8th Grader poised for soccer greatness

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Rockville Centre 8th grader Paolo Primavera is an average kid, but his soccer abilities are anything but. Recently returned from a trip to Argentina where he played against the country’s best soccer players his age, Paolo is already poised to become one of United States’ standard bearers in the sport.

Coming from a family of self-professed soccer junkies, Paolo started playing as a pre-schooler and is now working his way up the developmental chains of the United States national team. He is currently playing for the NY Cosmos Academy Team, an elite developmental soccer club. He is also being considered for Nike’s id2, where he is being selected among 50 kids nationwide to participate in their exclusive developmental program. Last year his performance in the Redbulls Academy Club was impressive, scoring 28 goals in 19 games.

While his raw talent has attracted a good deal of attention, he has had to work hard to get where he is. While playing in the Redbulls Academy, Paolo had to travel two hours each way four times a week for practice and games, all while juggling his schoolwork. Still, out of love for the sport, Paolo is dedicated and he has set his goal to play for the United States national team.

Representing the United States in Argentina, Paolo was struck by the passion he encountered from the local players he faced on the field. “They play for their families,” he observed, noting that for many of them, soccer is seen as their only way out of poverty for themselves and their loved ones.

Paolo’s favorite player is Marco Reus, who currently plays for the Borussia Dortmund Soccer Club. “I’m a lot like him,” he remarked, seeing himself in the 27-year-old German player.

Soccer development academy rules say that Paolo isn’t allowed to play high school soccer. Even though Paolo won’t be playing for his school, he still somehow finds time for his schoolwork. “After school I do my homework, and then I go to soccer practice after that.”