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The Podcast Goes to Zambia…and Other, Closer Destinations

In the latest episode of Radio CaptainU, we look near and far at how soccer is being used to solve the world’s problems. We start in our own backyard with Urban Initiatives and then take a trip through the magical inter-tubes to southern Africa with Grassroot Soccer. Nate joins the podcast juggernaut and stumps me with obscure, forgettable, annoying trivia about the English 5th division. We dig into our mailbag to answer a pressing recruiting question and also meet the Neil Armstrong of CaptainU.

Listen Here:

Download: Radio CaptainU – Episode 5

Pato 2 – Genoa 0

Alexandre Pato was born on September 2nd, 1989. By this time, Paolo Maldini had already made over 110 appearances for Milan, Cafu was making his debut for Sao Paulo, and Ronaldo was five years away from riding the bench as a gap-toothed teenager for Brazil at USA ‘94. Pato’s getting regular time in Milan’s first team side now, and he’s stealing the spotlight away from his older teammates.

It’s amazing how quickly the top players develop. If you take a look at any professional league, there’s sure to always be a few players who have to take the metro to training (a la 17 year old Iker Casillas in his first year at Madrid), and they are standing out at some of the top clubs in the world. Barca has Bojan and Giovanni (17 and 19). Arsenal has got so many talented youngsters that David Bentley (who will eventually relieve Becks of his spot in the England midfield) and Steve Sidwell (now at Chelsea) left the Emirates, but check out Denilson (19) and Carlos Vela (18). Manchester United’s new young signing Anderson (19) is quickly replacing Paul Scholes. The list goes on, but Pato appears ready to top them all.

I was sitting on my couch this Sunday, flipping between FSC and Gol TV when Milan came on against Genoa. Pato was playing by himself up top – mind you Gilardino and Ronaldo were on the bench – supported by Kaka, Pirlo and Seedorf. So having just turned 18, he’s leading Milan’s attack and trying to save their season. When I turned 18, I had a season of college soccer under my belt, but was spending most of my time in the dining hall taking advantage of the soft serve ice cream machine.

Genoa managed to keep Pato under wraps in the first half, but he exploded in the second, scoring twice (#1 and #2) and getting Genoa’s keeper sent off on what should have been another goal. I could feel the excitement he brought to the San Siro, and every time he touched the ball I was just waiting for him to make some magic. He’s quickly moving up my list of favorite players, especially after seeing him cry when he scored in his debut. So here’s to The Duck, may he live up to the billing and keep embarrassing players almost twice his age (except when Milan plays Arsenal in February).

Quick shoutout to Kyle Altman, my club and high school center midfield partner. Kyle went to Trinity, where he captained the team that lost to Middlebury in the D3 final. New England took him in the MLS Supplemental Draft a few days ago and I can’t wait to see him suit up.

NYSE Bearish; NYRB Bullish

The Dow Jones Industrial Average may be down 246 points, but things are looking positively Bullish on the other side of the Hudson River. Rumors are that the Red Bulls are going to fully fund their youth development academy teams. In other words, any player who’s good enough to play in the NYRB youth system will be able to play for free.

This is an encouraging sign that the league both is eager to support the new Development Academy and that the players in the academy won’t be limited to those who can pay $5,000-$10,000 a year.