Steven Goff of the Washington Post writes of a unique story about Alex Pama, a former youth soccer coach here in the US that is now the manager of SC Cambuur, who is fighting to gain promotion into the Dutch Eredivisie.
SC Cambuur is close to gaining promotion to the Eredivise and playing in the Netherlands' top flight for the first time in nine years. Why should we care?
Because Cambuur's general manager, Alex Pama, was born in Bethesda, Md., coached youth programs in Idaho, Arkansas and Georgia before arriving at the Dutch club three years ago. Under his guidance, Cambuur has pulled itself out of financial ruin, and this spring has advanced to the final round of playoffs for promotion. It will play top-tier club Roda (16th place among 18 clubs) in a series that begins Thursday.
With an American background, however, he needed to prove himself to a skeptical audience.
"Americans in football in Europe are not easily accepted," he said in a phone interview today.
"You come from a third-world country in soccer. As Americans, we look at the possibilities, not the impossibilities. In Europe, they want to see it; they're more negative. I was working at a faster pace that they are used to."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/cambuurs_dc_connection.html?wprss=soccerinsider
SC Cambuur is close to gaining promotion to the Eredivise and playing in the Netherlands' top flight for the first time in nine years. Why should we care?
Because Cambuur's general manager, Alex Pama, was born in Bethesda, Md., coached youth programs in Idaho, Arkansas and Georgia before arriving at the Dutch club three years ago. Under his guidance, Cambuur has pulled itself out of financial ruin, and this spring has advanced to the final round of playoffs for promotion. It will play top-tier club Roda (16th place among 18 clubs) in a series that begins Thursday.
With an American background, however, he needed to prove himself to a skeptical audience.
"Americans in football in Europe are not easily accepted," he said in a phone interview today.
"You come from a third-world country in soccer. As Americans, we look at the possibilities, not the impossibilities. In Europe, they want to see it; they're more negative. I was working at a faster pace that they are used to."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/cambuurs_dc_connection.html?wprss=soccerinsider
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