Weather Interrupts Belvedere Plans in South Carolina
Monday 16th August 2004
Belvedere Under 16's Premier and Major teams' trip hasn't quite gone to plan.
Both teams played on Wednesday, with the Under 16's Premier team having an outstanding win over Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) Under 18's Premier side, winning by 6 goals to 1.
Belvo Under 16's Major side fell to their first defeat, losing by the odd goal in 3 to Columbia Soccer Club Under 16's.
This was an extremely close game with the Major side going down to the winning goal, three minutes from time.
Then, believe it or not, the weather took hold and Thursday's games were rained off.
Things went from bad to worse as Hurricane Charley headed for Charleston and there was a voluntary evacuation of Charleston and Mount Pleasant, so our weekend had to be cancelled.
The host families in Greenville were only too willing to hold on to the boys, as they didn't want them to let them go in the first place !!!.
Their hospitality and generosity saved the weekend.
Both Belvo teams trained on Friday afternoon under CESA coaches and a new schedule of games was drawn up.
On Sunday the Under 16's Major team had a closely contested game against CESA Under 16's Premier in which Belvo snatched a draw in the last minute, as the game finished 1 - 1.
The Premier side played Hernandaz, an adult side from the South Carolina Mexican league and in an enthralling and exciting game came out the better by 2 goals to 1.
Both teams are in action again this evening so more later.................. Gerard Mooney reporting.
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Good Start for Belvedere in South Carolina U.S.A.
Tuesday 10th August 2004
Everyone arrived safe and sound in Greenville on Friday. The Belvedere party stayed in Best Western Motel until Monday.
Both Belvo Under 16's Premier and Major teams trained Saturday morning and evening under Pearse Tormey, while on Sunday morning they trained with their Belvo coaches.
On Monday, both Belvo teams played two warm up games each. The Under 16's Premier team won 4-0 against CESA 18 Challenge, and 14 -0 against CESA 17 Challenge.
The Under 16's Major team won 5-1 against CESA 15 Premier and drew 0-0 against CESA 16 Challenge.
The main games are starting tonight.
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. Belvedere Head for South Carolina U.S.A.
Best wishes to Belvedere Under 16's Premier and Major teams who fly out to Atlanta, Georgia on Friday morning 6th August.
On arrival at Atlanta, the Belvedere party will then catch a flight to Greenville, South Carolina, and when they reach their final destination, they will have been travelling for over 14 hours.
Gerard Mooney will lead the party of 44 (which includes players, coaches and parents) as they embark on, what promises to be, the trip of a life time.
This visit has, once again, been arranged by former Belvedere star player Pearse Tormey, now a top coach with the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy.
In Greenville the players will stay with host families until Thursday.
The Belvedere Under 16's Premier and Major teams will spend the weekend training and acclimatising to the hot conditions in preparation for playing a number of matches throughout the week against Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CeSA), which has a playing roster of some 2,700 players from age 6 to 18 year olds.
On Thursday the Belvo party will drive 3 hours to Charleston to play matches against Charleston Battery F.C. and Mount Pleasant F.C. over the weekend.
Monday morning it's back to Greenville and the host families, and another series of matches for Belvo against Carolina Elite Soccer Academy, over the rest of the week, before departing for Ireland on Friday 20th August.
Overall, the experience gained, both on and off the field, should prove invaluable for both Belvedere Under 16's Premier and Major teams as they prepare for the new football season, which starts at the end of August.
This will be Belvedere's second visit to South Carolina, at the invitation of Pearse Tormey, as the then Under 13's Premier team spent two great weeks there in 2002, as guests of Saint Giles United Football Club, who have since become part of the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy.
View Carolina Elite Soccer Academy web site >>>