Portero - noun - Spanish word for soccer goal keeper. One who takes care of a place or thing. Bouncer. Portera - feminine.
"Portero!" pronounced, "pa ted o" This is what they call Will this year in soccer. They also call him "Wheddo", pronounced, "Whey-doe" which is slang for Whitey. Will is 19 years old, and was invited to play in the men's Latin league in Shelbyville. His team is 3-1. Will is the only non-hispanic player out there. They won their second game 1 - 0. They also won the fight. One of our players, and two of their players were ejected. Will made some good stops, and had a really active game in the goal. Towards the end of the game, the other team got more physical, pushing the limits of the rules to gain an advantage. This is not unusual, but the size and strength of the players ups the ante for more serious conflict and fighting. One of their players lined up close to Will so he couldn't punt the ball away. When Will stepped away, the other player stepped with him. Jose, Will's team mate and long time friend, saw this, and yelled, "Kick him in the face, Willie Boy!" The other player backed off, not knowing if Will might actually kick the ball into his face.
The Guatemalan players on Will's team really like him. After the last game, one of them said, "Portero! You be here next week??"
Here are some pictures of our favorite Portero...
Will has had some good coaches and training along the way. In rec league, Coach Scot Farler and Coach Sandy were the very first influences.
Coaches Marc Mattasits and Kevin Smith were his first travel coaches. That is when Will first learned that he had some talent and a desire for goal keeping. This is also where the players learned to see and use the entire field.
Coaches Joe Martin, and Rick Moore, were rec league coaches when Will was playing U13.
Coach Marc Mattasits coached him again in Middle school, and helped him learn more advanced goalie skills. Marc was a good Portero himself, playing keeper in a local hispanic league.
Coach Richie Chadwick and Coach Prestwich directed the high school teams. They did a great job of keeping the club players motivated and focused, and at the same time teaching, and getting all the talent out of the high school team players. Everyone contributed to the success of the team.
His senior season of high school soccer was cancelled due to Covid. We are thankful that he played club soccer. Not everyone had that opportunity. The kids are resilient and tough, maybe more so than the parents. It was a strange year.
Coach Lee Brooks and Coach Zach Crownover led them from u14 through U18 travel soccer. They improved every year, winning the State Cup once, and being runner up twice. Their last year, they were D1.
Will enjoyed a goalie camp at UNC Asheville, and two camps at UAH in Huntsville, Alabama. He also got individual instruction from older keepers in Tullahoma. Adam Dorrell worked with Will when he was in middle school. Michael Duncan was the varsity keeper when will was in 9th and 10th grade, and was great to practice with Will. Michael broke his arm in a game halfway through his senior season. He finished the game with a broken arm, but that opened the door for a 10th grade Will to step up and finish the season. After Will graduated, it has also been fun to watch Ethan Anderson play keeper (and football). Ethan is another tough young man, very strong, and a great competitor.
Zach Crownover, one of his club coaches, was a wonderful teacher and encourager. Will has always had an aggressive style and attitude on the soccer field. Mark Mattasits and Zach helped him find his voice, and continue to grow as a keeper.
Recently, Will continues to play on Thursday nights, and weekend tournaments at Indoor with Jose. He also has been leading group and individual training for younger players. He is passing along his skills and love for the game to the next generation of goal keepers, aka, Porteros, and Porteras !