By Moses Leos III
The prospect of sweltering heat didn’t deter Dripping Springs native Zach Strohschein from hitting the gray, brown pitch at Gregg-Clarke Park Saturday.
Strohschein was one of roughly 80 participants who sought a semi-professional contract with the newly formed Central Texas Lobos soccer team.
For Strohschein and many others, the ability to play soccer at a professional level was ample motivation. But as a coach himself, Strohschien hoped to be visual for his own soccer players.
“There’s always avenues to play soccer, not matter where you are,” Zach said. “As long as you love the sport, you can do it.”
The tryout, led by head coach Jose Ramos, included athletes ranging in age from 17 to 25 going through various drills as part of the tryout process.
Many of the organizers were surprised at the turnout for the tryout.
“There are a lot of players here. If they’re looking for field players, they’re going to have a challenge,” Allan Chehadi, 22, of Austin, said. “I’m surprised at seeing all of the people here. It’s quite amazing.”
For players such as Chehadi, who himself has played soccer at the club and collegiate level, continuing the quest in the beautiful game was the motivation. Chehadi recently completed his senior year at Howard Payne University.
Chehadi said there was a lot of “good talent” on the field and there wasn’t much separating him from many of the other players. He believed his soccer background helped him in the tryout.
“I was playing at a high level and I don’t want to stop, I want to keep going. So, I might as well try,” Chehadi said.
Friends helped spur Lehman High graduate Mike Torres to take part in trying out for the team.
“I was kind of afraid,” Torres said. My friends were supportive. It motivated me to come out here and see what I can do.”
But Saturday’s tryout was also liberating for Torres, who was playing for the first time after tearing the meniscus in both of his knees.
While it was a painful process, Torres said he pushed himself to do his best. Achieving the ultimate goal of posssilby earning a contract to play professionally also drove him.
“It’s just a dream. To be a pro is almost every soccer player’s dream,” Torres said. “It’s part of mine. Hopefully I get the chance to make it as a pro someday.”
For Texas State student and Houston resident Muctarr Conteh, Saturday’s tryout was a continuation of playing a game he didn’t get to experience during his childhood.
Conteh, a native of Sierra Leone, grew up trying to avoid a civil war that ravaged the country during his childhood.
As a result, Conteh never got the chance to play soccer as a youth.
“Most of the time, I was fighting for survival,” Conteh said. “There was no right time to go out and kick a ball.”
Conteh, who emigrated to the U.S. with his family in 2001, said he didn’t know about soccer until his senior year of high school.
He competed at the tryout despite having less than two years of competitive soccer experience.
But for Conteh, the possibility of eanring a semi-profesioanl is a chance he would be “most grateful for.”
“If I were to make the team, I would be greatful to get the opportunity to play every week,” Conteh said. “If I don’t make it, I won’t be disappointed. I came out here and did my best.”
