Cleats, Goals & Conversation

Guest Links:  https://www.centralcoastunitedsc.com/, https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/.

Music:  "Everything Is Working Out" by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist, licensed under Epidemic Sound.  Original work available at https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/d82030d0-11ae-4ed6-b8c0-54046531b869/.

In this bonus episode, I sit down with my 11-year-old nephew, Mateo Aquino from Central Coast United to talk about his experience playing club soccer.  We discuss how he got started, what practices and game days are like, the friendships he's made through the sport, and his biggest soccer dreams.  Plus, we have some fun with a rapid-fire round and hear what advice he has for other kids who want to play.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:06

This is Sir Just Says It Straight. Straight talk. Real people. No filter. Say it straight or don't say it at all. What's up, everyone? Welcome to another episode. Thanks once again for all you listeners and supporters for tuning in. Today, I have a very unique guest, 11-year-old club soccer player, Mateo Aquino. Alright. Just a disclaimer, he is my nephew. So I wanted to bring him on. Today we're going to talk a little bit about obviously club soccer. Kind of get his origin of like how he began, how it all got started. Mateo, how are you doing today? Welcome.

SPEAKER_02 1:03

Good.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Good? You're doing good today? Yeah. Alright, you a little nervous? Yeah. It's okay. You don't have to be nervous, okay? Um what did you do this morning when you woke up? What's the first thing you did this morning?

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Uh watch TV.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

What did you watch on TV this morning?

SPEAKER_02 1:24

YouTube.

SPEAKER_00 1:25

YouTube? What was the thing you watched on YouTube? What are you into?

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Like reaction videos.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

Reaction videos. Kids love reaction videos. I I I that's what I hear a lot, okay? Uh are you into any kind of video games right now? Any kind of TV shows? What are you into?

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Soccer.

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Soccer. But what about video no video games for you?

SPEAKER_02 1:47

Not really.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

No? Just soccer 24-7 all day long? Yeah. I bet your mom loves that, huh? Yeah. Um, what about um do you you don't like any anything outside of soccer besides just playing all day long? Do you do anything else besides that?

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Uh I bowl with my dad.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Okay. On Thursdays. On Thursdays. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

And I just practiced today.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Oh, you did? Yeah. Uh this morning or earlier on today before you came over here?

SPEAKER_02 2:16

This morning. This morning. I got two strikes.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Oh, wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

And my goal, my goal was 70 to get 70, and I got 111.

SPEAKER_00 2:25

Oh, nice. Congratulations on that. I know 100 is is is good. I don't even think I can get 100 on most days. So good for you, kid. Um, okay, so what grade are you in? First, first of all.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

Fifth going into sixth.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Fifth going into sixth. So, how did you enjoy this last school year? Did you enjoy it or what'd you think?

SPEAKER_02 2:44

It was alright.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

It was alright. And it was what do you guys what do you guys call it these days, kids? Mid? It was mid.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Yeah, it was mid.

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Yeah. All right. Uh, a lot of friends in school? Yeah. Okay, so you get along with your classmates pretty well? Yeah. Okay. Are a lot of your classmates soccer players too?

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Yeah. Are some of those teammates from your from your school or your classroom?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

They used to. They used to. Like two.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Okay. All right. So let's start by asking you this. How long have you been playing soccer, Matteo?

SPEAKER_02 3:16

Six years.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

Six years? So that means that you were five years old when you started playing soccer?

SPEAKER_02 3:22

Six.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

Okay. Oh, you were six when you started playing soccer.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

Okay. And um how did you get into playing soccer? How did how did that all begin?

SPEAKER_02 3:32

I remember that it was like one season in rec.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

I started getting better. Okay. And then I started scoring a lot of goals. So then I started like liking it a lot more.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

Who signed you up for soccer? Was it your mom or dad?

SPEAKER_02 3:45

My mom.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Okay. Was it your idea? Was it your mom's mom's idea?

SPEAKER_02 3:49

My mom's idea.

SPEAKER_00 3:50

Your mom's idea. Okay, so if it wasn't for your mom, then you probably wouldn't be playing soccer right now, right?

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Okay. And then what position do you play?

SPEAKER_02 3:58

Holding mid.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Okay, holding mid. Since I'm not, let's just pretend that, you know, people don't understand what that means because I don't, I'm not a soccer player, so I I never played soccer. Where are you on the field? Like if you're a holding mid, where where are you? Middle in the back? Like in the front?

SPEAKER_02 4:16

In the middle.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:18

In the middle before the wait. After the mids.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

Okay. And so does that mean that you're on defense? Yeah. So you're you're preventing the other team from scoring the soccer or the ball into the goal, right? Your goal.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Like if the if the mids lose the ball, then I'm there.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

Do they always do they lose the ball a lot in your team?

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Yeah, kind of.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

They do? Okay. And then what's your club soccer team name?

SPEAKER_02 4:46

CCU Central Coast United.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

And is that in Santa Maria, California?

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Okay. And how long have you been playing for that team?

SPEAKER_02 4:56

Uh I don't I don't really know.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

A couple months, maybe? A year. Not even a year, maybe.

SPEAKER_02 5:01

Actually, I think I started in second grade.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

Oh, in second grade? Okay. So then this is this is a team that you've been playing for a while then.

SPEAKER_02 5:08

Yeah, but before it was it was called Albion.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Albion. Okay. Do you like the name now or do you like the name before?

SPEAKER_02 5:16

Before.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Okay. And why? Is it sounds better?

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Okay. And what's your what's your soccer number? What is your number out there on the field?

SPEAKER_02 5:25

99.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

99. So 99 on the field, but number one in your mom's heart, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

And do you enjoy your mom being out there watching you play soccer and your dad? Who goes more out there? Your mom or your dad?

SPEAKER_02 5:40

Both.

SPEAKER_00 5:41

Both of them? And uh who's louder though?

SPEAKER_02 5:45

Before it was my mom. Before it was your mom? No one.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

No one?

SPEAKER_02 5:49

No.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Okay. And uh do you like them being out there watching you play soccer?

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

Okay. And do you have any brothers or sisters that play soccer?

SPEAKER_02 5:58

Yeah, my brother.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Who what's your brother's name?

SPEAKER_02 6:01

Milo.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

Milo? And what is he playing? Does he play for club too?

SPEAKER_02 6:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

Okay, so shout out to Milo. I think your brother played for the middle school, Lakewood Junior High. Shout out to Lakeview Junior High. And then he's also playing for club, right? Your brother plays for a club? Yeah. Okay. So you guys keep your mom very busy, Matteo.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

So, right? She's always busy, right? A bunch of drop ops, drop-offs, and pickups. And of course, you're just happy your mom takes you, right? Okay. Um, what's your favorite thing about soccer, Matteo?

SPEAKER_02 6:37

Defending.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Defending. You just like you love making sure that they don't score on your team. Yeah. Okay. I like defense too. Okay. I wasn't a soccer player, but I used to like I like playing defense on on other teams. I played basketball and I played football. Uh, so I love playing defense. So I I understand where that cut where you're coming from on that, all right? Okay, let's do a fun question, Mateo. If you could have any superpower on the soccer field, what would it be?

SPEAKER_02 7:06

To see everybody on the field.

SPEAKER_00 7:08

Okay. So that would that would be like very that would be an advantage, right? Because you can see everything happening everywhere at all times. So you would know what to do, right? Yeah. So they would never score on you then.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

That's what you want? Nobody to score on you guys?

SPEAKER_02 7:22

Yeah, I can see like where everybody's at and okay. If they're coming after if they're coming after me.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Okay, I guess I I like that. I like that. Okay, another fun question, okay? Would you rather score five goals or make five amazing assists?

SPEAKER_02 7:40

Five goals.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

Five goals. What does it feel like to score a goal? Is it like opening up a present and Christmas or your birthday? Is it a really good feeling?

SPEAKER_02 7:51

Yeah, it feels good.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

Yeah. And then uh how long does that feeling last? Does it last for a while? Or do you just forget about it and you just continue playing after you score?

SPEAKER_02 8:00

For me, it lasts for a little while.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

Yeah. So you still feel that happiness and the energy?

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Yeah, and like boost my confidence.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Oh, that's awesome. Okay. And I know you you you're a pretty good goal scorer, from what I understand. I I've seen you play before. So I know that you score goals. Um, and this last tournament that you guys played in, I know I I understand you guys won the tournament. You guys played in Ventura, and you guys did win. Did you score a goal in that tournament?

SPEAKER_02 8:28

No, I was playing defense.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

You were playing defense, right? But you used you used to play offense too, right? Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

I used to play center attacking mid.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Okay. Do you do you miss it?

SPEAKER_02 8:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

So you'd rather be playing offense? Yeah. Okay, because because of that good feeling of scoring a goal, and you're like, go, and you run around all crazy. Do you do you take your jersey off and do cartwheels and all that stuff?

SPEAKER_02 8:50

No, I don't sell it.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

No. You just keep it humble. You just go about your business. I like that. I like that. Okay, so your mom signed you up for uh rec soccer, right? Recreational soccer. And that's how you first got started. Um did you like soccer right away or or no?

SPEAKER_02 9:08

No.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

No? Why not?

SPEAKER_02 9:11

I just didn't. I wasn't like comfortable with it.

SPEAKER_00 9:15

No, no. You just weren't, you just what what did you have any other interest at that time? Were you like, oh, I'd rather play basketball or something else?

SPEAKER_02 9:24

No, at that time we were just looking for a sport for me to play.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

Okay. And then you stuck with it. So I'm glad you did. So good for you. Um, and what's your favorite? Do you have like a favorite soccer memory? I know you've been playing for six years now, right? Do you looking back at all your teams that you've played for, rec, club, is there anything that comes to your mind and say, Oh, you know what? That is my favorite memory about playing soccer. Do you have one?

SPEAKER_02 9:52

No.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

No?

SPEAKER_02 9:53

I like all my memories.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

Okay, so just scoring goals, defending, defending your your goal.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Yeah. Okay. I remember this one time. I it was my it was the first season. Uh-huh. I was about to score my first goal and then I tripped at the end.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

You tripped?

SPEAKER_02 10:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

Oh my gosh. Was any did anybody laugh? Or or how did you feel after that?

SPEAKER_02 10:14

I didn't I didn't even feel anything because I didn't care.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

Okay. That's that's a good attitude to have. You kind of just brushed it off and like, let's continue to play, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:23

Yeah, I was like so close.

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Okay. All right. Well, thank you for sharing that with us, Mateo. Um do you remember your first goal?

SPEAKER_01 10:33

No.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

You don't?

unknown 10:35

No.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

That was too far too long ago?

SPEAKER_01 10:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Okay. What about what goal do you remember that was like, oh my gosh, that was an awesome goal. Like in rec or club? Do you have one like that? Oh yeah. Yesterday. Yesterday?

SPEAKER_02 10:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Who did you guys play?

SPEAKER_02 10:52

Uh Chivas.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Chivas.

SPEAKER_02 10:55

They were older than us.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Oh, they were older than you guys.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

It was a tie too.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

So you did you score the tie and goal?

SPEAKER_02 11:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:02

Okay. Fantastic. So I'm sure your family, your mom, and your dad was very happy. You scored the tie and goal. When you went home after the game, I'm pretty sure that was a good feeling, right?

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Okay. Um, let's talk a little bit about club soccer. What's the difference between rec and club soccer? Is there a difference?

SPEAKER_02 11:26

They bunch up, they don't know what to do. Really? They just kick the ball.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

So do you think rec ball is more like just to have fun? And then club ball is like you're learning more and you're getting better and better and better.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

Rec, like there's only like two good people in in each team.

SPEAKER_00 11:47

Yeah. Were you one of those? Yeah. All right. Let's let's not let's be humble, right? Not just kidding. Good job, Mattel. No, I like that.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

In club, it's like you have to do more stuff to score and to pass around the field.

SPEAKER_00 12:01

In club.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:03

So do you think the practices are a lot harder in club?

SPEAKER_01 12:07

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Because you have to remember more, right? You have to do more.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

And in club, do you have to learn how to play many different positions? Not just defense, but you have to learn how to be like a goalie. You have to learn how to play offense. Do you have to learn all positions?

SPEAKER_02 12:24

Uh, I don't know about goalie, but I don't know. I don't know about that one.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

If your coach asked you to play offense, you you could play offense, right? You can be a I don't know what they call them, a striker. Is that what they call them? You could be a striker.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

I'll play done, Rick. I was I was good at that.

SPEAKER_00 12:39

Okay. Um and how often do you practice, Metal? I know you like to practice a lot, but in a week, Monday through Friday, how many times do you practice a week?

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Uh Tuesday and Friday, and sometimes like in the middle of all that.

SPEAKER_00 12:59

Okay. So sometimes there's like a uh an additional practice, an extra practice sometimes? Yeah. Do you like those?

SPEAKER_02 13:04

Yeah. Sometimes uh I get like a private session with my coach.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

On Mondays.

SPEAKER_00 13:13

And do you work on on certain things to make you better? Like how to defend better or or how to get to the ball faster or I work I work on everything. On everything. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

Like footwork.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Oh, footwork. And footwork, footwork is very important, right? In soccer? Yeah. You have to have good footwork.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

My coach always tells us to do footwork.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Okay. Do you practice footwork at home though? After practice?

SPEAKER_02 13:38

No, not after.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

No? Okay. Um, do you have like somewhere, do you have like a goal in your backyard or somewhere where let's say you just had your dinner or you had lunch on a Saturday or something, and when there's no games, do you ever go to the backyard and just kind of play and practice and try to get better?

SPEAKER_02 13:57

Yeah, I I shoot a lot.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Okay. So what does shoot mean is you you just kick the ball into the goal a lot? Is that what that is? Okay. Uh and uh how long do you do that for in your yard?

SPEAKER_02 14:09

Like 30 minutes, probably.

SPEAKER_00 14:11

30 minutes? That's pretty good. Uh and after that, you're you're are you tired? Exhausted?

SPEAKER_02 14:18

Not really.

SPEAKER_00 14:19

No, you're but you're ready to go to YouTube and watch videos after that?

SPEAKER_02 14:23

Yeah, I'll shower.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

Of course, right? You don't want to be stinky, right?

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:29

Okay. Um what's the most fun part about soccer for you?

SPEAKER_02 14:37

Uh I don't I don't really have the fun part.

SPEAKER_00 14:41

No? You don't like you don't you don't have fun out there playing soccer?

SPEAKER_02 14:44

I I do, but like I like everything.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Okay. Uh what do you prefer? Practice days or game days?

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Game.

SPEAKER_00 14:53

Game days? Do you do you feel like you have to be different in your mind from a practice to a an actual game?

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

Yeah?

SPEAKER_02 15:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

So you gotta be a little bit different, right? The way you think when you're out there? Okay. So it's a little, what do you think? A little harder?

SPEAKER_02 15:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 15:12

You have to be a lot more focused in the game.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

Okay, there you go. That's the word I was looking for. Focused. Alright. Um, and then what's your favorite drill at practice? Do you have one?

SPEAKER_01 15:25

No.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

No? You just like to go out there? Yeah. Okay. Um Do you have a drill that you don't like?

SPEAKER_02 15:33

Yeah, sometimes it's footwork because I get confused a lot.

SPEAKER_00 15:37

Okay. Like from your right, right, from your left?

SPEAKER_02 15:40

No, I can I can do left.

SPEAKER_00 15:42

Oh, okay. All right. Um let's talk a little bit about your team, okay? So what's what's your team name again?

SPEAKER_02 15:50

CCU.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Do you like your teammates?

SPEAKER_02 15:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Who's your who's your who's your favorite teammates out there? You can do some shoutouts right now if you have like a favorite teammate.

SPEAKER_02 15:59

Uh probably Ricardo. Ricardo? He's a good defender.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Okay. So he plays in the same side you're at? Like you guys are both defending at the same time?

SPEAKER_02 16:10

He's like, I think he's a left back or a right back.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Oh, okay. I don't know. But you guys are defense.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

And Isaac.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Okay. Isaac, is he another defender?

SPEAKER_02 16:19

No, he's a striker.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

A striker, okay. So he gets he gets to score the goals, huh?

SPEAKER_02 16:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Does he score goals? Yeah. Okay, good. Uh, is there anyone on your team that makes you guys laugh? From your teammates?

SPEAKER_02 16:33

Probably all of them. All of them? Levi.

SPEAKER_00 16:36

Levi. He is he like the clown? The team clown? Like he makes everybody laugh. He keeps it fun. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

I've been on this team for like kind of a long time in Rec and in All-Stars.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

Okay, well, shout out to Levi. Thank you for making everybody laugh out there, making it fun. Um, do you guys have a team celebration when you guys score a goal or when you guys win?

SPEAKER_02 16:57

No. No. Most of us just don't celebrate.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

Okay. Um, let's see here. Do you do anything before a game that you do every single time? Like you wake up, you go to the soccer field, right? Like, do you tie your shoes a certain way? Do you have your jersey on it? Do you put your jersey on a certain way or anything like that? Anything like that?

SPEAKER_02 17:24

No.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

No? You just go out there and play? Yeah. Do you get nervous before a game?

SPEAKER_02 17:29

I put on my goggles.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

Okay. And so you have to have your goggles to see, right? Or else you can't. Yeah. Okay. Do you get nervous though before a game?

SPEAKER_02 17:38

Kind of.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

You do? It's no it's normal to be nervous, right?

SPEAKER_02 17:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

But then once you're out there and playing, you're having a good time, right?

SPEAKER_02 17:44

Yeah. Sometimes I get like really nervous, but then when I play, it gets fun.

SPEAKER_00 17:50

Okay. And then once you start having fun, then does the time go a lot faster during the game? You don't think about the time anymore? You're just out there having a good time?

SPEAKER_01 17:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:00

Okay. Um, I'm gonna ask you a couple questions real quick about cleats, okay? What's your favorite cleats? Do you have a favorite pair? That you have that you own? Do you have several pair pairs of cleats, or do you just have one that you wear all the time?

SPEAKER_02 18:14

I have one that I wear every time.

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Okay, what kind of cleats are those?

SPEAKER_02 18:18

Predators.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

What color are they?

SPEAKER_02 18:21

Like red.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

Red? Bet you they're nice, huh?

SPEAKER_02 18:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:25

Okay. Did your mom buy those for you, your dad?

unknown 18:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

Was it like a special gift? Or was it just like, oh, we're gonna go buy you cleats?

SPEAKER_02 18:34

Yeah. Like that.

SPEAKER_00 18:36

Okay. What's your favorite jersey number that you've ever had? Your favorite number?

SPEAKER_02 18:41

Uh seven.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Number seven. Okay. What's your favorite snack after practice?

SPEAKER_02 18:49

Probably like fruit or yeah, fruit.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

Fruit? Okay. Very refreshing, huh? Yeah. Any specific fruit you like? Like oranges, watermelon?

SPEAKER_02 18:58

Oh yeah, oranges, oranges? Strawberries.

SPEAKER_00 19:00

Strawberries, okay. Awesome. Uh do you have a favorite tournament that you've ever played in?

SPEAKER_02 19:09

Uh the one that I just won.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Inventura? Yeah. Okay. Did you guys get some cool medals?

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

Yeah? Where'd where'd you put your medal when you got home?

SPEAKER_02 19:21

There's like some like a shelf where I put all my balls at. Uh-huh. And then there's like something that holds the medals. I just put it right there.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

Do you have a couple medals already?

SPEAKER_02 19:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:31

Awesome. All right. Uh, who is okay, you gotta you maybe you have to think about this one a little bit. Who is your favorite soccer player?

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Ronaldo.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

Ronaldo. Uh which team do you cheer for uh from the big clubs? Like from the Euro teams or MLS or Real Madrid. Real Madrid, okay. Why are they so awesome? Because Ronaldo played Oh, he played on the but he doesn't play for them no more, right? No, okay.

SPEAKER_02 20:03

Uh yeah, and I and I just like him.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Okay. He's just a cool dude?

SPEAKER_02 20:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:07

Alright. Uh what's your what is your goal for soccer? Like, do you see yourself playing soccer until you're older? Do you want to be like a professional soccer player one day?

SPEAKER_02 20:18

Maybe.

SPEAKER_00 20:18

What team would you play for?

SPEAKER_02 20:21

Uh I'll try to go to Real Madrid.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

Real Madrid?

SPEAKER_02 20:26

Or maybe my first team, like one of those, one of the LA teams.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Okay, like what? LAFC or or LA Galaxy?

SPEAKER_02 20:35

I don't know which one.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Just an LA team? Yeah. Have you been to one of their games before?

SPEAKER_02 20:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:40

Was it fun?

SPEAKER_02 20:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Okay. Anything that you think about right now that it's like, oh, that was so fun from any of the soccer games you've been to. I know you, I know you went to a Miami game. Uh you went to go see uh the MLS team game in Miami. I know you've been to uh LA Galaxy game. I think you've been to Colorado and seen a MLS team out there. I think it's the Colorado Rapids. I think you've been to San Jose and watched an MLS team out there as well. Any particular one that you like the most?

SPEAKER_02 21:10

The LA Galaxy.

SPEAKER_00 21:12

Yeah. What was so fun about it?

SPEAKER_02 21:14

It was like it was more hype.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Oh, you like the hype, huh?

SPEAKER_02 21:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:19

Okay. Um if you could be a professional soccer player and play anywhere in the world, where would you play?

SPEAKER_02 21:27

Uh Europe.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Europe. Everybody wants to play in Europe, huh?

SPEAKER_02 21:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

That's the spl that's the spot. Yeah, a lot of kids love Europe. That's all they talk about.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

That's where the good teams are.

SPEAKER_00 21:37

Yeah. So you don't think there's any good teams out here? Compared, I mean, compared to Europe, that's where the best players are, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

Okay. Um, let's talk about uh a couple of quick questions, okay? And then we'll get we'll we'll get you out of here, okay? Okay. Alright. Um You're gonna tell me which one you prefer, okay? Messi or Ronaldo?

SPEAKER_02 21:55

Ronaldo.

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Goals or assists? Goals rain game or a sunny game?

SPEAKER_02 22:01

Rain game.

SPEAKER_00 22:02

Practice or tournament?

SPEAKER_02 22:04

Tournament.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Defense or offense?

SPEAKER_02 22:07

Offense.

SPEAKER_00 22:08

Early morning game or evening game?

SPEAKER_02 22:10

Early. Early.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

Early morning? Okay. Pizza after the game or ice cream after the game?

SPEAKER_02 22:17

Ice cream.

SPEAKER_00 22:18

Ice cream. World Cup or Championship League?

SPEAKER_02 22:21

World Cup.

SPEAKER_00 22:22

Fastest player on your team.

SPEAKER_02 22:26

Me.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

You? Okay. Love the answer. Okay. Now, before we leave, is there any advice, Matteo? Now that you're 11 years old and that you've you've been playing soccer for a few years now, is there any advice that you would give a kid that's younger than you that they're gonna be playing soccer for the first time? It's gonna be their first season, whether it be rec or club. What advice would you give them?

SPEAKER_02 22:52

Just be confident and don't think bad about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

Fantastic. I love that answer. Uh, and what do you love most about the game?

SPEAKER_02 23:03

I don't really have I don't really love something most.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

You just love it all, huh?

SPEAKER_02 23:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

Great. Um is there anything that you before we leave, is there anything that you would like to tell your teammates out there, your coaches, your family? You got a microphone in front of you. Is there anything that you would like to tell them?

SPEAKER_02 23:24

Thank you for being my teammate, my coach, and for helping me like guide myself to be a better player.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

All right. Is that for everybody out there that's that supported you since the beginning? Okay, Mattel. That wasn't so bad, was it?

SPEAKER_01 23:40

No.

SPEAKER_00 23:41

Okay, Mattel. Well, thank you very much for coming on to our our episode today. Uh, I appreciate you taking the time. I wish you the best of luck in your club team. And then when is your next tournament? Do you know?

SPEAKER_02 23:56

No, I think I think in July.

SPEAKER_00 23:58

In July. Okay. Well, best of luck to your team in July, and hopefully I get to make it out there and watch you in one of these games or tournaments uh coming up, okay? Okay. All right. Well, thank you, Matteo. All right, guys. Uh, if you would like more information on club, soccer, or rec ball in the area here in Santa Maria, California arcade, I will post a link. Uh, thank you so much for your listener for listeners for coming on today. Uh, thank you, and we will see you next time. If you're enjoying the podcast and want to help support future episodes, you can check out the link in the show notes. Your support helps keep the podcast going and it's greatly appreciated. Also, please leave a review and share with friends. That Sergio says it straight, or the truth comes out. Whether we planned it or not, catch you next time.