Defying Belief

Lionel Messi according to ESPN. 

Sooner or later, we all stop and gaze in wonderment at the marvels of the world. The Great Wall of China. How was that constructed? Stonehenge, Mount Rushmore or the Taj Mahal. How is it possible that mankind managed to create something so jaw-droppingly astonishing?

In soccer terms, so it is with Lionel Andres Messi.

This season, with one rather special match still to come, he has scored 72 times for his club, FC Barcelona, five times for his country and twice in friendly matches.

All those goals, plus 27 assists, meaning that his fingerprints are on more than 100 goals for club and country this term. It is a feat of such magnificence that, for the moment, it's hard to comprehend. The record Messi broke, that of Gerd Muller at Bayern Munich (68 goals), had stood for four decades and those on the list that Muller himself superseded mostly played 30-40 years before that.

Messi's 14 goals in the Champions League this season matched a record set by Jose Altafini with Milan in 1963 -- the Argentine is achieving what no other player has been able to in the modern era while these records lay untouched.

Already, at 24, He is Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

What is most attractive of all is his instinct for the big game. This isn't a predator athlete who inflates his statistics simply by grazing on the weak and the slow.

Thus far Barca has won three trophies this season. The Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid was an absolute epic -- Messi scored three times and created another. The European Supercup against a thuggish Porto side was a brutal test, and Messi scored one and made one. Then, the World Club Cup final was an absolute exhibition of a performance, worthy of applause from all around the planet -- Messi scored two, made two and won man of the match.

This summer he'll turn 25, a significant staging point.

Mature and no longer a kid, maybe, but with at least seven or eight major years still ahead of him, the junction he's reached is an intriguing one.

He's about to work under Tito Vilanova, only the third coach of his reign in the Barcelona senior team. Vilanova is one of the coaches who was in charge of Messi during his formative youth football years and has been instrumental in the flowering of the South American's genius over the past few seasons.

However, the world will be watching, hawkishly, to discover how Vilanova handles what is now an absolute megastar. In how he behaves, reacts, trains, plays and scores, Messi can help that process greatly. Bigger than that: the task ahead for Vilanova and Barcelona to try to overhaul an impressive Real Madrid outfit.

Like the Great Wall, Mount Rushmore, the Taj Mahal or Stonehenge, Leo Messi defies belief. 

Carlo Mosso

When He was just six years old, Carlo Mosso started to play soccer. He was born in the sunny state of Florida and his first team was the Strikers. Now at eleven years old, Carlo is continuing to learn and is playing soccer with the Florida Crushers.  He likes the Crushers a lot. “They’re a great team! Both Flavio and Marcio have taught me a lot.”

 Carlo loves soccer and to  him it is “a fun sport for whoever wants try it.”  Carlo’s favorite team is Brasil, but His true inspiration is “my dad. Because he’s kind of the pushy one.” 

With his father as his inspiration, Carlo wants to follow in the footsteps of his favorite soccer player, Ronaldinho, and become a professional soccer player. When his dream of becoming a pro soccer player comes true He wants to be known as one word, “Awesome!” As he is now. 

O competiam... El torneo... The tournament.

Go Crushers!!!  On Saturday May 12th the Crusher's teams will be playing in a tournament. While playing against some of the hardest teams in our community, they need YOU to cheer them on. Bring your bells, drums, and vuvuzelas to motivate and encourage our boys. See you there! Below is some information...

THERE IS AN ENTRANCE FEE OF $1.50 PER PERSON TO GO IN THE PARK.

11:30 PM-Fld2C Florida Crushers vs Broward Beast
1:00 PM-Fld2D Florida Crushers vs Casla Inc.
3:00 PM-Fld2E South Florida United vs Florida Crushers 
4:30 PM-Fld2B Semi Final 1 (Best Record vs 4th Best Record) 
4:30 PM-Fld2B Semi Final 2 (2nd Best Record vs 3rd Best Record)
5:30 PM-Fld2B 3rd Place Match (Semi Final #1 Losing Team vs Semi Final #2 Losing Team)
5:30 PM-Fld2C Championship (Semi Final #1 Winner vs Semi Final #2 Winner)


ADDRESS:
16801 MIRAMAR PKWY, MIRAMAR FL 33027

  

~COME AND CHEER THEM ON!~

Mariel Margaret Hamm

On March 17, 1972 in Selma, Alabama, a great soccer player was born. Mariel Margaret Hamm. Largely considered the best female soccer player in history, Hamm played with the United States women's national soccer team for 17 years, building one of the biggest fan bases of any American ahtlete. She was named FIFA World Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002.

As the daughter of an Air Force pilot, Hamm moved often with her family throughout her childhood. She credits her brother, Garrett, for encouraging her in sports. At age 15, she was the youngest soccer player ever to play for the national team. Hamm attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she helped take the team to four consecutive NCAA women's championships.

In 1991, at age 19, she was the youngest teammember in history to win the World Cup. Five years later, Hamm and her teammates, including Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain and Kristine Lilly, secured the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Athens, Georgia. They would return to win gold again in 2004.

Other accolades include being elected Soccer USA's female athlete of the year five years in a row (1994-1998), MVP of the Women's Cup in 1995 and the winner of three ESPY awards, including Soccer Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year. In 2004, she and teammate Michelle Akers were put on FIFA’s list of the 125 greatest living soccer players, the only two women and only two Americans to be named.

In 1999, she founded the Mia Hamm Foundation, which is dedicated to bone marrow research after her brother, Garrett, died of the disease shortly after the 1996 Olympics. Hamm was married to her college sweetheart, Christiaan Corry, from 1994 to 2001. Corry was a professional baseball player Nomar Garciaparra in 2003. Soon after helping her team win gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Hamm retired to start a family. 

Someone Who Likes What They Do

Flavio Espinheira came to the United States, from Petrópolis Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the second of October in 1996. He has been playing soccer since he was “one or maybe two...” 

While playing with his first team, the Petropolitano Futebol Club, he says there is one memory that he remembers. “I remember when I was young, I was playing a final and we lost the game. I was crying and all of the moms and dads were watching. I was five.”  

His inspiration, He says, is “Zico. I watched him play many times. He’s like my idol.” His favorite player was Zico, a Brazilian soccer player, but currently his favorite player is Messi, the Argenitian phenominon. His favorite team is Flamengo. 

 When Flavio is not playing soccer, he is watching it. He says, “Soccer is a passion… a day by day thing. For me, I wake up and the first thing I look at is the soccer news. I go to the websites… I’m reading all the news about my team. I’m always in touch with the soccer world.”

Flavio is a coach for the Florida Crushers and he loves it. “The Crushers are unique because it’s my first team really in America and these kids are amazing. You[sic] kids are awesome.”

As a coach and soccer player, Flavio wants to be remembered as “someone who likes what they do. Because the real good thing about soccer is that when you have the passion and you like to do it… it’s going to stay with you forever.”

~Thanks Coach Flavio for sharing your passion and heart with us.~

Coach Flavio teaching and training the boys at a Beach Practice.

Luka Urso

Luka Urso was 7 years old when he first started to play soccer. Although He was born in Miami, He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. His first soccer team was called Select. As a young boy he really enjoyed soccer. During that time with Select, he developed Sever’s disease, which stopped him by playing for four months. After his recovery, Luka was able to continue to participate in the sport He loves.

Luka has been playing soccer for 4 years now. He says that soccer is, “Amazing!” 

His favorite player is Messi and his favorite team is Barcelona, but despite the players and teams, he says his inspiration is “my Dad.”  

Now playing on the Florida Crushers, He is sharpening his skills everyday. To Luka, the Florida Crushers are unique.“They have more technical training then just, ‘Hey why you don’t you just do this and this… then why don’t you just make a goal’.” 

His goal is to be a professional soccer player. Luka wants people to remember him as “the golden footed soccer player.” One day, He hopes he will be.  

Crushing to State

"It was an early morning," says Daniel Forman, player for one of the Florida Crushers U-11 team. He was referring to the 3v3 tournament hosted at Brian Piccolo Park, by the Pompano Beach Hammerheads Soccer Club. This was the first time that all of the Crusher teams were together at one event. There was a U-6 team that got fourth in its division, a U-7 team that got second, two U-11 teams, one of which came in third, and the open team that won its division.

One U-11 player said, "It was a long day and we didn't do so good.” What he meant by that was that the team lost its first two games and tied the third. Then it met the other Crusher U-11 team who forfeited the game, giving them their first win. After losing the next game 10-0, they won another forfeit, and the U-11 team is qualified for the national championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.

Some of the players said, “It’s an answer to prayer!” Others said, “It’s a miracle!” And yes, it was all of that and more.

The open team dominated their opponents, except the host Hammerheads, who won the fourth game by one goal. The Crushers met that same team in the Final and beta them 4-3 in a very exciting match. The reason that rivalry was so strong was because at least three of the Crusher open teams once played for the Hammerheads. As Coach Ralph, who played for the open team said, "I played to go to Disney!" So did they all. It was a great day for everyone: Players, coaches, and their families. They are looking forward to the next national qualifier this May in Miramar. 

We are going to the Nationals in August at Disney!!!!

       GO CRUSHERS!!!!!!!    

Florida Crushers Team  - 3v3 Tournament at Brian Piccolo Park

2nd Place Qualification

Florida Crushers Team  - 3v3 Tournament at Brian Piccolo Park

2nd Place Qualification

Florida Crushers Team  - 3v3 Tournament at Brian Piccolo Park

3rd Place Qualification

Florida Crushers Team - 3v3 Tournament at Brian Piccolo Park

4th Place Qualification

CALLING ALL CRUSHER'S FANS!

Bring your Vuvuzellas, Horns, Flags and come to support our crusher's teams as the play in this saturday's 4th annual Pompano Beach Hammerheads 3v3 Challenge! This one day saturday tournament on March 17, 2012, will be AWESOME and FUN! The event will be held at: Brian Piccolo Park, 9501 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 and is hosted by the PBFC Hammerheads.

Come and support our Crushers teams as they take on the challenge of the tournament!   

The Incredible Kaka

Known as one of the most vibrant brazillian soccer players, 30 year old Ricardo, a.k.a. Kaka, has stunned the world with his talent and skill. He has won numerous soccer honors like the Fifa World Player of the Year award, the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, and the Fifa Club World cup Golden Ball to name a few. He was offered  a 231 million dollar transfer bid to Manchester City, which he turned down for Real Madrid.   

Being born into a middle class family in Brasilia, Brazil on April 22, 1982, Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite began his career with Sao Paulo at the age of eight. Unable to say his older brother's name, Rodrigo, gave Kaka his name.This young boy, who was so good in the youth ranks, signed a contract at age fifteen. Kaka acheived double figures in the two seasons following his debut at eighteen and was soon attracting interest from the world. At only nineteen, AC Milan won the race to catch Kaka for his signature.


Possessed with beautiful balance, a defense splitting pass, and superb close control, Kaka became Serie A's marquee player in his six years at San Siro. 


He has stunned audiences around the globe with his poise and ability to control the game. However Kaka is not just a world class soccer player, he is also a father and a husband, to his wife Caroline and two daughters, Luca and Isabella. He is also a devout follower of Christ which reflects in his playing.

Here are just a few videos to show his skills and goals.

THE BEEEAACCHH!!!!!!!!!

It was beautiful, sunny, bright, the water was perfect, and it was a Saturday... it was an AWESOME beach practice. A lot of kids came, ready, with their swimsuits and crusher's outfits on.
At practice, we focused on tipping the ball up and then moved on to hitting the ball with your head and chest. Daniel was throwing ball for Luca to head and was screaming, "Head it like you mean it!" It taught us control and thought. All of the kids were great! After doing many drills and having fun, we all raced towards the water, where we excitedly jumped in. It was cold, but nice since we were sweaty. It was SO much fun! Laughing and screaming in the water, the boys splashed each other as the practice ended. Throughout the entire practice, Coach Marcio had told all of the boys, "See? You can do it! You are getting better, much better!"
                                     
                                                    Learning, and getting better...

                                

The boys in John's group were so SILLY!

After, they all raced towards the water!

Uma prática incrível (An awesome practice)

"I want more you guys, give me more!"
If you go to a Wednesday practice this is what you might hear coming from Coach Marcio.
During practice, we trained and did drills so that we might improve our skill in futesol. Coach Marcio says, "Don't be shy to mess  up. Practice is all about getting better. You are always will be improving." Many of the drills helped us to concentrate without always looking at the ball, hitting the ball with the outside of our foot while running around cones, and following our passes. John said, "Practice was about passing, A LOT of passing!"

A Last Victory

Today was the last game that the Crushers will play in the Holiday Park Rec League for this season. The Crushers have enjoyed getting to work with new players and have chances to play other teams every week.

The Chargers vs. Crushers game started with the sounding of the ref's whistle. About ten minutes into the game Daniel scored the first goal. He swiftly dribbled through four guys and left footed the ball into the bottom right corner. It was an great goal. About five minutes later Daniel scored another goal about twenty yards out. He three-toed the ball and it soared right over the goalie and into the goal. The crowd was ecstatic!

Half Time!  Coach Marcio talked to the team about what they were doing right and what they were doing wrong. The players lined back up and the second half of the game started. The team fought hard. One corner kick was kicked and the ball rolled to Sebastian who nailed the ball right into a player on the other team which then bounced into the goal. The awesome mom's and dad's went wild. The game played on.

Fifteen minutes before the game ended, Luca had possession of the ball. From the left side he curved the ball over to the right side of the goal - making the score Crushers 4, Chargers 0. Five minutes before the game ended, the Charger's made a slight comeback. Their team was bunched up in front of our goal and one of their players was able to make a chip right over Collin and into the left side of goal. Despite this setback the Crushers still won their final game with a decisive 4-1 ending score.

The team played amazing. After the game, Coach John said, "This was one of their best games." This team of hardworking boys have played their best throughout this soccer season. Their perseverance and their attitudes were great whether they lost or won. What a great way to end this part of the year; with a final win, another chance to improve and another opportunity to play the game we love.

Way to go Crushers!

                                     Coach Marcio talking to the team during half time

                                                           Warming up together