AMATEUR Yo Soy Fútbol

About the Book

In 1994, the year of the World Soccer Cup here in the United States, I had the opportunity to meet who for many (not for others) is the greatest professional soccer player the world has ever seen: Edson Arantes do Nascimento. In this event organized by the NCAA to present awards to the best college and university players the great Pele would affirm: “every professional soccer player has in mind an amateur player that was better than him when they both started the dream.” But what requires becoming a professional? Why is it that out of 1000 players that try, only 1 fulfills that dream? Could it be talent? Discipline? Character? Fortune? Connections? Destiny? Or perhaps is a combination of all of these factors? However, what happens with those players with so much talent that stayed half way? How an amateur soccer player is perceived when he demonstrates week by week that he deserved to be part of the chosen one? AMATEUR Yo Soy Futbol tries to pay tribute to those players, coaches and local teams that put all their passion and talent for over 50 years in our community. This beautiful sport, our beloved soccer, is now a vital part of our Latino identity here in the United States.

About the Author

Álvaro Mercado egresado de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de Saint Mary’s College y San José State University ha trabajado como docente en las preparatorias del distrito escolar unificado del valle de Salinas, California. Actualmente ocupa el puesto de profesor interino de Lengua y Literatura Española del colegio Hartnell.