Soccer Players to Represent the United States as People to People Sports Ambassadors in the Zico Cup Soccer Tournament in Brazil

Local soccer coach, Edward Andrajack with the legendary Zico. Andrajack will be traveling to Brazil again this year.

As reported here last January, on July 13, 2009 eleven (11) soccer players and a coach will travel from Minneapolis/St Paul to Brazil as People to People Sports Ambassadors. Over a two week period the players will attend training and skills assessment in Ito and Sao Paulo with professional Brazilian coaches. They will be placed on teams consisting of players from throughout the USA and compete in the Zico Cup in Rio de Janeiro. The Zico Cup is an international tournament featuring teams from Brazil and Argentina.

After being invited to apply, each player submitted references and participated in a successful interview with program coaches and leaders. Before departing they attended orientation meetings with a local coordinator and coaches to prepare for the journey.
The participants will also take part in a variety of cultural activities such as beach soccer, attending professional matches, fute volley, futsal, a service project (donating used equipment and school supplies) and several tours. In addition to building soccer skills, the players will earn academic credit while getting to know the people, culture and history of the places visited.

GIRLS
Chandler Babb, Southfield, MI (Charging Knights)
Amanda Cary, Columbia Heights, MN (Columbia Heights HS)
Andrea Osberghaus, River Falls, WI (River Falls)
Isabella Semolina, Delano, MN (Wright County SC)
Margaret Singer, Lakeville, MN (Lakeville SC)

BOYS
Joseph Carpenter, Janesville, WI (Madison 56ers)
Albert Dudek, Vadnais Heights, MN (NSSA)
Tamir Hussein, Falcon Heights, MN
Austin Kraenzel, Bismarck, ND (Dakota United SC)
Daniel Medrano, Bloomington, MN
Gary Raeker, Fridley, MN (Cruz Azul)

Coach: Edward (Etch) Andrajack Jr, White Bear Lake, MN (DeLaSalle HS)