Interesting how life changes whether it be over the course of a couple years, months, days, minutes even seconds. I've had life changing moments, in all of the timeframes I've given. I know,I know, I haven't blogged in forever, but it's hard to keep up blogging when in Miami, when there is so much stuff to do, and people to see. I hope that doesn't come off cocky or anything, it's just the truth. Anyways my time in Miami was well spent depending from what angle you look at it....I've always said in this blog I would be honest in my mistakes, and in my successes because well I want to have this to look back on, and I don't want lies in this. But anyways back to Miami.
I was coming to Miami with high expectations, excited, and a mindset, that was to enjoy my time, while working hard. My last entry said my flight was suppose to be at 10:50PM my flight unfortunately didn't depart till about 1:20AM causing me to get to Miami at near 8:00AM with the time change and all. At the airport I was welcomed with smiles, and hugs from my family except my youngest brother. It was wonderful and I did get that "no place like home feeling" even if I was at the airport, it was just holding those that I love most in my arms again...Miami oh Miami...well it was Holiday Season so leading up to Christmas it was pretty busy for me buying gifts, wrapping, and doing a bit of playing soccer. Coming up to Christmas it was brought to my understanding that I was going to play for Huracan U20 (Arg) or Tigres (Mex) those were my two options. That stayed true throughout the new year, and into 2010. New Years day, was one probably the most calmest New Year I've ever had, but it was cause we were leaving the next day to the beautiful island of Curucao. Again it was just my family and I a nice get away together. We ATV'd, enjoyed the pool, beach, drinks, ping pong, casinos, volleyball, canoeing, everything that it offered we did! It was a wonderful time, and we even met some pretty cool people along the way.
When I got back I decided to start playing some soccer again, but my agency had advised me to not play, for fear of me getting injured. I abided and would only play some small sided games with some good friends. So with my free time, while my parents were at work, I would meet with old friends, girlfriend, and hang out with my brothers. I even visited my school and watched my old high school soccer team play. Sucks they've lost a lot of players to transfers but kudos to the head coach Kevin Myers working with what he has and sort of rebuilding I guess you could say. Anyways again not much soccer was being played for me, so I kept busy with my family, and friends and did quite a bit of partying, more than I'm used to, and I enjoyed it I met new friends, had lots of fun, and enjoyed my vacation. Still I was hungryyyyy to get back to soccer already so I had made my choice. I decided I wanted to go play for Huracan U20 (Arg) so I spoke to my representatives and informed them of my thoughts. They said wonderful and I thought that was that. I was set to leave the 19th or so I thought. The 15th came around or a day near that, and the decision for Huracan was no longer an option. However Argentino Juniors U20 (Arg) became available. I was still happy to be dealing with a first division team. A meeting was set for us to speak out the details of the deal. We went in and addressed the issues that we could come across, and gave opinionated answers towards each others questions. Although most of my questions were left unanswered, as it seems they didn't know the details of what was going to happen. As I had understood I was coming over here for a year on loan. But clearly that was far from being the actual fact. Anyways after much, delay and talking about me leaving, the 23rd and 25th, they finally got Bryan Dominguez, and I out to of the country flying the 28th and arriving the 29th in the morning to be picked up by Fernando Claviho.
9:00AM we finally touched down in Buenos Aires, Argentina it was an exciting feeling for me, I had been dying to get back out on the soccer field and start playing, and for me I was taking this as a critical year for me in my young soccer career. We arrived here Thursday of last week, the U20's were still out on preseason training so we were set to train on our own until Monday. Thursday we head to our hotel, get changed and hit the city for lunch. After we rested and were told that the next day we'd be moving hotels...So the next morning came, and Sergio (Fernando's friend) picked us up and moved our luggage, they would be staying somewhere else, and we were suppose to run everyday on our own. As for food, we had a restaurant where our food was paid for. We trained and then Monday came, and Fernando had to leave, he kind of left Sergio to take care of us considering he lives nearby and we had met him, and gotten along fine. So Monday came around, and we were NOT training as team was going to start Tuesday so another day waiting. Next day we up and ready for training everything was all set we got there thanks to Sergio, and were ready to train, we were told training was at 8:00AM but it didn't start till 9:30AM, which apparently is the regular time for training every day....We did look sort of lost in the crowd unsure of where to go, things seemed disorganized, and that's probably cause they were, due to sloppy planning. Anyways finally 9:30AM rolled around we were told who we were going to train with, and we did so accordingly. I started out doing mostly fitness, which thank God I trained a couple days before cause it did me some good, and I was at the front of the pack the whole time. After that we did a small sided game, did okay, and from there we had a 45 minute scrimmage, again I felt I played fine without much error. During the game, I had made a kicking attempt for the ball, and when I did the kids cleat came up and my ankle went straight into it. Ouch! I played through it as I didn't think anything of it, however after training we went to have lunch and when I attempted to get out of the car, and I then felt the pain! Sergio advised me to put ice on it, which I did. After I got to the hotel I was barely being able to walk normally. I was in too much pain. Worried, I called Sergio, and asked him what I should do, he told me to skip tomorrow's training session and stay at the hotel and remain off my foot. I did so and requested ice from the front desk, as well as keeping it elevated.
The next morning I was unable to walk pretty much, there was way too much pain, so I took Sergio's advice and missed the training session iced it, and then later on took a cab to the pharmacy got painkillers, ankle wrap, and an ankle brace, to maintain it still. I was starting to feel better almost immediately. Bryan got home pretty early from training, as apparently it was cancelled due to the rain. So I caught a break I guess, or again so I thought. Thursday (today) came around and it was back to training I woke up feeling reenergized as I felt pain free, and was ready to get back out there. Today we were escorted by another Fernando, whom it was my first time meeting, a nice man and took us there, and had a driver sent to pick us up after training. At the training ground I got changed and was ready to run. We did more fitness to start off, and again I stayed upfront. After that we went into a 3 station training. You would run for about 10-15 minutes have a 2 minute break, then play small sided game with 2 touches for 10-15 minutes followed by a two minute break, and have a technical session for 10-15 minutes and then rest another two minutes we did two sets. I was pretty tired after all this but felt good about my performance during training. Once arriving at the hotel, I received a call from my representative back in Miami. And he said that after a two day evaluation (yeah two days) they weren't interested in me, mainly for missing Wednesday's training session although it was cancelled. Now I understand the importance of missing a training session, and even more so when your a brand new player, but I guess I wasn't thinking straight and was just following the directions that Sergio gave me. Anyways due to this, they don't want me as a player as they feel I'm not hungry for soccer. Sighhh, this was so disappointing to hear, as I was excited for a new team, new level, new coaches, and new players. But it seems as due to me missing that training session that won't be happening anytime soon. What I'm trying to say is that I'm flying back to Miami in the next week, to reevaluate my options now for 2010, I'm hoping to look into Tigres again, and if not then I may have to settle possibly for Miami FC if even that. God knows my plans, and knows what He is doing. Maybe if this Tigres gig works out, then maybe that's where I was suppose to go from square one. Again, only God knows I guess. I will pray about it, and hope to get an answer soon. All I know is that I WONT BE MISSING A TRAINING SESSION EVEN IF I'M DYING! Ugh forgive me, for I am frustrated, I know I represent a company, and when they look bad given my actions I really beat my self up about it. I like to be a role model, not the example of something bad, but of something good. So when I get back to Miami, friends shall be secondary as I get back to training while I await my next move for 2010. I can only hope, and pray for God to guide my path in the right direction this time around. I'll leave you guys with something I read in my inbox just a few seconds ago....
Don't put a question mark, where God puts a period.
God bless!
