Day 3 - Soccer in the Shower - Scott Turnbull
My second day in paradise started with a kick to the door of our room as Tyler and I were late for the loading time on the bus. It seems our host decided to let the team sleep and cancelled our wake-up calls. So we were slightly. Luckily the bus was late and it turned out ok for us. Tomorrow will be better for sure!
Once on the bus we travelled to ABC Futbol Club’s stadium for a morning practice session on their training field. The concrete stadium was silent and empty but still had an energy within it that was amazing. The top ABC team was training immediately prior to our team taking the field to train with Beto. Coach Beto worked the guys hard throughout the session mainly concentrating on individual ball skills and counting to ten in Portuguese. Both skills showed improvement by the end of the session. There was a light rain coming from the overcast skies through the session but once again it was pleasant and not uncomfortable at any time.
Once practice had finished we returned to the hotel for lunch and a short rest before boarding the bus to head to the ABC youth team training facility to play our first match of the trip. The rain poured down as we stepped off the bus to play ABC’s Under 17 team. A tremendously skilled group of kids that definitely displayed a high level of skill and pace. The atmosphere at the facility was incredible, players from all of the ABC youth teams were training around us, watching the game and delving out comments that we could not understand. A high rise apartment under construction next to the field gave a great view to several construction workers who watched the majority of the game from various windowless openings in the structure. Another apartment building’s parking garage had kids yelling and honking horns as the game went on. It was definitely the most interesting atmosphere I have ever been a part of during a soccer game. Oh and did I mention that the rain did not stop during the entire game. At some points it was more powerful than any shower I have ever set foot in. The sandy soil luckily soaked in all the moisture and the vast amounts of rain didn’t affect the surface. Everyone watching and playing was completely soaked by the end of the match except the construction workers. The final score of the match was 4-1 but was a good first effort for a slightly nervous group of UMM players.
After another great meal at the hotel we headed to an open air mall for some souvenir shopping. As many trinkets as you could imagine and everything Brazilian was available. Our tired group finally arrived back at the hotel and will sleep well. However we are setting an alarm tonight….we don’t want to miss breakfast again!