The gap between American sports play and that of the rest of the world can be bigger than many people realize.
Count Tampa Dynamo FC’s U17 boys among the most recent learners.
This summer, the team took a trip to Europe to compete in back-to-back tournaments: Sweden’s Gothia Cup and Denmark’s Dana Cup Hjorring. Although the team didn’t win either competition, it came back to Plant City with a new perspective on the world’s most popular game.
“The style of play, it made me tougher,” forward A.J. Olivo says. “Everything was different. I learned how to be a great player.”
The team is coached by Mayor Rick Lott.
Rick Lott says exposing the boys to the international style was big for their development.
“The game over there is more physical,” Rick Lott says. “The ref allows more physicality. Each game, the boys got better and better.”
PACK THOSE BAGS
Although the Dynamo FC boys have played plenty of soccer in their day, they had never done anything on the scale of a full-blown European “business trip.” For the boys, it was a pleasant surprise.
“It was exciting,” Olivo says. “I was packing three weeks before the trip. It’s something everybody wants to do. You can ask any kid anywhere, and they’ll say, ‘Oh my God, you’re so lucky.’”
For Olivo, the reality sank in when the team boarded the plane.
“It was just like, ‘Wow, I probably won’t have this again in my life,’” he says.
When not on the field, the team got a chance to see a new part of the world. Although their schedules were packed, between soccer and sightseeing, the boys still found time to be boys.
“The coolest thing was the Swedish girls,” Rex Lott, Rick Lott’s son, says. “Our whole team got their Snapchats.”
JUST FOR KICKS
The team’s first stop was Gothenburg, Sweden, for the Gothia Cup.
The tournament, held from Sunday, July 17, through Saturday, July 23, saw teams from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and more compete in 4,000 matches. Dynamo FC made it to the second round of play in the tournament before getting eliminated. It was there the boys learned firsthand how different the overseas game is.
They began to adapt.
“Everyone has better touch, they play a lot harder and they’re into the game more than they are over here,” Rex Lott says.
Within two days, the team was in Denmark for the Dana Cup Hjorring.
That tournament, held Monday, July 25, through Saturday, July 30, was smaller, at 2,895 games. Dynamo FC fared better: it made it to the Sweet 16 round of its division before losing, 1-0, to a tough Norway team.
But the boys consider it another lesson learned.
“I learned to stay focused, concentrate and to not be scared to challenge yourself,” striker Elvis Castro says.
BACK HOME
Since returning home, things have been going well for Dynamo FC. The team recently began its regular season, picking up a 4-0 win in its opener, and are already planning for more tournament action.
The team has applied to compete in a Disney tournament around Labor Day, and Rick Lott says the team is considering a trip to Barcelona, Spain, next July to play in the 2017 Iberia Cup tournament.
Needless to say, the boys can’t wait for what’s yet to come.
“Playing soccer around the world, especially the place where soccer was born, it’s crazy,” Olivo says.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT DYNAMO
Tampa Dynamo FC, based in Dover, coaches kids in 16 age divisions and also hosts an adult league. It’s based out of Keith Waller Park, 1100 Sydney Dover Road, and also plays games at Summerfield Soccer Park, 11942 Big Bend Road, Riverview.
For more information and to register for camps or leagues, visit TampaDynamoFC.com.