04/24/2026
Success is not only measured by what you have, but also by what you don't have to worry about.
Back in the days in my beautiful town of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, soccer meant everything to me. As a child, I'd go to soccer stadiums to look at the professional players, and I'd visualize myself becoming them.
After watching a game, I'd go home to practice and train on my own and at times along with my friends for hours. We idolized the soccer ball. Even if it was deflated, the ball held magic. All we needed were patches of grass. Since we didn't have cones or portable soccer nets, we'd pull out patches of grass, set them up next to each other to make our goals. Barefooted, we played on streets, running on paved courts not only battling players but also rocks. We played in very hot climates and thunderous rain. With limited access to soccer fields, we found any piece of land to play. We just wanted to play. To replenish ourselves after long fought matches, we drank coconut water, eat mangos, guavas, and sugar cane. This was my regular day-to-day. I am truly grateful for those days and cherish those moments.
Now as professional soccer coach, I want to pass down, spread, and teach my passion for the game. It's easier to coach players today. Soccer is more popular than ever. Kids have resources, fields, quality balls, training and game videos, and most importantly parental support. I want to help players take advantage of their opportunities.
I continue to learn from my journey. It's not an easy one, but it's fun, and I'm ready for it.
