3 minute read
Brahma on international duty
Soccer player represents home country in World Cup qualifiers
Eduardo Razo / Roundup
“Oh my god, oh my god,” were the only words that could come out of Robinette Ramirez upon finding out she had been invited to play on the El Salvador Women’s National Soccer Team.
“It got me by surprise because I didn’t think I was going to make it,” said Ramirez, who had been contacted by a family friend informing her of tryouts taking place in Los Angeles.
“I wanted to prove myself how talented I was in soccer and if soccer is going to get me some place,” Ramirez said.
Furthermore, upon learning she had made the cut all she could tell her family friend was “Really?” because she had no idea how to react to the news, but once it all sank in Ramirez just wanted to represent her parents’ country and play soccer.
Consequently, all of her friends and family members had expressed how proud and happy they were for her.
“I was excited for her and I believed her, but did not know that was her plan of attack,” said Emily Streb, who has been playing with Ramirez since the age of 12.
She continued by stating how good the team and players actually were after practicing with them upon her arrival.
“I wasn’t expecting the team to be great and I wasn’t expecting the players to be awesome, but when I got there everything was different from what I thought,” said Ramirez.
Soon after the first game against Guatemala had arrived, nerves and anxiousness fell upon her.
“That game I was a nervous wreck I was so nervous I kept thinking I didn’t want to mess up and disappoint anyone,” she said.
Coupled with her first game Ramirez was able to score two goals in separate games against Guatemala and Nicaragua.
“My goal was to score, I needed at least to score once because I can’t go over there [El Salvador] and not score,” Ramirez said.
But even though Ramirez was pushing herself to score goals it was the help from her mother that had given her that extra push.
“My mom especially was very proud of me because that was the only thing she kept telling me, you need to score, you need to score,” she said.
During her time in El Salvador, Ramirez experienced the same routine as here; eat, sleep, and play soccer, and she would experience the life as a professional soccer player.
“I need to improve on balls up in the air because girls over there are aggressive and getting stronger,” she said.
Brahmas’ assistant coach Jose Mejia said that she does need to work on a few things to improve her skills like working on the pace of the game, work on her left foot since she is right footed, and speed.
“She already has a step in and now it’s up to her to take it to the next level so she definitely has the potential to go far,” said Mejia.
Ramirez looks forward to be called up again to represent El Salvador and continue to grow as a soccer player but most importan, as a person.
“I am crossing my fingers,” said Ramirez waiting for a call from the head coach of El Salvador so she can be able to earn a spot on the team next year. “He is still looking for players and he said no ones spot is 100% secure, so hopefully.”
