can do kids
Elite Weston FC Players Play in Poland By Stacey Bomser
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founded on the philosophy: “Believe in your dreams.” More than a competition, this event is also a way to promote the values of humanism, open-mindedness, proximity, friendship and fair play as hundreds of soccer players, or footballers as they are called in the rest of the world, gather to compete and celebrate their sport. “Football has the power to bring people together, whether on the pitch or in the stands,” shares retired French football player Zinedine Zidane, who Team USA warms up before their game against Senegal inside Warsaw’s serves as Ambassador of the National Stadium. Danone Nations Cup. “Every year, I’m amazed to see all these kids coming from the four corners of the earth, with their different languages and Weston’s Greg Michaelides, Thomas Hernandez and Pablo Vargas represented the United cultures…yet, when they come States at the Danone Nations Cup together on the pitch, all barWeston’s Thomas Fernandez Karow, Pablo Vargas riers disappear!” and Gregory Michaelides, all Falcon Cove Middle School Gregory found it interesting students, agree it was an honor to represent the United that so many children from States and this was an experience they will never forget. such different backgrounds “Representing our country is one of the best things that were all so passionate about can happen to a boy my age, or any age,” states Thomas, soccer. “The most amazing adding that he hopes he will get the opportunity to play thing was meeting kids from for the United States again. 40 different countries. We were “This was more than just a soccer tournament,” shares all the same age and there were Pablo. “It was a life changing experience and I would so many languages, but we like to tell other kids that dreams can really come true.” all had fun together and got Team USA with their new friends from Japan. Coincidentally, the Danone Nations Cup is actually to trade flags with everyone.” Pablo enjoyed learning about the learning about its rich history. Gregory says his favorite other cultures. “There were some site was a famous statue of a king that held a sword. “In teams like Senegal and South Africa the past, they would turn the sword up or down to tell where kids were always dancing, people when Warsaw was in trouble.” singing and very happy. I liked to Pablo enjoyed seeing how Poland had overcome its hear different languages.” tumultuous past. “I liked the center of Warsaw because Thomas was also intrigued by the the buildings were very nice and it reminded me a little cultural differences and similarities. bit of Paris.” “I learned that in other countries Of course, the boys all agreed that the highlight of they do some things differently; their entire trip was playing in front of a crowd of over their lifestyle is different and their 41,000 people in Warsaw’s National Stadium, where the food is different than ours. But, I Euro Cup championships were played just months before. learned that no matter how different Thomas, Pablo and Gregory, along with their Weston everyone of us is, we all had a great FC teammates Nicolas Garcia, George Acosta, Giancarlo time and were able to understand Riccobono, Nicholas Guilliod, Brandon Hedge and each other easily.” He especially Errol Spence, will never forget their once in a lifetime enjoyed learning the folk songs and experience playing in the Danone Nations Cup. Over 2.5 Team USA at the Danone Nations Cup in Warsaw, Poland. Top row: Coach Victor Pastora, Pablo Vargas (Weston FC, Weston resident), Cameron dances traditional to some of the other million children from 40 nations will compete to qualify Heise, Nick Fraggetti, Thomas Hernandez (Weston FC, Weston resident), Rodney Salgado, Greg Michaelides (Weston FC, Weston resident), countries represented at the games. for this international tournament. The 2013 games will Assistant Coach Ares Michaelides. Bottom row: Nicolas Garcia (Weston FC), George Acosta (Weston FC), Coby Atkinson, Giancarlo Riccobono The U.S. team spent some time take place in London. (Weston FC), Nicholas Guilliod (Weston FC), Brandon Hedge (Weston before the games touring Warsaw and FC), and Errol Spence (Weston FC). Justin Reischer not pictured. ine members of the Weston FC 2000
pre-academy team were selected to represent the United States at the Danone Nations Cup in Warsaw, Poland. It is the biggest soccer tournament in the world for children ages ten to twelve. The U.S. team, made up of 15 elite players from South Florida, finished the tournament in 16th place out of 40 teams. The winner was South Korea.
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