Hoping for a slam dunk in France

Andrew Glazer

NEWPORT BEACH--Players and fans of a local club soccer team, which leaves

today for an international tournament to be held outside Paris, said they

look forward to meeting and beating other teams from around the world.

“We’re not afraid of any of the teams,” said Ignacio Corona, 11, goalie

for the Slammers soccer team, made up of 10- and 11-year-old boys. “We’re

a great team, good friends and we know how to play.”

The Slammers--composed of boys from Newport Beach to Norwalk-- normally

play at Bonita Creek Park and a field at Lincoln Elementary School. This

last season, the boys toppled other teams in tournaments across

California and won the state championship for their age group.

This weekend, they’ll face teams from Holland, France, Morocco, Germany

and Switzerland-- countries where children leave the womb dribbling

black-and-white balls.

The team raised money for the trip by selling cookie dough, holding a

garage sale and soliciting donations.

An entourage of 38 parents will join the 15 players for the competition

in Marly, France. Some are die-hard soccer moms and dads, cheering every

Saturday from the sidelines. Others are still learning the game, which

only recently became popular with American children.

“Football has always been my game,” said David Holstein, whose son Adam,

11, is a center midfielder for the Slammers. “It’s a bit of an

adjustment. But I’ll make sure our team gets a lot of positive

reinforcement.”

Fernando Aguero--father of Slammer Oscar Aguero--said he also looks

forward to sightseeing. He plans to visit Napoleon’s Tomb and the Eiffel

Tower with his son after the tournament.

“There’s so much emotion running through my veins,” he said in his native

Spanish. “But I’m a little nervous to spend so many hours in the air.”

Adam Holstein said the trip will bring the team--which he said is more of

a brotherhood--even closer together.

“We’re all friends, everyone’s been to each other’s house,” he said. “Now

we get to [go to] another country together and play. I think we’re going

to do awesome.”