My soccer experience in Germany was life changing. Training with various clubs and leagues helped me develop as a player. Some of the clubs I went to included SpVgg Bayreuth, SV Weidenberg, SGV Friesen, and SpVgg Weiden. It was a very unique journey for me. The language barrier was difficult but sometimes soccer has its own language…a language I believe I was able to master.

As you walk in the door before every training session the players would shake hands and say “Hallo” and make you feel comfortable, but once on the pitch it became a very competitive atmosphere. The playing surfaces were extremely difficult in the middle leagues. They played on “Hardplatz”, which is like fine gravel similar to some baseball fields in the States. All of the top divisions have natural grass fields which were in immaculate condition. I was fortunate to be able to play well on all surfaces.