Brazil Training Trip Day 5

For the Williams keepers and several early-risers who braved the dawn and dew, Friday began earlier than usual with the last goalkeeper session of the trip.

Following breakfast, the team reconvened as a whole for a one hour bus ride to the site of a much-anticipated rafting "adventure."  After a quick lesson on rafting commands (in Portugese) and safety protocol, the team strapped on life vests and helmets and filed into the bed of a large truck for a ride through the jungle to the rafting dock.

Groups of five players and one instructor piled into giant yellow rafts and started out on a scenic course through the jungle, calm and relaxed but for the periodic rapid falls and paddle splashing wars.   All involved breathed a sigh of relieve when all members regrouped at the end, safe and sound and ready to play another day.

An afternoon training session brought the team back to the task at hand, as they focused on ball movement, clean touches, and creative offensive patterns.  After a long day of sun and soccer, the team could have easily turned in at 8:00, especially in anticipation of a 6 A.M. wake up call tomorrow, but the girls rallied following some post-dinner downtime for a 9:00 futsol game ten minutes into town.

What was once fatigue turned quickly into adrenaline and excitement as the team witnessed the kind of Brazilian soccer that lies behind the pristine pitches and mountain views.  In a rundown gymnasium, against adolescent opponents whose footskills reflected a lifetime of small-sided pickup, and in front of a sea of adoring fans (the Motorola team they had played days prior had come to cheer them on), the team gained a new sense of passion for the game and friendly competition. At the end of two 20 minute halves, Williams went home victorious, 6-2, ready to pack and rest up before leaving Oscar Resort for the week that lies ahead.

The senior Ephs are teaming up to provide daily coverage from Brazil.