for help and the crowded sideline rises to its feet. A Celtic defender hits Garcia from the side, knocking him down and desperately thrusting his foot at the ball. The keeper moves from the net to fall on the ball, but the defender nicks it with the end of his cleat and it rolls out of his grasp directly into Collazo’s left foot. He shifts his weight to his right, a small, calm smile on his face. There is no graceful dance this time. He simply
www.DownUnderWineBar.com
Cooler temps brings out the best in all of us.
Enjoy our patio with great food, wine and cool Jazz.
Friday, Jan. 11 7-9:30 p.m.
Photos by Miachelle DePiano
52
Vandal-Hancock Duo
480-545-4900
1422 West Warner Road — N.E. Corner of Warner & McQueen