Soccer, Serbian-Style

Wes, Mikayla and Virginia are playing soccer (i.e. "futbol") on a local team comprised mostly of Serbian kids. This has proven to be a most interesting experience. The "futbol club" is known as FC Atacante, and if I had to guess, I'd say that there are 50 or more kids on the team. The club is divided into two groups -- kids aged 8 and under, and kids aged 9 and older. Virginia and Mikalya are one of four girls on the younger group, and when all of the kids are there, there are probably 20 or more boys in that group.

As most of you know, Europeans take their futbol very seriously. Not surprisingly, kids' futbol here is an entirely different beast than kids' soccer in the U.S. First, the clubs operate year-round, not just seasonally like most soccer programs in the states. The kids practice several times a week, and also on the weekends, and they usually have games on the weekends, as well. The weeknight practices (aka "trainings") are intense; they are held in an indoor gym/basketball arena, and are focused primarily on ball-handling skills. I'm here to tell you that these Serbian kids know how to handle a soccer ball!

In fact, Mihailo, our kids' extraordinary coach, has added one practice per week for the "foreign kids," i.e. non-Serbian kids, whom he has recognized "need a little extra help." This practice is held on Monday nights, and is really great because it is often a small group of kids, and they get lots of attention from the two coaches. Our kids have made tremendous gains in the short amount of time that they've been playing with this club.

The girls played in their first game a week ago Sunday (Wes was sick that day, so he wasn't able to play in his game). They were two of three girls in the game, and it was just great to see both of them right in there with these Serbian boys -- many of whom were older, faster and better than the girls. Neither Mikayla nor Virginia let that stop them, though -- they worked it, and didn't shy away from the action. I've included a few action shots from that game.

This past Sunday, the Club boarded a bus, and went to Jagodina, a town about an hour and a half south of Belgrade. What made this trip so special was that it was part of an official visit of the acting U.S. Ambassador (aka "Charge d'Affaires"). Charge Brush had been invited to the town to meet with the Mayor, and because her son plays on this particular soccer team, she arranged to have the whole team accompany her and play a soccer match with a local team in Jagodina. After the match, the kids were treated to a huge Serbian sit-down lunch, while the Charge dined with the Mayor! Apparently, the visit was a big deal in Jagodina, and although our team lost all three matches (despite Wes' 2 goals!), the kids ended up on the news, and generally were treated like royalty. What an experience!

Hope ya'll are enjoying December wherever you are. Thanks for reading.

Erin