By Dennis Miller
Confidence breeds success.
Look no further than the Ballistic United Soccer Club’s 09 Premier team.
Last fall, playing as U-15 team, the side coached by Luis Orellana captured the title of the NorCal Gold Fall title. That brought a promotion to the NorCal State Premier Spring league.
A jump of that usually does not bode well initially for a team.
“Those teams that make that jump – they usually don’t do very well,” said Orellana.
Usually.
That was not the case for Ballistic as they went out and captured the league title.
“They have come together. They really bonded as players,” said Orellana. “They had the confidence they could beat anyone we played. Before every game I meet with them, then they meet by themselves. I don’t know what they talk about but whatever they talk about works.”
BUSC MLS and Comp Technical Director Brady Taylor marveled at the success of the team.
“We are incredibly excited for the boys and coach Luis,” said Taylor. “Not always does development result in wins and championships but it was clear that it did for this group. It was especially great to see how the team responded and showed resilience in their final match.”
The team will enter the Fall as an under-16 team, and they lost three players from the team but picked up some new players as well. They are moving to the MPL league, yet another step up.
“It’s a very high league,” said Orellana.
Be sure the confidence will be high. In the spring league, they played – and defeated – and MPL team.
“We beat an MPL team from the Central Valley,” said Orellana. “We beat them, and their coach came up to us and said thank you for the lesson.”
Even losing a few players while picking up some new ones, Orellana has nothing but good feelings.
“We are a team where everyone is a part of the success,” said Orellana. “I am their tour guide, and it has been a great ride.”
