2024-11-02, 06:43 PM - Word count:
The Academy season is already winding to a close. Atletico Medellin defender George Shaheen has only been in the Academy for 12 games, and already the season’s end is nigh. Buzz about the upcoming SSL draft has begun taking root in the various Academy clubhouses, which has at times made it hard to focus on the pitch and on getting better and not on what unknowns the future holds. Hard as he has tried to center himself on training, he has not been immune to letting his mind wander to draft day and to where he may go.
Shaheen has mostly flown under the radar during the Academy season. It took him most of the season to simply find his footing, to get his game up to the speed of his peers from around the world, and to become competitive as a defender. But lately he has felt like he has found his competence and that feeling that he belongs. And he’s starting to hear from SSL general managers scouting for the upcoming draft, which seems like validation that he does belong. That he has the talent and the game to succeed at this beautiful game at the highest level.
Adjusting to life halfway across the world from home has been tough, and Shaheen has only just started to feel comfortable to his new life in Colombia. Soon he will be uprooted once again and asked to adjust to a new life at a new destination that will be a new halfway across the globe from where he is now. Where will that be?
Time will tell, and will tell soon.
Shaheen will be ready for whatever call comes. His time in the Academy has taught him one thing – that he can compete with the greatest footballers in the entire world. It’s been a tremendous journey to get to that mentality, but his journey has only just begun.
Shaheen has mostly flown under the radar during the Academy season. It took him most of the season to simply find his footing, to get his game up to the speed of his peers from around the world, and to become competitive as a defender. But lately he has felt like he has found his competence and that feeling that he belongs. And he’s starting to hear from SSL general managers scouting for the upcoming draft, which seems like validation that he does belong. That he has the talent and the game to succeed at this beautiful game at the highest level.
Adjusting to life halfway across the world from home has been tough, and Shaheen has only just started to feel comfortable to his new life in Colombia. Soon he will be uprooted once again and asked to adjust to a new life at a new destination that will be a new halfway across the globe from where he is now. Where will that be?
Time will tell, and will tell soon.
Shaheen will be ready for whatever call comes. His time in the Academy has taught him one thing – that he can compete with the greatest footballers in the entire world. It’s been a tremendous journey to get to that mentality, but his journey has only just begun.
