Aug. 16, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samba soccer, the beautiful game. The Brazilians have made the sport of soccer into an art form. Brazil did not invent soccer but many would say that the Brazilians have mastered it. On Thursday Aug. 16, the Samford soccer team pulled away from Seibert Hall to experience samba soccer first hand.

The Bulldogs will be in Brazil for 10 days from August 16-26. The trip will include six matches against Brazilian Club teams, a trip to a children's hospital and a chance to see how passionate the Brazilians are not only about soccer but about life.

The Bulldogs will arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the evening on Aug. 16, and stay at a soccer campground in Souzas, Brazil. The campground is home to the Souzas Futbol Club and will serve as host to the Bulldogs during their stay.

Samford's first matches will be on Aug. 18. The Bulldogs will split their 24-person roster into two teams for two games against the Guarani Club in Guarani. Aug. 19, will see the Bulldogs in the city of American for two more matches. Samford will visit the Children's Cancer Hospital in Campinas, on Aug. 20 before it gets back to action in Beard for two matches on the 21st. The final three days of the trip will see the Bulldogs in action each day in the cities of Souzas, Santos, and Guarani.

"This is a great opportunity for our program," says head coach Barry Spitzer. "First, it gives us a chance to go to Brazil where soccer is the national sport. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most of our players. Second, it gives us a chance as a team to gain experience playing together before our first match of the season. We will see excellent competition and our young players have a chance to get six matches under their belts before we face Texas A&M on Aug. 31. And thirdly, we as coaches have a chance to evaluate how well our players will play together for the first time."

The Samford Soccer Program is in its fifth year and will have 12 freshmen, seven sophomores, three juniors, and two seniors on its 2001 roster. The coaching staff has made it clear that although Brazil is a great place to visit, the Bulldogs are going there with a job to do. "This is pre-season," said Spitzer. "We have to be ready to play the 12th ranked team in the nation on Aug. 31. We are going on this trip to get some games under our belts and get prepared for the upcoming season."