2024-10-26, 05:31 PM - Word count:
Life in the Academy has not come easy for Defender George Shaheen.
He stepped into the Medellin club house a believer in his abilities. But he has often found himself out of position, a step too slow, or fumbling his feet against the speed and pressure of the young, hungry international strikers who decorate the rosters of Academy teams.
Shaheen is focused on making changes necessary to become the shield his goalkeeper needs him to be. He has worked hard in the film room to improve his decisions and his positioning. He has taken keen aim at drills to improve his tackling, his heading, and his marking. He is constantly in the weight room to further build up his strength. And between games he is engaged in plyometric training to enhance his quickness and agility.
Success in sports begins with a certain baseline talent. But true success can only come with hard work and a commitment to doing what must be done to get the absolute most out of that raw talent one possesses.
Shaheen is not the youngest player in the Academy. He is not the fastest. He is not the strongest. He is not the smartest. He doesn’t have the most accurate boot. He can’t spin it as good as others.
The one thing he does have is an unbridled, indomitable spirit. And it is that feature that will eventually make him a success in the SSL.
He stepped into the Medellin club house a believer in his abilities. But he has often found himself out of position, a step too slow, or fumbling his feet against the speed and pressure of the young, hungry international strikers who decorate the rosters of Academy teams.
Shaheen is focused on making changes necessary to become the shield his goalkeeper needs him to be. He has worked hard in the film room to improve his decisions and his positioning. He has taken keen aim at drills to improve his tackling, his heading, and his marking. He is constantly in the weight room to further build up his strength. And between games he is engaged in plyometric training to enhance his quickness and agility.
Success in sports begins with a certain baseline talent. But true success can only come with hard work and a commitment to doing what must be done to get the absolute most out of that raw talent one possesses.
Shaheen is not the youngest player in the Academy. He is not the fastest. He is not the strongest. He is not the smartest. He doesn’t have the most accurate boot. He can’t spin it as good as others.
The one thing he does have is an unbridled, indomitable spirit. And it is that feature that will eventually make him a success in the SSL.
