ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605020015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PEARISBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
The recent tour of the New River and Roanoke valleys by Pereslavl Zalessky, a team of Russian high school soccer stars, has given the team an up-close-and-personal look at life in the United States.
Pereslavl Zalessky's four-game exhibition tour featured contests against Christiansburg, North Cross, Radford and Salem high schools and was arranged by the nonprofit organization, Pangaea Inc.
Last season, Pangaea sent a team of area soccer players to Russia as part of the organization's efforts to sponsor understanding between the citizens of the two nations through athletic competition.
One member of last year's squad, Giles junior Robbie Claytor, said the opportunity to visit a foreign country was too good to pass up.
"Pangaea called me last year and asked if I would be interested in going to Russia to play soccer," Claytor said. "I was really excited that they asked me to go. All I had to do was ask my parents. They thought it was a good opportunity as well. They were really supportive."
Claytor joined B.J. LaFon and Jason Randolph of Blacksburg, Jason Adkins and Chris Jones of Christiansburg and Matthew Gilmore of Radford as New River Valley representatives on the team.
Claytor said his family had to pay $1,800 for travel expenses, but felt it was money well spent. During their two-week stay in Russia, Claytor and his teammates lived with host families to better understand Russian life.
"The family I stayed with was great," Claytor said. "They didn't speak much English, so we didn't talk a lot about life [in America]. They gave us gifts and were always fixing meals for us. They were constantly trying to give us things. I'm not really used to that, but it was a lot of fun."
While in Russia, the Americans had the opportunity to tour several historic sites, most notably Moscow's Red Square and Lenin's tomb. It was an experience Claytor said he will never forget.
"It was way different than the U.S.," Claytor said. "You could look around at the buildings and tell they were a little ways behind us, but things there were better than I had expected. The most fun I had in Russia was with the little Russian kids. They love Americans and it was fun being around them.
"Without a doubt, [going to Russia] is something I would definitely like to do again sometime. I hope that someday my little brother will get the chance to go over there and do what I did."
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB