Tuesday, March 25
We had a minor change in schedule yesterday…the boys decided that they’d rather have some down time to relax or go shopping one last time for their final souvenirs and gifts instead of going on the tour of La Plata. We were able to give them two and a half hours of time to do their thing before loading up the bus and heading to lunch.
Lunch was another amazing meal at Lo Rafael. If anyone ever gets the chance to visit Buenos Aires, please find this restaurant no matter what…you’ll be very glad you did!
After lunch we were off to La Plata. It was about an hour drive, give or take, and the joke among the chaperones is that every trip is about one hour. That’s our tour guides favorite answer any time we ask how far somewhere is. It was a nice drive though and the weather was perfect.
We arrived at Estudiantes de La Plata training facility and were immediately impressed. I’m not sure what to compare it to back home…something like the SoccerPlex I guess, but with the most immaculate Bermuda grass fields (approximately 115 yards by 76 yards). Estudiantes is probably one of the top youth development clubs in the country. Their first team (professional team) is in the top 2 or 3 in the standings for the league, but they are very well known for their youth programs. They have a residency program set up so that kids from all over the country can come in and stay on site while attending school and training in a top class environment. It’s a similar set up to Bradenton back in the States, but this is just for the club!
Our games kicked off a bit later than anticipated. The storms from the other day actually tore the roof off of the school building so the kids were allowed to leave the campus to visit with family. So we had to wait about a half hour for the last few players to arrive. Once we kicked off, we were in for a great learning experience.
The ‘93s played first. I think we were a bit overwhelmed at first by the speed of play and the fitness of the Estudiantes players, but after about 15 or 20 minutes we settled into the game and were able to compete at a decent level. From my perspective, this game was by far our best learning experience in terms of seeing what the game is like at the highest levels around the world. The score at the end of the match was 4-0 in favor of our opponents, but we had a couple of chances to score and I think we earned some respect for our competitiveness and our talent level.
The ‘91s played next and it was more of the same for them. Remember, these are kids who are playing not just for the fun of the game…they are playing for the chance to turn professional and make a living for themselves and their families. Estudiantes scored an early goal but the boys kept after it and worked very hard. With about 8 minutes remaining, a poor back pass from an Estudiantes defender allowed Josh Patterson to strip the ball from the goalkeeper and he calmly slotted it into the back of the empty net. It was a great result for the boys, and it was their second draw of the trip.
We showered and changed in their locker room facilities and then it was off for another one hour bus ride…only this time, we were headed to Ricardo’s home for the BBQ. What a house! What a BBQ!!! When we arrived there was some grilled pork and some sort of grilled cheese (similar to a mozzarella stick I guess) for us to eat. The boys were in heaven. After about 30 minutes, we were called into the living room (yes, all 40 of us could fit in the living room) to watch a magician perform. The guy was good, and he was hysterical. When he had finished his show, we were asked to be seated at the tables and the meal began. I probably can’t remember everything that was served, but I know there was salad, potato salad, breads, beef, chicken, ribs, and on and on. The amount of food was almost overwhelming. The meal was followed by some ice cream. After finishing the meal some of the boys were in the back yard playing soccer with Ricardo’s son. Then it was time to load the bus again. I don’t think any of us realized that it was after midnight! They eat dinner late here, but this was definitely a unique evening.
We returned home and it was straight to bed for everyone. We have just returned from another very good breakfast and now have about 30 minutes to pack up before checking out of the hotel. This may be my last time to write before we head to the airport but if I can I will try to get another update posted.
I know we’ve all had a great time, but I think we’re all looking forward to getting home as well.
Ciao!
PARENTS: PLEASE BE ON TIME TO PICK UP YOU SON SO THE STAFF CAN GET HOME AS WELL! THANKS A LOT.
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