“I’m not giving up, just starting over.”

I was just 8 when I joined my first soccer team. I played in Douglas Park every Saturday and practiced Thursdays. I played with guys and unfortunately not knowing anything about this sport there was times where they would pick on me, push me, and basically make me miserable. But let me tell you the story of Linda, an unexperienced young girly girl who was able to make it to the big leagues.

     Determined to learn how to play this sport and not be good but to be the best I join Las Estrellas. My first team ever. We wore bright green shirts, black shorts with green strips and black socks.

                    Do you ever get that feeling of butterflies in your stomach, that feeling that made you anxious and all you can really do is act normal? Yup that was me before any game. But the day of my finals I wasn’t at all nervous. I was actually very excited that my team and I made it all the way up here. Fighting for first place. At the end of the game we lost. All that really mattered to me though was the fact that I would receive my first trophy. From that point on I knew that soccer would be a big part of my life. Up until the day my life turned upside down.

I got recruited to many traveling teams like Chicago city, Chicago magic, etc. I was well known by many because of my talent and style of playing which was playing with guys. Guys are more aggressive more dedicated and that pushes me to play harder and to not give up.

Ten years after I decided to join a soccer team and put my whole life into it I suffered a tragical moment. The moment in my life where I would have to choose to keep going or giving up. One Saturday morning I went to play in Milwaukee sports complex with one of my teams. That day we were going to play against one of our worst enemies, San Antonio. Every time we played against that team one of us would end up fighting. There was a specific girl in that team whose presence wasn’t so good. I could feel here rage towards me and she was constantly trying to compete with me. I walked in the stadium with my team.

     “Hey Alex, do you have any straps I can use?” I said.

                         “Yes, let me get them out of my bag.” he responded.

“Coach let me start of down on defense!” Bryan shouted in the background. “Alright, Linda you’ll stay up as striker than.” My coach announced.

     “Okay coach.” I said.

Everything was going just fine as the game began and we started playing. We were winning three to zero. But almost at the end of the game I remember I ran for the ball and ready to shoot someone came from behind me and kicked my leg. I fell. I looked up and it was the same girl who hated me. The same girl who tried to compete with me. As my team ran towards me she walk back with a little smile on her face and she was expelled from the game. I was rushed to the hospital. On my way to the hospital my dreams and goals were vanishing, unconsciously I thought to myself that what happened to me would be another obstacle that would take me further away from what I wanted. The doctor walked into my room and said,

          “Linda… I’m sorry to say this but, your tibia was broken. You’re unable to play.”

I cried and said emotionally,

     “How long won’t I be able to play?”

Hoping it wasn’t that bad and that I would be able to go back to my normal life he said,

           “There is a probability you won’t be able to play at all or the same way again.”

He put his head down as if it was a sign that he was sorry for the news. After a few days I went home with a cast and I was told I had to wear it for a few months. I struggled to keep a normal life. I would go and watch my teams play at times and I tried staying in shape. But the fact of sitting down all day everyday became a habit for me to eat junk and stay in to watch TV or sleep.

Those few months felt like years. Each and every day that passed by I faked a smile to the world. But underneath my smile is my broken heart. A heart of an athlete whose dreams were high and now they’re gone.

I no longer thought that reaching my goals were possible. My cast was finally taken off. That same day I walked to my back yard with my ball in hand. Being able to walk but not sure if a can run or kick or even jump. I placed the ball on the ground and positioned myself to kick. I walked about 3 steps behind and I jogged towards the ball. My left leg back ready to swing and kick the ball. There it went. But it wasn’t the same. It had no force, no direction. I repeated these steps many times. I began to grow in temper as every try ended in a fail. I fell in tears thinking to myself “You’re worthless, there’s nothing here for you anymore.”

     Hearing about my condition many invitations for traveling teams and bigger leagues were declined. Of course, who wants a player with no condition and no skill on their team? I felt like I was back at zero. I felt as if I went back in time to the first time I played soccer. I had no inspiration but only disappointment that I couldn’t do anything. But one day a man overheard my story and came to my house. He drove up to my house, parked the car, and walked up my stairs.

*knock knock*

     I walked to the door and opened it. It was a man about 5’6, short dark hair, blue eyes, and maybe around his late 40’s.

      “Hello, are you Linda Martinez??” he asked curiously.

   “Yes? That’s me.” I said.

      “I’m sorry to interrupt; I came here today to talk to you. I heard about your story and I think I can help.”

Very confused I said, “Of course come in.”

We walked to the living room and sat down. 

        “Linda, my name is Daniel Acosta. I use to play with FC Dallas back when I was younger. I came here to tell you my story. It’s much similar to yours except in this story I never gave up.” He said.

I sat in silence for a while thinking to myself, why did I let this man in?

    “I’m sorry, what is it that you want from me exactly?” I asked very much confused.

        “I want to help you get back on your feet. I want to personally train you and show you that just because there’s and obstacle in the way doesn’t mean you can’t get passed it and you can still achieve those dreams you have.” He said with a voice that somehow was able to convince me.

We talked for hours. At the end we had a plan. I would get personally trained by him, he would get me into bigger leagues, and help me gain back the confidence I needed. I trained for months and I tried my hardest. He put me in physical therapy as well. Of course I had my stumbles here and there and he helped me. I got stronger not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

Two years after I met Daniel and trained basically every day I was back on traveling teams. I was even better than I was before. He represented me, he was my manager, and most importantly my friend. I was even being paid to play in teams. I would get calls from leagues to come in and tell my story. I was an inspiration to many people. There was young 13 year olds who were motivated with my story. I didn’t know that I could be a role model to many young and even older people.

As I became more popular more people across the country heard about me. And one day I got a call. This call that would change my life forever. The call that would take me just a few steps closer to my dreams. It was the coach or head of the U.S women’s national team. One of the biggest teams for women. I was being recruited to a pro soccer team!!! They told me to go in Wednesday morning to their headquarters to train with the team. I ran to Daniel and told him the news. We celebrated my accomplishment.

It was Wednesday morning and I was ready to train and show them what I had. Of course I was nervous. I got ready and I went out to the field. There was about twenty there girls out there. We warmed up and started a little 10 minute game. I went in as defense, but to my surprise it wasn’t as easy as I thought. Yea they were girls but man can they push. I fell many times and I wasn’t able to control the ball. At one moment I got the ball took it to half the field, passed it to my midfielder, she passed it back, made a 360 degree turn on a girl and scored.

After training the coach called me aside.

      “Linda, you have talent!” he said surprisingly. “You’re in, I want you to bring your things in ill show u were you’ll stay.”

I couldn’t believe it! So many wonderful things were happening to me.

After I got settled I made a phone call.

    “Daniel, guess what??” I said with joy.

        “What is it Linda?”

    “I’m in the team! The coach liked how I play and now I’m in!” I said.

        “I’m so proud of you Linda!” he said with excitement.

We talked for hours until I fell asleep. The next few days I trained even harder I was determined to get on their level. I set my goal and I’m here to achieve it. I played with the lower teams at first and I got closer and closer to the top team. And that day came I was being put in to play with the top group of this team. Ready to play the day after tomorrow I was called in by my coach. I came to his office and sat down.

    “Coach, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” I said very confused.

I thought he would tell me I couldn’t play or that I’m off the team.

      “We got a call from Mercy Hospital, and I’m sorry Linda, “he said. “But, Daniel is dying. He has a two days to live. If you want you can go off and stay with him.”

I began to cry. All those memories we had flashed back. When we lose someone we love, it seems that time stands still. But life goes on, we have to be strong. I decided to go say my last goodbyes to him. The next day I packed my things and I was ready to leave. I got on the bus that would take me to the south side of Chicago. And as it began to move a stood up and screamed.

    “Stop the bus!!”

I walked out the bus and came back to the headquarters. I know that I wouldn’t be able to say my last goodbyes to Daniel but to make him proud I would play my first game with the top group of U.S women’s National soccer team. I know he would have loved to see me play. But I also know he was proud of me because I made it this far. He helped me reach my goal; he helped me gain back my confidence. I was happy he pushed me because now I’ve achieved my life long dream. Don’t let life change your goals, because achieving your goals can change your life.

My day has come. I stood at that field with millions and millions of people looking down at me. I began to get that feeling of butterflies in my stomach. But I set my mind that everything would be fine. The game was about to start and the only thing that would come into my mind was Daniel. He was like my brother. I smiled and the whistled was blown. The game began and we started to play.

I had the ball at my feet. I stood still as if I was frozen. I heard the echo to his voice in the back of my head saying, “You can do it Linda! Let’s go!” and I was suddenly back into reality. I looked up and dribbled the ball. Millions of people screaming. I passed one girl after the other. And as I reached the goalie I saw Daniel’s face. Of course I knew it was just my mind playing with me. I positioned the ball and I made a shot. The crowd went wild. I could hear them scream my name. “Linda, Linda, Linda!!” I scored! And a few minutes after I scored Daniel Acosta passed away.

I eventually came to see him at his grave. I walked to his tomb and smiled.

    “Daniel. Thank you for all the help you gave me. I know you’re proud of me. I know you’re looking down at me smiling and I know you’ll still be here for me. You’ll be my number one fan. But, most importantly my family. I’m being recruited to other teams. And because of you I’m known from across the world. I’m writing my story. Or should I say our story.”

I cried for hours. Sitting next to his tomb stone I now realized everything bad that happened to me was for a reason. I was destined to meet him and reach my dreams. Not only did he help me but my teammates were there for me and my fans that support me. I’m the most known women nationwide. My story, my life this is how I made it this far. I didn’t give up, just started over.