Soccer Blog From Peru - No. 2
5/24/2009 10:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DAY 1
We wake up starving. Ready to eat. At home, we might have a Grand Slam from Denny's complimented by a huge carafe of orange juice and a pitcher of water. Conveniently, the restaurant is a 30 second walk from our rooms; also on the resort campus. However, after breakfast we realize why eating habits can be so conducive to bad heart health.
Peruvian Breakfast-
Papaya juice
Croissant with marmalade
Healthy Start to your day
Denny's Grand Slam-
Sausage
Eggs
Hash Browns
Pancakes
Water
Orange Juice
You need a nap afterwards
Although a majority of the team was somewhat disappointed with the portions of food that were served, we all took it in stride, knowing that eating routines are different all around the world. I would be appear deceitful if I did not admit that I too was hoping for an early morning feast. However, instead of sleeping until lunch, like I probably would have chosen to do if I did inhale an entire days worth of calories in 20 minutes, we walked around the resort with our jaws on the floor in amazement of what we saw.
The resort is built on the foothills of “mountains” or “hills”, (depending on where you were born, Midwest=mountains,
Once a few members of the team spotted these waves, we did not care how cold the water was. They were too big to be ignored and left untouched. Once we realized this, we ran out into the water as if we were being chased by rabid dogs. This group of 18-to-22-year-olds went into the proverbial time machine and became seven again. We were jumping with the waves and pretending to float as they hoisted us off the ground and defied all laws of gravity. We were screaming at the top of our lungs in enjoyment. If a group of beautiful young women were to walk by us and hear our child-like screams, I do not think they would be impressed. Nevertheless, the genuine pleasure that we were getting by trying to body surf these waves surpassed any exterior beauty of any woman, man, place or thing. The ocean energized the ten of us in a certain fashion where it did not matter what our darkest problem was. There was no time to think about anything else. We were enthusiastically focused on the next wave and how we were going to ride it in.
Between walking around the resort and lunch we had a light, one hour training session where Coach Mims tried to play mind games during warm-ups, he was successful in fooling Seth and Greg; 5v2 keep-a-way; and 5v5 possession. The objective of this practice was to get the jet lag out of our legs and prepare for tomorrow's match. After traveling for over 12 hours the day before, this type of recovery is a must. It not only gets rid of the heavy feeling in our legs, but it reconnects us with one of the main reasons we are here, to play soccer.
Lunch was much more expansive. It included limeade, pasta, salad and ice cream. The team consensus was that this meal easily made up for breakfast. In fact, everyone on the team would recommend the dish to be served at home. Our doubts of not being fed to our standards were still up for grabs but the fear of being starved was diminished.
After lunch, we took a 15 minute “ice bath” in the ocean as that was the best emulation possible. Almost everyone became accustomed to the temperature. I say almost everyone because Akin was not having any of it. Watching him try to take an ice bath anywhere is like watching a horror movie. The pains and expressions of his face rival that of someone who is being tortured. His entire body seems to reject the temperature and one tough dude can become so vulnerable so quickly. I better watch what I say though, because if Akin reads this I may not be able to write anymore blogs.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of staying at Club de Regatas is the dynamic of the club. It can be compared to an upper scale country club that is inhabited by people who are always curious of who that group of young men are in the “white and blue”. Everyone that we walk by seems to want to know who, what, and why we are what we are. Even if they do not ask us questions, you can see the curiosity and inquiry in their eyes. It is unfortunate that there is a language barrier that separates many of us from communicating and conveying intellectual philosophies of life with them. However, it is important to understand that if there was no degree of separation between people the world would lose much of its mystery and intrigue. It would turn into a videogame where the result would be predictable and consequences would never end in true loss. Rather, a quick push of the restart button would allow everything to set back up the way it was before. This is why it is such a valuable experience for us to understand different cultures and find answers to why? What? Who? All about
DAY 2
Game time. No jokes. I hope the funny tone in my writing is extinguished and a sense of Spartan victory is relayed through my words. We are a band of brothers today, storming
Before we arrive at the stadium we had a 40 minute bus ride through
If you have ever seen the
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Game- Creighton 4 vs. S. Cristal 4
On a perfect pitch, in a typical South American stadium, surrounded by over 50 armed policemen, (in prevention of riots for the 1st team game that will soon follow), there was an unusual score line for Creighton soccer but a very familiar effort from the boys in white.
In a typical professional fashion gifts were exchanged by the players before the game. Creighton players handed out t-shirts in exchange for banners displaying the Cristal emblem. After a pre-game photo the match began.
Early on in the game we went down 1-0. In response after Tucker Sindlinger was taken down from 45 yards out, Jeremy Wittig whipped in a free kick that found Greg Jordan's head from eight yards out.
However, Cristal responded with two goals and seemed to have a bit of confidence and arrogance back in their demeanor. It was unfortunate for Cristal that they did not know the “never say die” attitude of Creighton soccer. The first half ended 3-1 in favor of Cristal. (On a side note Wittig was the first Creighton soccer player to have a stretcher brought out to him. We assure you he was fine while giving the universal thumbs up after taking a knock.)
Cristal quickly found themselves only up one goal after Wittig stepped up again and won a 50/50 ball from a Cristal defender. He then proceeded to play a 1-2 with Byron Dacy into the box, where this time, Wittig was taken down for a penalty. Dacy stepped up and blasted the ball into the corner of the net.
At this point the level of play has just jumped another notch as you can sense that a professional Peruvian club does not want to lose to an
Unfortunately, the Peruvian side Cristal through their dynamic, technical play found themselves up 4-2 with a cross finished by a beautiful diving header.
A few minutes later Jordan wins a tackle at midfield and plays a perfect through ball to Dacy who gives a little shimmy to the goalkeeper and tucks it away.
Now the score is 4-3 and the intensity is at mach five. The pace turns electrifying and the need for the next goal is dire.
However, with every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Jays reaction was a through ball from Jordan out to the left wing where Seth Sinovic took a few touches and whipped in a ball with pace that was fortuitously handled in the box by a Cristal defender. Creighton gets another penalty kick. I thought that Dacy hit the ball about as hard as possible on the previous penalty, well he fooled me. This second penalty was hit so hard that when it ricocheted off the post it almost went out of bounds for a throw in. Although Dacy missed the penalty, we were still thirsty for the equalizer.
Our craving for another goal was satisfied with about four minutes left in the game when Kris Clark hit a free kick from midfield that found Thomas Gjoesund's head. Gjoesund flicked the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net.
A few minutes later the referee blew the whistle and Creighton came out with a well deserved tie.
|When we got back from the stadium we all had to take ice baths in the ocean. This time our recovery routine was shortened when Brian Holt spotted what looked like a trash bag but realized that it was a jelly-fish and again, 18-to-22 year old men went into the proverbial time machine, and we all sprinted out of the ocean in fear of being stung, a very rational concern since some jelly-fish are extremely dangerous.
Finally the night ended with a Peruvian-Asian feast, a culinary delight in sharp contrast to breakfast. It was like we were kings. Traditional Peruvian meat was blended with Asian spices, creating a magnificent meal. I ate so much that you could have rolled be me back to my room as the circumference of my stomach was that of a blimp. Before I rolled myself back, the head director of soccer and of all sports for Club de Regatas gave a heart-warming speech about how privileged they feel to have us stay here for 10 days. In return, Coach Warming admired their hospitality and thanked the club for being such a graceful and generous organization. It's bedtime...I'm stuffed.
Nick Goldreich
