The Villages - July 2017 - 24

Kicking Off
Something
Special
Story By rICA LEWIS *
Photos By RoB WilkeRson,
GeoRGe hoRsfoRd & Michael Johnson

Brass cups, cherry wood plaques and resin-sculpted
athletes line shelves in the office. A signed soccer ball sits in a
glass case, adorned with a gold plate that reads, "Thank you,
coach Anderson. Forever Grateful."
But it's not about the trophies, said Anderson DaSilva, of
The Villages Soccer Club. In 2008, he was hired to do a job
- to coach soccer for The Villages High School. And he knew
from the start it would be more than a position. It would be a
mission. But he was up for the challenge.
DaSilva recalls the first game he attended, at which the
team suffered a severe loss. In fact there had been seven
years of losses behind them. And while DaSilva had a few
professional coaching offers on the table, he was determined
to see The Villages High School team succeed.
"The program was in trouble," DaSilva said. "We
desperately needed to develop a competitive club, but it
wasn't easy getting players to join. In the beginning, I was
begging kids to play. It took four years to really get the club
24

JULY 2017

established. I was picking kids up from their homes and
driving them to away games."
But things got better. "The international trips really made
an impact," DaSilva said. "It was exciting. We went to Spain
and Brazil. We started winning games and one of our players
earned a scholarship to Southeastern University."
With a new spark lit, the team was motivated. Five players
in particular were setting an example, DaSilva said, and their
enthusiasm was contagious.
But the trips weren't entirely game-oriented. The team did
more than don cleats and dribble balls on their second day in
Brazil.
"We planted trees," DaSilva said. "The players were
confused. They asked, 'Why are we planting trees, coach?' I
told them we were helping the world."
DaSilva said coaching is not just about teaching the game,
it's about helping kids develop character, learn to play well
with others and do their part in life, not just on the field.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - July 2017

Contents
The Villages - July 2017 - Cover1
The Villages - July 2017 - Contents
The Villages - July 2017 - 1
The Villages - July 2017 - 2
The Villages - July 2017 - 3
The Villages - July 2017 - 4
The Villages - July 2017 - 5
The Villages - July 2017 - 6
The Villages - July 2017 - 7
The Villages - July 2017 - 8
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The Villages - July 2017 - Cover3
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