THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 28, 1995 TAG: 9504260145
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
IT'S EASY TO tell whether the Wilson High School boys soccer team is winning or losing.
Just listen.
If the words that fill the air seem a bit unfamiliar - say Portuguese, Japanese, Serbian or Spanish - the Presidents are on the short end of the count.
The Wilson team has six players from other countries.
``The frustrations come out in their own language,'' said Wilson coach Terrance Green with a laugh. ``And I don't know what they're saying. I hope they're being proper and not cursing.''
But Green, first-year head coach of the Presidents, says these youngsters are the backbone of the team. ``We have nice harmony,'' he said. ``And we're becoming very competitive.''
Green was quite pleased with their efforts in a 2-0 loss to a strong Western Branch team. Wilson is 3-4-1 overall.
Four of the non-Americans are foreign exchange students. Two others live here with relatives while attending school.
Wilson's best player probably is Tai Sato, an 18-year-old senior from Japan. He plays midfielder and sweeper.
``I graduate in June,'' he said. ``I'm hoping to be able to go to college in America.''
A soccer scholarship would be nice to get, says Sato.
Emir Tesnjak, 18, is from Zagreb in Croatia. A forward, he has scored six goals this season.
Everytime Tesnjak scores, he does a little dance. ``I get excited,'' he said.
Added Tesnjak: ``This is my first year in America. But I studied English for seven years.''
Tesnjak also would like to attend college in the U.S. He is interested in attending Liberty University.
Home for 16-year-old Christian Nakagawa is Sao Paulo, Brazil, where soccer is a major sport. ``I've been playing for eight years,'' said Christian. He's a fullback on the Wilson team.
Senior Jurij Toplak, who plays defense, is from Ljubljana, Slovenia.
``I learned to play soccer here,'' he said. ``At home I play tennis, ski or ride a bicycle.
``I guess my name in English would be George.'' It's pronounced Yuri.
Carlos Carrasco, from Chorrera, Panama, and Orion King, from Trinidad, live in Portsmouth with relatives. ``I live with my uncle,'' said King, a 16-year-old junior. He is a midfielder.
Carrasco, an 18-year-old senior, lives with a cousin. He's been playing soccer since he was seven.
``I would like to go on to college here at either Old Dominion or Norfolk State,'' he said.
``There may be better soccer teams than ours,'' said Green. ``But I doubt if there are any here who can speak more languages.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The Wilson High School boys soccer team has six players from other
countries. Left to right, top row: Midfielder/sweeper Tai Sato is
from Japan and Jurij Toplak, who plays defense, is from Slovenia.
Bottom row: Midfielder Orion King is from Trinidad; Carlos Carrasco
is from Panama and foward Emir Tesnjak is from Croatia. Christian
Nakagawa, from Brazil, is not in the photo.
ET by CNB