World Cup inspiring young Austin area soccer players
FOX 7 Austin’s Meredith Aldis met with the under-13 FC Westlake team and talked to them about the excitement currently surrounding the sport and the tournament.
AUSTIN, Texas – Young soccer players in Austin are excited and inspired watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Some of the players have been kicking a soccer ball since they were two years old.
“I think I fell in love with it as soon as I played it. I love the intensity and how much you run during the game,” 13-year-old FC Westlake soccer player Miguel Fernandez said.
They’ve learned the game, but also some life lessons.
“To have this medium on how we want them to grow up as wonderful human beings and teaching them through sports and competition, it’s wonderful,” FC Westlake Coach David Kenney said. “It’s about continuing to ascend, continue to improve, to never be content or complacent with where you are but wanting to take it to the next level.”
Coach Kenney has instilled perseverance in these young players.
“He’s taught never to give up, always try as hard as you can and give 100%, even 110%,” Fernandez said.
“Just to never give up, just to keep going as long as it takes,” 12-year-old FC Westlake soccer player Silas Alcedo said.
Now they’re watching their role models play in the World Cup in Qatar.
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“I really want to be like him one day,” said 13-year-old FC Westlake soccer player Ryder Fain.
They were imagining what it would be like to be them.
“To score in the World Cup, that would be a definite dream,” Fernandez said.
“I definitely can picture myself there scoring a goal and then knee sliding,” Fain said.
Coach Kenney said it’s possible.
“Ultimately, those dreams do happen. Some people call them dreams, some people call them goals, but at the end of the day, I think everybody loves that desire to compete and show how good they can be,” Coach Kenney said.
He said they are the next generation of athletes and when the World Cup comes to North America in 2026, one of them could be out there.
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