Off to Wichita!

Well Miami is done! I'm flying out tomorrow morning back to Wichita, Kansas for my sophomore season with the Wichita Wings! I'm excited for this upcoming season, while in Miami I had a ton of fun I'm ready to play soccer all day & night. I have a "plan" for myself in Kansas, I always make plans because a goal or dream without a plan is just a wish. Now, do I always stick to my plans? History says I don't....I will hopefully try to and be able to accomplish the goals I have set ahead of myself. Some of the exciting things happening in Kansas this season is, I plan on coaching a local youth team. I recently got my coaching license, and it's a good HEALTHY way to stay distracted. I also shipped my car up there so I will be able to drive around this time and be more independent. The most exciting part probably though will be living with my teammate Edvin. We go back to playing together in Jacksonville, and last season in Kansas to now being roommates it'll definitely be interesting to say the least. Most of you probably want to know what happened while I was in Miami, basically worked for my father, played soccer when I could, went to the gym, and enjoyed the weekends. I lacked a lot of sleep this time around but did a lot more. No details this time around!! I did turn 22 while I was in Miami so that was like the biggest event that happened, along with my cousin having her first child Alexander "The Great"!! Anyways I PROMISE a more detailed post after some time in Wichita, after all with all the cold weather up there I'll be indoors much more and I'm sure I'll blog. I hope to stable my relationship with God as its an everlasting fight, Susan if you're reading this keep sending those verses through text message they brighten my day every time I read them. Thx you all for the support as always and love or hate. Whether you disapprove, approve, dislike or like thank you! I take the good with the bad always, and will always look for the positives in life. God Bless!!

Thanks to you.

Want to just thank all my readers for the support through the good and bad. I didn't open all the way up but I did open up to you guys to a certain extent. The support I got for yesterdays posts were awesome. I'm pretty happy I decided to post and not be selfish. I will continue to post as eventful things continue to happen. Just wanted to thank all you guys. Had over 150 reads yesterday alone, and the messages I got regarding the post made me realize I speak to more people than I thought. Till the next one.... God Bless

ATL-MIA-SPAIN-MIA-SPAIN

Edit: Mixed all my previous blog posts and made just one big one. A full complete update, enjoy! An update…Better late than ne…so cliche, never mind. Anyways last you guys heard about me I was on a plane on my way to Miami after failing to land a spot on the Atlanta Silverbacks NASL squad. When I got to Miami apparently my dad spoke about me to a friend of his who had a connect in Spain and told him that they could have me trial over there if I wanted too after seeing my resume. I would have to pay the flight though. I was thinking of not going, figuring if I didn't make the Atlanta team how would I make it to 2nd division club in Spain, but with my parents insisting that I go, and given this is my dream to play football overseas how could I say no? So I did what I do, leave Miami again, hop on a plane and continue to chase the dream. I came with a great mindset, my mindset was very much alike what you read in the last post about dreams. I was really close and connected with God and living strong and responsible. Just like I was in Atlanta as well. I thought I finally made that full conversion and let go of all things holding me back. Well in Spain I planned on staying a month, 2 weeks into training with the reserves squad and a few first team guys I was feeling great. The players & coaches had gotten a liking to me and things were going good. Then in the middle of a training session I feel a tear in my quad muscle, I finish through the rest of training (adrenaline) and then proceed to get a massage after training. While laying on the table the fisio of the team started to massage my quad when he felt the "gap" he tells me he's certain I have a tear. I'm in a lot of pain and he tells me he can't massage me he may make it worse. I was told to pass by later that day to get it checked out by the doctor. Sure enough we ran the tests and I had a tear in my muscle 3cm deep. It would leave me out at least two weeks, which was the rest of my trial period…..I decided you're only given a chance like this once, so I speak to the trainers, and manager and decide I will sit out a week and come back after that. So I do that, but when I came back I was definitely not at 100% I figured I had to suck it up and continue to push. Then my month of trial comes to an end semi-succesfully I guess. The manager and director speak to me and ask if I'd like to stay another month for them to have a better look at me. I oblige and say I'm starting to feel better with my muscle. The next session I decide to really push myself, I have a great session but feel in a lot pain again. I get checked out again by the doctors after training etc, they tell me I'm done. I ripped my muscle again, and to further play on it without proper rest could really affect me long term and that it wasn't worth it. I literally lay on the fisio table in tears bemoaning my bad luck & just so frustrated. I felt like I couldn't catch a break and was beginning to doubt myself. So I speak with the manager, and director again they tell me to get healed up and report for pre season, I feel lucky now and am so excited to get healed up and return. Miami, oh how I have this love hate relationship with you. I set up a 3x a week therapy sessions mixed with upper body work outs and rest/working for my dad. I needed to rehab for a month, after that I was cleared and ready to begin training and getting my body fit to return to Spain and hopefully land a contract! I would have a month to do so. I continue with the gym, but now I've added playing pick up games, some 5s a side, some 11s a side and training 2x a week with my "mentor" so to speak in Miami. I feel great and I'm doing well with some minor slip ups, of alcohol outings (nothing new), outings with girls (nothing new), and putting myself in situations where I think I'm allowed or better yet I deserve to be in, because of my hard work week. This takes me back to the dreams post, have you ever seen those YouTube videos of motivation and inspiration? Do you ever see partying, cell phone, girls, alcohol, in those videos? Na, you see sacrifice, dedication, willingness! But for whatever reason whenever I seem to gain any sort of small success I feel I deserve to do what I please. On the contrary when you have some success you need to prepare yourself even more for whats about to come! But na, I lie to myself and others with how I go about certain things. I give such great advice but can't seem to take my own. So anyways before I continue to get off topic, things continue to progress in that manner and before I head to Spain I take a weekend to go to Vegas to celebrate my brothers birthday. I won't even get into what happened in Vegas on here, but whatever we have a great time or whatever. But now it's time to leave to Spain, in my greatest natural form I pack less than 24 hours before my flight. At the airline a whole fiasco, this one I'm going to keep personal as well but a whole fiasco between my family pops off at the airport before I leave. Already in bad spirits and falling more out of touch with my relationship with God, and more into "my life" and doing it as I please. Anyways everything gets sorted out, I depart from my family with some strange, angry good-byes…I've never been good at this, but given what had just happened this made it one of my worst good-byes ever. About 14 hours later I'm finally back in the city of Valladolid and ready to get going. I rest for the weekend and get ready to report to training on Monday, for whatever reason I was in this "fuc* everyone" mode and was in thought process of like I'm here to play not make friends. I'm kinda embarrassed by my behavior that day in the dressing room. I basically walk in don't greet anybody unless they greet me, and tell the equipment manager where are my clothes? He says have you spoken to anybody about training today? And I responded yeah the director told me to report today. Which he snapped back well he's in Japan right now, so you can go have a word with the manager about training today. I stormed out, naturally embarrassed since I was confident I was about to train. I speak with the manager and we have a distasteful conversation that I won't care to repeat but now I was standing outside very frustrated, and angry. After speaking with someone in management I'm told to report to training on Thursday and to get there early to speak with the manager. That night I went home, and changed my thought process and began to humble myself. I did in my own way, but without prayer. It had been maybe a few weeks at this point where I hadn't really fell to my knees and prayed to God. I prayed to him, and gave him the occasional thank you but no serious interaction or relationship with him for quite some time. So thursday arrives, it's 830AM on the dot I arrive to the training grounds. Training doesn't begin till 930, there are no cars in the parking lot. I felt like I was waiting for my girlfriend to arrive after sending me a text saying "We need to talk" instead I just waiting for the manager. I was going to ask if I could be allowed to train and trial with them for the preseason as was prearrange. Me signing in Europe was HUGE cause my parents basically said they wouldn't support me no longer soccer wise after this. I waited for exactly 23 minutes what felt more like 2 hours, when the manager finally parks and I wait for him to get out of his car and walk to the door where I'm at. The conversation to make it short ended with me just asking to be evaluated honestly, that he knows I play left back and said we are kind of filled at that position to which I say just give me a chance to show you what I have to offer, if you don't like it it's fine if you do then good for both of us. Either way no hard feelings or anything I just want a chance, to which he said did you bring your running shoes? And I answered "Yes". He responded Go change and get ready. The first session dealt with a bus ride to the woods, where we ran this trail. After some stretching and warm up, we run 4 kilometers in 16 minutes, 5 minute break another 4 kilometers in 15 minutes followed by a 10 minute break then 7 sprints over a distance of 150 meters. My first day and I was gassed! I felt like all the running around Miami I did whether it was the gym, playing small sided, or beach soccer it paid off. Eric Thomas words kept playing in my head "When you wanna succeed as bad as you wanna breathe then you'll be successful!" I had that in my mind in the last 1/4 kilometer where my lungs were breathing heavyyyyyy I said to myself I'm gonna pass out before I stop running. I finished nicely at the top of my group. I was pretty satisfied with my performance, from there went home had lunch, a shake, rehydrated a bit and passed out till the next session later that day. I got out there and did well. It was an exciting first day. Fast forward now, two weeks later after my arrogance and unwillingness to pray or get my mind in a right state of mind I'm told my services wouldn't be needed. I get a call from a 3rd division team with a contract offer though, so not all is bad! The offer though is ridiculous and I must decline, and go back to a contract I'm already tied up with (happily I might add) the Wichita Wings. So where has my arrogance, and disrespect of myself gotten me? Not where I want to be. I feel like I suck at this thing we call life, I sound depressing I know but I'm not hear to write a fairy tale. I'm here telling you a story of my life, where maybe you can grab the good out of it and subtract the bad. It's currently August the 14th my flight back to Miami is the 21st. I have plan to "do things right" when I get back to Miami and prepare for pre-season in Wichita which I'm definitely excited about. I don't know how long before I fall off track with my plans, as I always seem to do. I'm beginning to lose confidence in myself and question how bad do I really want this "dream". It's all I know and it's all I'll ever chase, will I ever reach it to the success that I dream about though, I guess you the reader will have to stay tuned in to see. Keep chasing your dreams, and remember take the good from here. Miami on Tuesday and Wichita in two months from now…take care guys God Bless!!

Dreams...

This was written on 05/03/12 Sure, we all have dreams. We've always wanted to be the person that "made it" or be the person who was different in a good way of course. But a quote so simple yet so profound comes to mind when I think of dreams. "To get something you never had you have to be willing to do something you've never done." So sure, we respond with, "Well I never gave up fast food, so I'll start doing that". That makes the quoted statement true, so we expect a different result. I think the proper quote or what was meant by this was something more like "To achieve something you've never had, you must sacrifice what you value most." Sounds a little deeper, and it may even make you question what is then more valuable that "dream" or those things you know you have to give up but don't want to. When you talk about sacrificing things you value most, I'm talking about those afternoon days at a friends house, or those weekends with your friends, or that girlfriend consuming up so much of your time. I'm not one to say anything i have done this all backwards since I signed my first professional contract. But, I mean you constantly see people achieve dreams and defying odds and still manage to do it living recklessly. So you go on to figure you can do it as well. Or you say well they live that lifestyle five times a week, I'll do it twice a week and should still be able to achieve my dreams. When your thought process becomes as such, step back and revaluate how bad it is whatever it is you want to try to accomplish. I can't ever remember responding any different when asked growing up what I wanted to be, other than a professional soccer player. Today, I still say the same thing when people ask me. But now the follow up to that isn't what it used to be. It used to be, "Well you have to do good in school, be a good kid, and train very hard at every practice to achieve that." Now the follow up is "Oh yeah, you're 21 years old what have you done and/or what will you do to make that a reality." It can go into so much more detail like your sleep schedule, your training regime, your diet, drugs, alcohol, how much water do you drink a day, do you stretch every morning, the list goes on and on. People think training 7 days a week is enough to make it as a professional. It doesn't work like that, there are so many factors out of your control, you must do what you can in EVERY part of your life to be successful. I mean go back to when you were a kid and you said you had a dream of playing professional anything, if it was soccer you didn't say my dream was to play for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (no disrespect intended, I played there), but what I'm trying to say is when we dream we usually dream of playing in Barcelona, Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester, the biggest football clubs in the world. But we're not willing to give up a few things we grew up with, cause we weren't raised with the mentality of a professional since the chances of making it are so unrealistic. Michael Jordan I can't quote the exact of what he said but he said something like, On your way to the top you must be unreachable, too busy, and training to get there, but once you get there you must be able to be reached out too, spend time, and help while continue training. I remember me telling my mom one day, "Ma the first time I ever see Barcelona play at the Camp Nou I'll be playing against them." I have an unrealistic out of no where chance of possibly making that a reality, I'm aware of this. But to get spiritual here, listen it's apart of me and when God has a calling for your life and you do what He is asking of you, you'll bear fruit. For God didn't make any of us to live in lack of anything, He made us to live an abundance. Recently I've been praying and hearing God real close to my heart slowly tell me things I must give up. I won't lie He's asked me for a lot, something I'm even hesitant about because I'm human and think you know I can do it, or that I've done it before so I can handle it. Honestly, though it's been probably the most clear I've heard God in a really long time Him asking me for a lot of thing- well actually everything. I ask God everyday for the strength to be able to give up everything to Him and He be in control in my life so that I may live as a supernaturalist everyday, and in Gods presence and grace! It's so easy not too, and so hard to do so. But I'm really asking God for the strength to do so, and to be able do His will in my life correctly. God Bless

Break...

I have a bunch of pre written blogs as I still enjoy writing. I just haven't been posting I don't know why exactly but I just haven't really felt like posting...So for now no more updates, maybe I'll change my mind seeing as I've touched people all the way in Budapest. Maybe I'm being selfish, maybe I want some privacy, maybe I'm afraid to see what some of you'll think? Anyways for now...no more posts, hope all my readers are doing awesome. God Bless

An interesting story!

I got this in an email and loved it! It's a great read! Leave comments if you'd like....I'll update more on my things later on probably next month!

The boys and girls in Mrs. Stephens' fourth grade Sunday school class entered the room and quickly found their seats. The girls were dressed in frills and lace and chatting excitedly about the candy-filled baskets they had received that morning. The boys pulled at the unfamiliar ties around their necks and quickly discarded the sports coats they had obviously been forced to wear. The room was filled with excitement – for good reason. It was Easter Sunday.

Mrs. Stephens wanted to help her students understand that there is so much more to the Easter holiday than new clothes, chocolate bunnies and egg hunts. It is more than family gatherings and tables filled with luscious food. Easter is about life. Easter celebrates the certainty of Jesus' death on the cross, the fact that He was buried, and the reality that He came out of that burial tomb to conquer death – so that we can have life - eternal life with Jesus in Heaven and abundant life with Him here and now.

Mrs. Stephens came up with a plan. After sharing the Bible story of Jesus' resurrection, she gave each one of her students an empty plastic egg and said, "We are going to take a walk outside and I want each one of you to find one sign of life and put it in your plastic egg." As the children filed out of the room, Mrs. Stephens noticed Danny, a little Down syndrome boy who had been coming to her class for some time. His bright smile and sunny disposition had immediately won her heart. In fact, when it came to Danny, she often thought he had taught her so much more about the unconditional love of God and the joy of simply being a child of God than she could ever teach him. When she heard the other children make fun of him, it broke her heart. She always corrected the children and tried to help them see just how special Danny was, but Danny seemed oblivious to their hurtful words and thought of each child as his "buddy."

The children soon returned from their walk, depositing their eggs on the teacher's desk as they made their way to their seats. Inside one student's egg was a butterfly. In another was an ant. Others had collected flowers, twigs, blades of grass and leaves to fill their eggs. But one egg had nothing in it. Everyone knew whose egg it was. Mrs. Stephens silenced the giggles with a look of warning. When she asked Danny why he had not put anything inside his egg to show signs of life, his face broke into a huge grin as he responded, "Because the tomb was empty."

Danny understood the profound truth of Easter. The empty tomb is the ultimate sign of life and a miracle like none other.

Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. The women knew Jesus was dead. Some of them had seen Him die. And they were sure His body was in the tomb; it had been there since Friday. But when they went to anoint the body on that Sunday morning, the tomb was empty! The body could not have been stolen. Nobody was playing tricks on them. They were not merely fooling themselves. The miracle was real! They could see the empty tomb with their own eyes. Jesus Christ really had risen from the dead!

On this Easter weekend, spend some time thanking God for the miracle of life. And then share the good news with someone else: He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Let's Pray
Father, Thank You for the miracle of life – abundant life here and eternal life with You in Heaven. Help me to celebrate that life every day as I seek You and follow Your plan for my life. Today, I say with the Apostle Paul, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" In Jesus' name, Amen.


God Bless!

ATL decision...

On a last minute flight back home to Miami from Ft. Lauderdale. Obviously since I'm on this flight things didn't work out in Atlanta, coach gave me 20 roughly 25 minutes to play in this "next" opportunity. I came in and immediately tried to get into the attack, I felt I did as much as I could in the 25 minutes honestly. I got into the attack about 4-6 times twice whipping in some crosses, another time putting a through ball onto the striker going at goal, and a few runs at goal I made where the ball was played too long, or I didn't get played at but was making the run. Defensively I only had one, one on one on the edge of the 18 with arguably our opponents best player, I shielded the ball well as he tried beating me, and with composure outta the back I cleared the ball. That was just about the game. Coach spoke with post game and told me….


Right now physically your close, but not there yet and I feel like you didn't make enough of an impact on the game. I also don't notice a change of speed like a second gear like a pinging pass, and a quick movement. Regardless your a good player, and we went through about 3-4 left backs before you, and you were the closest to being signed. Unfortunately we just don't feel your quite there yet, we have you number though and can call you so keep training.


I defended my argument and case, but he turned it down and said to take this as advice and not criticism and to keep working. So I thanked him, shook his hand and was on my way. The guys that I was living with were bothered and felt I should've signed. I don't know if there opinions are biased since they got to know me as a person, but thats just the way it worked out this time around. The game of soccer is unjust, but so is life. You simply gotta make the most of your opportunities when they are presented, I didn't I guess. The whole time here though I prayed for Gods will to be done in my life, I begged God please do your will. If this is it, I take it with my head held high and continue to see what direction God wants to push in me next. For now I get to back and see my family and friends and REST (not for long though). I haven't seen my family since Xmas, and my older brother/best friend since October!

So like I said for now I'll be able to relax, and rest and enjoy my family, friends, and dogs! But after a little bit of resting it's back to the grind. I'm chasing a dream, no dream comes easy. I dream of playing in the first league in Australia and living there, that's a dream for me. You must understand in chasing a dream, especially one like soccer the odds are so against you making it, so against you achieving any form what so ever of success!! But with hard work, dedication, and it being Gods will I know I will succeed and come out on top. In this there will be many highs and lows but it's all worth it for when you do make it and you become a constant in the professional ranks. It's a grind, and that's what I'm gonna do get on my grind after I rest a bit. Count on it, I'm 21 years old I still have my season in the MISL with the Wichita Wings to look forward too, but I'm chasing a bigger picture, a bigger vision, and to attain it I must put in the necessary work required. This will be a tough task for me living in Miami as we all know my struggles there with distractions, but I believe I have a strong core of supporters mixed of my friends who'll hold me accountable, my family, and good friends. God is good, let Him take control of your life. Sow into the kingdom, and reap the fruits of your labor from Heaven. Should be landing soon, love you guys, the readers, followers, for all your messages, calls, texts, prayers, everything. Just another bump in the road!!


God Bless

2012 life wise

I've always been very open & personal in my blog. I feel like I never should have anything to hide so that is the way I go about things. I also feel as if these words, and life struggles, and success people will be able to relate to and learn from. Like that one time I got a touching email from the kid playing over in Budapest, that's what this blog is intended for.

So 2012, I was thinking big things, big dreams, big money schemes, etc etc. What has 2012 brought me instead? I went back to drinking ways, I got back into a partying lifestyle (like in Miami in 2010) and worst of all I got caught in a gambling habit, sports betting. With the mixture of all these things I manage to piss a way a ton of money, so much that I don't have money at the moment & was considering pawning old things like watches, jewelry, etc etc. I wasn't sure what do & how it would affect not only me but those around me. At the same token I don't think there are much bigger blessings than those that make you realize who will ALWAYS be there for you regardless of the situation. I got myself in such a big debt that I'm still paying off today but again I'm so lucky to have a brother & friends, who's helping me pay this off. It's no easy thing, admitting you messed up, and its definitely no easy thing putting your ego to the side. I've learned to do so though, I've learned ego is such an ugly thing. It'll keep you from receiving and doing so much, just because you don't want to look bad in the eyes of those who you thought mattered. When in reality the only ones that matter, can most likely be count with the amount of fingers you have and that's it. Obviously I haven't placed a sports bet since, and it doesn't interest me. I was thinking making money quick, instead I got myself in a hole that I couldn't get out of myself, thank God I have people helping me around me.....As far as the drinking goes, since coming to Atlanta, I've made a pact with God to no alcohol during my time here, outdoor requires a ton more discipline than indoor does. It requires more fitness, and more proper care of your body. So I've been successful in that so far, and I do it happily and willingly considering it'll only benefit me.

So that goes for my personal life. As for my continuing relationship with God oh Lord how it's had it's ups and downs. Recently though for about the past monthish or so, I feel on a little bit of high with God feeling so blessed to know that the creator of this whole entire world (think about that for a bit) loves me, and cares about me. God has always answered my prayers whether that be from my soccer career, all the way to making my fathers cancer disappear. God is always always always good. Its easier said in hindsight rather than when your "in the moment." The biggest change I've noticed in my relationship with God is the willingness to read His word and learn more about Him, also the desire to want to please Him by trying to be celibate, and make pacts like no alcohol to show Him the sacrifice I'm willing to make to play this game I love & give Him glory. Some may think well, giving up alcohol isn't all that hard...For me though, it's a daunting task to ask of. I love drinking alcohol, but I will deny my flesh the pleasure, and instead feed my spirit.

Lastly to finish up on my personal life I will speak about women. In 2012 women have been very kind to me, I have made good friendships of those who we were on bad terms with before, and I'm happy with where all my relationships with women lie right now. I'm currently dating a girl, and it's long distance so a pretty tough task but I'm happy for now with the way things are going and hopefully it'll continue to progress as such. I never get to into it about women on this, cause well thats not only speaking about me when this topic comes up, it involves speaking about others with me. So to be fair to all the women, I keep names and details absent from this blog. But yeah, life in 2012 has been no easy task, you figure as you grow you learn more but there you will continue to ask yourself when will you stop "learning from your mistakes." The answer is never, you can learn from your mistakes you've MADE, but there will always be mistakes in your future, so prepare for the bumps in the road ahead and keep your head high towards the sky. God is always there with open arms to help you. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Good day everyone


God Bless

MISL Season wrap up/Soccer update

I haven't written since last year...pretty sad. Usually (like most people) I get motivated in the beginning of a new year to write again or do something I haven't done in a while. Obviously that didn't happen. But anyways Vegas was crazy, so much going on it's a really awesome city but not for me honestly. I'll take Miami any day over it, but that's probably biased since I'm from there. I really enjoyed spending time with my family, and hanging out with them. Also gotta give a S/O to my girl Kristi she took me out in Vegas style and it was really cool, tons of fun, and no sleep hah. Overall I'd give Vegas like a 6-7 the buildings, shows, & food are a must while there but I guess for me I'll just take a beach over anything really, but you definitely have to go there once!

So onto the MISL & my rookie season. Last you guys read I was recovering from my injury I'd say I'm about 90% NOW just cause I never healed it properly, and there are still movements I can't do so that injury affected me a lot more than the 6-8 weeks than I thought. Anyways I was blessed to have two fantastic coaches and a whole bunch of great teammates my first year in the league, all the big expectations weren't made out to be with many setbacks during the season. But I feel good about next season, I've learned a lot about the indoor game the best way you can, by simply playing. We ended this season not making the playoffs, but we've definitely created a good bond and I'm excited for next year. The MISL refs though in all honesty really need to improve, so many bad calls I saw this year! I'm talking about calls that change the complexion of the game causing different results, they shouldn't have that much control in a soccer match. Oh well...right now Milwaukee Wave host Baltimore Blast for the 2nd game in the best of 3 series where the first match saw Milwaukee winning in convincing fashion 14-2 I believe. So for me I met a ton of great people in the league, and it's cool how everyone knows everyone in this league. Also playing in Wichita has been a huge blessing for me, I'm humbled and feel lucky to be apart of such a great organization, and to play in front of the BEST fans in the league!!! When you got fans waiting for you at the airport on a Sunday night that's love. You just won't find that anywhere else. I will be coming back to Wichita in October and I get jittery just thinking about it.

Also in my last post I wrote about going to the USL Combine, I gotta say I'm not a fan of it. It seems like a money scheme thing more than anything. And I don't say that cause I had a bad combine, I say that cause everything is so jam packed. Most players were exhausted by the last game or even second game. I definitely was considering my schedule that weekend, this is how it went for me.

Thursday - Game vs Milwaukee in Wichita 730pm ended around 10:30-11ish
Friday - Drive from Wichita to Kansas City at 2am 3 hours get to KC @ 5am catch a 6:30am flight.
Friday - Connect in Atlanta around 8:50am catch a 9:40am flight to Sarasota.
Friday - Arrive to Sarasota around 11am catch a shuttle to IMG Academies. Have lunch.
Friday - 3:30pm training session followed by a yoyo test got home about 6:30pm finally.
Saturday - 90 minute game at 11am
Saturday - 90 minute game at 3pm
Sunday - 90 minute game at 9am combine done at noon.


It's so ridiculous & hectic and most importantly unfair to the players! But oh well lesson learned, if you have another option besides the USL Combine, take it! So yeah the USL combine was not good to me, also considering I was kinda beat up from playing Milwaukee.

After that I wrapped up my season in Wichita which ended about 2 weeks ago today? I wasn't sure what I was going to do after the season so I called up one of my buddies who's playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks and asked him to get me in contact with the coach, I did & was asked to come try out and show what I got. I been here now for 11 days & for the first 9 days I was doing really well, I know I impressed and was getting along great with the guys. The training regime here has been really tough on me, given the fact I haven't rested for more than like two days in the past 6 months (aside from Xmas) has my body worn out. So doing these two a days was killing me, I kept up & produced a good work rate. Then I was told Saturday (yesterday) would be my like my main trial as we played host to Mercer University, unfortunately I played God awful, and had the worst performance since arriving to Atlanta, along with pulling my hamstring in the 55th minute and asking for sub out. Post game I asked the coach to have a word with him. We ended up deciding we'd speak over the phone cause he had to go.

So I called him and the conversation long story short was "How can I justify to the GM, President, & Ownder giving you a contract when you failed the exam, the main part today" there was a lot more open and honest conversation between the coach and I but it ended up with him saying the words a soccer player never wants to here. "Well we have your number, and we'll call you if anything." I knew what that meant, and I knew what time it was. So as I spoke with my parents, brothers, and friends I was trying to figure out when I was gonna go back to Miami when I got a call back from the coach. The call again to make long story short went like this "After reanalyzing your situation, I'm gonna give you another chance. We have a game Wednesday so rest today, tomorrow, and Monday get your mind right or whatever you have to do. Tuesday I'll see you at training, and Wednesday you'll have another chance." I was ecstatic, humbled, and thankful. Ecstatic to have another chance to earn a contract, humbled by the belief the coach had in me and his change of heart so quick, which I feel like quite honestly was God interjecting. Sort of like God saying, na na na na, these are the plans for my son, so He will succeed! So obviously thankful to God & the coach for a second chance, not everyday we get one but when you do....better be damn sure you make the most out of it. So that's where I am right now soccer wise, my next post probably tomorrow will talk more about my life, and how I 2012 has not been good to me, and my struggles in my personal life. Tune in for it read it!! God is goooooood

God Bless!!!