| For Immediate Press Release - October 2007 | | | | general idea: keep the ball out of the net. |
| When the members of the '94 Wilmington N.C Cape | | | | Even though the weather was hot, over 90 degrees, |
| Fear Beakers Boys Soccer Club departed for Perugia, | | | | Alex was outfitted with a long sleeve jersey and his |
| Italy, they did not know what to expect. They did | | | | socks were pulled up over his knees. The artificial |
| know, however, that they would be training and | | | | turf, which was 10+degrees hotter than the air |
| participating in an international tournament that | | | | temperature, had given both of his knees and his |
| included players from several European countries as | | | | elbows a nice layer of raw skin. That was the price |
| well as the United States and Canada. Their coach, | | | | he paid as he had spent the week during practice |
| Antonio Saviano, tried to get them to understand | | | | and games hurling his body in every direction making |
| that many of their opponents would be bigger, | | | | acrobatic saves. |
| stronger, faster and better skilled than the players | | | | But now he was playing in the semi-finals as a guest |
| they were used to facing. There would also be the | | | | goalie for Italy and he could hear his name being |
| issue of playing on a larger field with Eleven players a | | | | called from the stands. As the opposition skillfully |
| side, instead of the usual eight vs. eight they were | | | | advanced the ball toward him on the attack, he was |
| used to. | | | | amazed at the accuracy of their passes. As he |
| When they got to Italy, their week was laid out for | | | | followed the play to the left he sensed that the ball |
| them. There would be two training sessions, morning | | | | would be crossed to the other side. In a split second |
| and afternoon, for Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday | | | | the ball was redirected to his right and out of |
| would be a sightseeing day and a chance to rest. | | | | nowhere one of the attackers rushed the goal in |
| Thursday through Saturday they would compete I an | | | | perfect time to deflect it with his head toward the |
| eleven-team tournament with at least two games a | | | | net. Alex instinctively lunged to his right and extended |
| day. The championship finale would take place on | | | | both arms. The ball seemed to be already in the net |
| Saturday afternoon. | | | | when Alex's out stretched arms punched it to the |
| At 9:30 Monday morning they all boarded the bus | | | | corner of the field, where one of his defenders |
| buzzing with excitement as they headed off to their | | | | cleared it down field. As he landed on his tender |
| first session. Although jet-lagged from arriving the | | | | elbows he heard the rhythmic chant from the crowd: |
| prior day, their enthusiasm overcame sleep | | | | ALEX! ALEX! ALEX! "Hmm. I guess they are rooting |
| deprivation. The parents spent the late morning | | | | for me" he thought. |
| relaxing in town, sightseeing, shopping and sipping | | | | When the game ended Alex came up to the stands |
| cappuccinos. When the team bus returned for lunch, | | | | to watch the next game. He learned that his new fan |
| however, the lack of sleep and demanding training | | | | club was a group of players who had a vested |
| session had obviously taken its toll. They boys were | | | | interest in a victory for Alex's team. Alex sat among |
| exhausted and were told to eat lunch and go to their | | | | his new friends getting acquainted, joking ,watching |
| rooms to rest and recover before their afternoon | | | | the game and exchanging sweaty jerseys as |
| session. Eleven year old Jack Sordellini was among | | | | souvenirs. Although there was a language barrier, |
| more than a few players who wondered "what did I | | | | they clearly knew they had a common bond. |
| get myself into?" He rallied, however, for next | | | | Later, after the top two teams played for the |
| session, as well as the two on Tuesday, but was | | | | championship, all of the teams and their parents went |
| always happy to return to the hotel to eat, swim | | | | down to the field for an awards ceremony. The host |
| with his teammates at the pool and just relax. | | | | of the tournament stood before a table of |
| Wednesday was a welcome day off, and many | | | | magnificent trophies for the winning teams. He |
| members of the team toured Rome and other parts | | | | thanked all of the participants and then gave out the |
| of this beautiful country. | | | | awards. The first one, he announced, was for the |
| On Thursday the games finally began. Jack could not | | | | 'giocatore piu giovane". Jack Sordellini did not know |
| wait and it did not take long for him to get what he | | | | what was being said, but he understood his own |
| came for. Playing at the right wing, it seemed that | | | | name and went up to accept his trophy for being the |
| every ball in the first 10 minutes of the match were | | | | tournament's "youngest player". |
| played to his part of the field and he was forced to | | | | The tournament director continued and then held up |
| make several long runs. The size and speed of his | | | | the next large cup which was inscribed 'miglior |
| opponents was as advertised and the larger field | | | | portiere". Alex Gianoplus heard his name called and |
| along with the pace of the game tested his stamina. | | | | found out that he was named the tournaments "best |
| Once again he wondered if he was in over his head. | | | | goalie". |
| The game finally settled into a less frenetic pace and | | | | The next day Jack and Alex waited patiently at the |
| the boys from Wilmington realized that they could | | | | airport to leave for home. They had checked all their |
| compete with their stronger opponents. This first | | | | baggage with the exception of a small carry-on and, |
| game ended scoreless in regulation time and | | | | of course, two huge trophies. As they waited for |
| Wilmington won on penalty kicks. They played the | | | | their flight, they sat and talked about their week that |
| balance of the schedule in a similar fashion, and | | | | seemed to start so long ago. |
| although they did not make the tourney finals, they | | | | Somehow their recollection of the week changed a |
| clearly earned respect. Their confidence grew with | | | | little bit. The Monday and Tuesday practice sessions |
| each match, both on and off the field. | | | | did not seems so grueling in retrospect. In their minds |
| Alex Gianoplus, 12, heard people in the crowd | | | | the opponents were not as large as they once |
| chanting his name, but who were they and how did | | | | seemed. The field shrunk a bit and any cramps from |
| they know his name? Were they cheering for him or | | | | sprinting in the blistering hot sun could not even be |
| against? Invited to be a guest goalie playing for an | | | | recalled. Turf-burned knees and elbows were little |
| Italian team, he did not understand the words that | | | | more than a faded memory....... |
| his teammates were saying to him, but he got the | | | | |