Attleboro’s Geoff Cameron World Cup Bound

Cameron as a freshman on the 2000 AHS Boys’ Soccer Team. (AHS File Photo)

By: Cameron Merritt

On May 22, United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced his final 23-man roster for this June’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Among the players chosen by the U.S. boss was Attleboro native Geoff Cameron, who plays as a defender for the English Premier League’s Stoke City Football Club.

“So blessed [and] truly honored to be able to represent [the U.S.] in the World Cup!” said Cameron via Twitter, thanking fans for all their “love [and] support.”

“As an Attleboro soccer player, I feel a lot of pride that someone is representing our country at the highest international [soccer] level and that’s something to be proud of, especially knowing I’ve played in same programs and clubs [AHS and Bayside FC] as he did,” said senior Eoin Grimes, who played as a defender for the Boys’ Varsity Team.

Cameron was born and raised in Attleboro, going through the ranks of youth soccer and playing for Rhode Island based club Bayside FC. He attended AHS from 2000-2002 and played midfield for the varsity soccer team, scoring seven goals and having 13 assists as a freshman, and nine goals and 17 assists as a sophomore. He transferred to Providence Country Day for his junior and senior years.

He played college soccer for the University of West Virginia and the University of Rhode Island before being drafted by the Houston Dynamo in the third round (42nd overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. With the Dynamo, Cameron began to make a name for himself in both midfield and on defense, playing an important role in his team’s two MLS Eastern Conference championships in 2011 and 2012. He scored 11 goals in his 116 appearances for La Naranja before signing with English club Stoke City in the summer of 2012.

Since joining the Potters, Cameron has been a regular starter at the center back position. This season, Stoke finished in ninth place on the 20 club Premier League table, with Cameron playing all 37 matches and scoring a goal in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa this March. As one of the best defenders on the team, he’s become popular among fans, participating in Stoke-area charities and is featured prominently in the ad campaign for the club’s 2014/15 kit (uniform).

He first began training with the national team in 2009, but injuries prevented him from having a chance to join the team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Since then, he has worked his way into the Yanks starting XI as a regular, particularly under Klinsmann’s leadership, the former West German/German star who was named head coach of his adopted country’s team in 2011.

The 28-year old Cameron and the USMNT are currently holding a training camp in Calif. to prepare for the World Cup. They will play three friendlies on May 27 against Azerbaijan, which they won 2-0, on June 1 against Turkey, and on June 7 against Nigeria, before heading off to Brazil. There, the Americans will compete in Group G, nicknamed the “Group of Death” for its level of difficulty, where they’ll have to face off against European powerhouses Germany and Portugal as well as perennial African leaders Ghana.

“It’s always great when someone from the area can elevate their game to the highest level. There’s talent all over the country and this area is no different,” said Ryan Lanigan, editor-in-chief of Hockomock Sports, who recognized Cameron for taking a “relatively normal” path to soccer greatness, continuing his success from the MLS in England, and earned his spot on the national team.

“I think that it shows that if you’re good enough it doesn’t matter where in the country you’re from, you’ll find success,” added Lanigan.

“A lot of [soccer] players in the area look up to him and a lot of players have met him and are close friends with Geoff, so he’s making a lot of people proud,” said Grimes, adding it brings positive attention to the programs he was involved with.

The World Cup begins on June 12, but the U.S. will start the tournament June 16 when they take on Ghana, who eliminated the Americans in the 2010 Round of 16 with a 2-1 win.

WORDS FROM RACHEL: We’re All Monkeys

By: Rachel Oliveira

On April 27 during the soccer match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF, Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves was taking a corner shot during Barça’s 3-2 win, when a banana was thrown at his feet. Maintaining his pride, Alves picked up the banana, peeled it, took a bite and went on with his game.

Alves should be recognized for his self-controlled state of mind for responding in such a calm way to a racist taunt, but his brilliance comes from the plan behind it all.

Previously, Alves and his teammate for club and country, Neymar, agreed that if an incident like this were to occur again, they would have a plan, a plan that would make a global statement.

This is why minutes after the soccer match, Neymar, the Brazilan International and FC Barcelona forward, posted an Instagram picture that caught global attention.

It was an amusing image of him on Instagram with a cheeky smile and a banana, side by side with his adorable toddler son. Under the picture was the hash tag #SomosTodosMacacos, which means “we are all monkeys” in Portuguese to show his fellow teammate support.

Inspired by Neymar, over 100,000 people have used the hash tag, celebrities and even ordinary people alike striking humorous poses with a banana in hand. The majority came from Brazilians supporting their team.

It’s disappointing that it takes an event like this to grab everyone’s attention for an issue that has been around for a while, though it was brilliant for the players to take an event like this and make a statement proving everyone is the same in the world.

Spread the word and help put an end to racism in sports and in the entire world.

We are all monkeys.