By Dena Adi/sports editor
While some teams lacked attendance, others showed dominance April 9 during the second week of 6-on-6 intramural soccer on SE Campus.
Jim Birmingham/The Collegian
Tejas F.C. proved it was the team to beat in a 15-1 victory over Harambe Star. Harambe Star’s Keva Anuanao gave her best effort, outrunning her opponents on some plays, but it was Alejandro Alvarado and Franky Martinez of Tejas F.C. that led the scoreboard, scoring seven goals each.
Tejas F.C. player Edgar Solis said the team won the game because soccer is their life.
“Our motto is live, laugh, love and soccer,” he said. “It’s what we breathe. It’s what we eat. It’s how we sleep.”
The Vietnamese Allens achieved its win a little more easily. Its opponent, Southeast F.C., didn’t show up, resulting in a forfeit.
The Oh Yeahs joined Southeast F.C. in the list of teams not showing up, giving the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers an automatic win. Power Rangers team captain Adam Mwakikoti talked about his team’s good attendance and the playoffs.
“A win’s a win,” he said. “It was technically a team effort. We showed up, and we’re actually here. We have practice this week, so we’ll be focused for playoffs. We know we can win, and we’ll definitely be focused next week.”
The final game of the day drew controversy between the teams and referees.
A team called The Players came prepared, but only four members of Dallas United showed up.
The referees would not allow players from other teams to join Dallas United to make a complete six-man team. To avoid a third forfeited game in a row, Dallas United decided to play despite the 6-4 match-up.
After The Players scored their fourth goal in only a few minutes in the game, team captain Gerald Sibanyamo wasn’t happy with what he saw as a lack of competition.
“I came here to play a real game,” he said. “This is ridiculous. Where is the fun? We offered some of our team to make it even, but the refs won’t let us.”
Referee Martin Gonzales said he was only doing his job.
“They had the option to forfeit or play,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to abide by the rules.”
Despite some members of The Players going against the referee’s rules and playing for Dallas United, they still won 12-5.
“It doesn’t matter who plays for who today,” Sibanyamo said. “The real games start next week. Even though we won today, we’re the underdogs for playoffs. I think we have a good chance.”
Playoffs begin at 10 a.m. April 16 on the soccer fields behind SE Campus.
