Back from England, South Hagerstown freshman Armando Guandique is ready for Rebels soccer
South Hagerstown freshman Armando Guandique is a self-admitted soccer addict.
“I play every day. I can’t stop,” he said. “I love the sport.”
Although Guandique missed his first few days of high school practice with the Rebels earlier this month, he had a good excuse.
He was seizing the opportunity of a lifetime in England.
Guandique — who plays club soccer for the Hagerstown-based Liverpool FC International Academy Western Maryland program — was selected to play on a national team, comprised of top players from all of the Liverpool FC International academies in the U.S., which has programs in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
Guandique was one of 17 players on the 09/10 (age 13-14) boys team, which spent Aug. 7-13 in England, soaking up the full Liverpool experience with games, special training and more.
There also was an 09/10 girls team and 07/08 boys and girls teams.
Sidelined: North Hagerstown soccer team will be without injured star Drew Lobley this season
“It was amazing, the experience there, the places we played at, our games,” he said. “Going to the Liverpool Academy and just playing there was an experience. St. George’s Park, where England’s national team practices, it’s amazing.
“It was like a dream.”
Guandique and his teammates also got to see the big boys play, attending a game in which the Liverpool FC professionals, of the Premier League, defeated Darmstadt 3-1 in a club friendly.
“That was the first time I ever watched a professional game in person,” he said. “It was amazing.”
‘Scoring in England’
Guandique was nominated for the U.S. LFC representative team by Alan Lydiate, Maryland’s LFC academy director.
“He’s a soccer fanatic, and skill-wise, he’s doing very well,” Lydiate said. “He’s an aggressive player, a good, attacking player. He’s got a good attitude and works hard. And he’s more of a striker, which fit the positional role we were looking for.”
Together, Lydiate and the LFC academy directors from the other states formulated the U.S. rosters.
“This was a collaborative effort,” Lydiate said. “We started back in January. We offered our strongest players across the positions — frontline, midfield, backline — and then started to dwindle down. There was a lot of back and forth across the states.”
During the spring season with the LFC Western Maryland 09/10 boys team, Guandique scored 20 goals in 10 games.
During his overseas trip, his U.S. team played two games against English club teams, winning 6-2 and then 5-3. In the second game, Guandique scored a goal as his team rallied back from a 3-1 deficit.
“It was an amazing experience, just watching it go into the net, scoring in England,” he said.
‘For his age, it’s ridiculous’
Back from England, Guandique’s full focus is on his first season of high school soccer.
“He’s stepped into the high school scene and hasn’t looked back since,” South coach Josiah Norris said. “He’s done a good job of getting along with his teammates and introducing himself. He fits right in with the rest of the squad.”
Guandique made the varsity team and likely will start at a wing position, Norris said.
“He really excels out there, and I like to give him that individuality,” Norris said of Guandique playing wing. “I typically like to start my freshmen on the JV just to see how they go, but he stepped right in and stepped up. We’ve had a couple scrimmages so far, and he’s definitely impressed.
“For his age, it’s ridiculous. You can tell he’s really put in the hard work and the effort to really bring his skill up to where it is.”
South will open its season Saturday at the Stan Stouffer Classic against host Williamsport.
“It’s kind of scary playing against people a lot older than you, but I’ll get used to it and I’ll progress and get better and better every time,” Guandique said.
“He’s got a lot of potential,” Norris said. “I’ve seen a lot of players come through, and I’ve seen a lot of players with his ability, but I haven’t seen many with the combination of his ability and his mentality, just the hunger to get better and try to make it to the next level.”
Guandique said his inspiration is Lionel Messi, one of the sport’s all-time greatest.
“It would be my dream to be in a stadium and just being watched by so many people and actually thinking that I’m really good,” he said.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: South Hagerstown freshman Armando Guandique played soccer in England
