SALISBURY — It was an emotional day for Daniel Matangira, former Zimbabwe national soccer team player, co-founder and coach of the Piedmont Soccer Club, as they were one step closer to their goal.
On Aug. 19, he said that “all sorts of emotions go through my head because we have fought so hard for the last two years to have, especially, a girls’ team, and the reality of it is surreal,” adding that he was freaking out but in a positive way.
Not only was this a special time for the girls U16 team, the Lady Scorpions, but also for the young boys U12 team, named the Littler Tigers, which was forming as well.
“To have the little boys as well is kind of like a dream come true,” said Matangira, “because I was once that age group too when I started playing in Zimbabwe.”
The teams and family members gathered at First United Church of Christ for a special media day when team members met up with their coaches, met the team sponsors and the chance to reveal their jerseys, which included the names of their sponsors, which he expressed thanks for during the special event, noting that they had received grants and support from the Robertson Family Foundation and Jason Walser, the Margaret C. Woodson Foundation, Salisbury Foundation of the Carolinas, Carolina Tire Pros, Greg Alcorn, Matt and Gwin Barr, Dyke and Debbie Messinger, Chris and Beverly Fowler and Judy Klusman.
Mantangira shared that “because of that generosity, Piedmont Soccer Club is now able to offer partial scholarships to children who need financial assistance to play,” adding that with the support that the community gives, they are able to assist youth with additional resources, including taking part in tournaments with other clubs, providing uniforms and paying visiting soccer officials.
Not only did the teams get to meet the various individuals during the day, but they in turn were able to meet the team members and co-captains.
For the girls team, Sara Taylor Reddick, a ninth grader, and Camden Woods, a 10th grader, earned the title of co-captains.
Reddick said she has been playing soccer since she was four, and Woods noted that she has been playing since she was five, so approximately 10 years, she said.
To be selected for this role, Reddick said she felt it was because of leadership and perseverance during practice that she was chosen and that it was a “great honor and privilege.”
Woods added that she feels she is “a naturally loud leader and gives constructive criticism. I think I’m just a natural leader,” and said that being chosen to be a co-captain is “really something that I’m proud of. It probably means more to be a leader than to be the star player on the team, just being a role model.”
Reddick said she learned about the team being formed after seeing a sign outside her school after returning from school soccer.
For Woods, it was her mom who learned of the team, she said, and told her, “We need to get you out there, and I said, OK, get me out there.”
As team administrator Nicole distributed uniforms, they used this opportunity to have individual and team photos taken by Natalie Jester, who also assists with the marketing aspect of the team. Also assisting is Chloe Goho, who takes care of accounting.
When the U16 girls and U12 boys teams donned their uniforms, photos were taken, after which the girls gathered in a huddle and prayed. After the final photo was taken of the boys’ team, they asked if they could play, and grabbing soccer balls, they did just that.
The co-captains for the boys’ team were named, and a surprised look followed by smiles were on the faces of Mason Mitchell and Rafael Macias when that announcement was made.
When asked if they were surprised by it, Macias said he first thought they were in trouble or something but said he was happy and proud to be selected.
Mitchell said he had no clue when his name was called but said he felt good to be chosen.
Mitchell’s mother, Emily Mitchell, said that soccer has been Mason’s passion since he was six. They had previously lived in Atlanta, and he played for a club team there, and since moving here, she said, “We have been waiting to find our place here, and Daniel just walked into our lives. God put him here, and so here we are. The rest is history. We’re ready to get out there and play.”
Matangira noted that it is anticipated that the boys’ season would begin approximately the second week of September, which would provide extra time “to polish up some things.”
The girls’ team kicked off their season on Aug. 23 in Winston-Salem and will have its home opener this coming weekend at North Hills Christian School, where, along with the Parks and Recreation fields, the teams will be using, he said.
During the media day, Matangira told the group that the “girls’ team you are seeing today is the result of almost two years of tireless effort by these young ladies and their parent community, a community, a community that simply refused to quit on the vision of bringing a girls’ soccer team back to Rowan County.”
Matangira said that youth interested in joining may do so at any time. Contact piedmontsoccerclub.com for details.
