Game 3, Kick 4 December 30, 2007

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For many athletes, a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, better known as the ACL, can be a career-ending accident. Athletes are lucky to completely recover from it once. But what hap-pens when someone tears their ACL twice….in two years? Just ask Mika Bussey.

The 15-year old forward from Brighton, Michi-gan started with the Michigan Hawks U9 team in 1999 when she was just 7 years old. By 2004, she was trying out for ODP’s youngest age group at the time and made the final cuts in 2005, at-tending their Regional Camp that year. She was on her way to a successful future in soccer. But months later, it all changed.

In February 2006, during the Indoor Nationals, Bussey took a big jump, landed with a straight leg and turned to find the ball; it was a landing that took her out of the game. Feeling ok the next day, Bussey played at the final ODP winter training session but towards the end of the day she went to kick the ball, collaps-ing on the field. That’s when she knew something was really wrong. Bussey made the ODP cuts that day, but would not be able to attend the Regional Camp.

In March 2006, Bussey underwent ACL surgery on her left knee. After a long recovery, she began playing again in November. Her goal now, was to be ready for the ODP winter training session in early December 2006, just one month after she started playing again. Well, she reached that goal and made the final cut again, having until August 2007 to prepare for the Regional Camp.

It was hard to stay optimistic however. Just four months after making the ODP cuts, Bussey again tore her ACL. While playing in the Midwest Regional League (Illin.) in April 2007, an oppos-ing player ran through Bussey from behind, twisting her body 360 degrees, while her left leg remained planted. This time, leav-ing the game was much tougher. Colleen Bussey, Mika’s mother, recalls that day, saying that “during that evening I couldn’t face Mika because I didn’t want to appear worried and upset. While I spent some time trying to pull myself together, her teammates kept things light and supported her.”

When they returned home, the doctor knew even before examining Bussey that it didn’t look good. After looking at x-rays, it was apparent that the injury occurred from such an intense hit rather than a graft failure from the previous surgery. Either way, Bussey had to prepare for a longer recovery and underwent surgery in May 2007.

By that fall, Bussey still held a roster spot and supported her team, but it was very difficult remaining on the side-lines. As a result, Bussey joined the high school swim team even though she had never swam competitively before. Well, she hated it. It wasn’t soccer. Needless to say, she began to focus on soccer again.

By mid-November, just a month ago, Bussey began contact, just scrimmaging with her team. This week, Disney’s Soccer Showcase

will be her first game since her second injury. “It has been her goal throughout recovery to participate in this tournament” said Colleen Bussey. “I have no doubts that she will be the happiest player on the Disney fields and I will be the happiest soccer mom on the sidelines. “

As for ODP, Bussey is in the same boat as last year. Her tryouts will be the first winter training session scheduled for January 12th.

Mika, on behalf of Disney’s Soccer Showcase and the Disney Soc-cer Team, we wish you good luck in this tournament and in your future with soccer. Welcom back!

Mika Bussey: How One Athlete Prevails After Twice Tearing ACL

Bussey, prior to both injuries

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Game 3, Kick 4 December 30, 2007

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Boy’s Past Champions2006U18 Showcase Sereno 89 White (AZ) Predator PA Classics Blue 88 (PAE) Copa - White Cincinnati United Premier Red (OS) Copa - Black FC Greater Boston Bolts (MA)U17 Showcase Concorde Fire Black (GA) Predator Potomac Cougars (MD) Copa - White Houstonians 89/90 Red (TXS) Copa - Black Comets ‘90 Blue (TXN)U16 Showcase Michigan Wolves ‘91 (MI) Predator Concorde Fire Elite (GA) Copa - White Andromeda ‘91 Titans (TXN) Copa - Black Sockers FC Chicago (IL)U15 Showcase Bethesda Roadrunners (MD) Predator Texans FC 91/92 Red (TXS) Copa Wellington Wave (FL) 2005U18 Showcase Concorde Fire Elite (GA) Predator Colorado Rush Nike (CO) Copa Solar 88 (TX-N)U17 Showcase Colorado Rush Nike (CO) Predator Sereno 89 White (AZ) Copa TSC Texans 88/89 (TX-S)U16 Showcase Dallas Texans 90 Red (TX-N) Predator Indy Burn Eagles (IN) Copa Michigan Wolves (MI)U15 Predator De Anza Force 90 Blue (CA-N) Copa Discoveries SC 90 Green (SC)U14 Predator Dallas Texans 92 Red (TX-N) Copa Heros FA 91 (MD)U13 FC Greater Boston Bolts (MA)U12 Concorde Fire Elite SC (GA) 2004U18 Showcase Dallas Texans 87 Red (TX-N)

Predator Brandon FC Flames (FL) Copa Ajax Orlando (FL)U17 Showcase FC United (WA) Copa West Kendall (FL)U16 Showcase Colorado Rush Nike (CO) Predator Nomads (CA-S) Copa Sereno SC ‘89 Golden Eagles (AZ)U15 Predator Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NY-W) Copa Charlotte Soccer Club Blue (NC)U14 Predator Tampa Knights-Kickers (FL) Copa Potomac SA Cougars Premier (MD)U13 Solar 91 Boys (TX-N)U12 St. Pete Raiders (FL)2003U18 FC Greater Boston Bolts (MA)U17 CASL Elite (NC)U16 MSC-Casa Mia Bays (MD)U15 Solar 89 SC (TX-N)U14 Tampa Bay Kickers (FL)U13 Ohio FC Mutiny (OH-S)U12 Dallas Texans (TX-N) 2002U18 Scott Gallagher (MO)U17 FC Greater Boston Bolts (MA)U16 CASL Elite (NC)U15 Dallas Texans (TX-N)U14 Solar 89 SC (TX-N)2001U18 Solar Soccer (TX-N)U17 CASL Elite (NC)U16 CASL Elite (NC) 2000U17 Chicago Sockers (IL)U16 Classics 84/85 (TX-N)

Games of the Day

Freestate shooters (MD)vs.

Eclipse select 89/90 (IL)

U18 10:00 AM ATRP #06Be sure to catch these two top girls programs, featur-ing a talented and emerging club from Maryland, as

they battle it out at Austin Tindall.

Carmel united CusC Academy 93 (IN)vs.

Ius Krush (FL)

U15 6:30 PM West Orange #3In this match-up, the talented CUSC Academy will

take on a local powerhouse under the lights.

Boy’s u18 showcase Division Finals

3:00 PM DWWS #01Don’t miss Disney Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Clubs’ final

match-up in the boys U18 division as one team is crowned tournament champion.

Game 3, Kick 4 December 30, 2007

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Kicks Against Breast Cancer is the American soc-cer initiative to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer and to help women living with cancer survive and thrive. Kicks is selling an elegant gold on gold soccer ball lapel pin with an enameledpink ribbon on it. The theme of the campaign is “Help Save The Women You Love.” U.S. and Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, along with the wom-en in his life, serve as the official spokesmen for the initiative. We encourage everyone to buy pins for their friends, family, teammates, colleagues and neighbors and ask them to wear them.

This initiative can only be successful with your help!

All of the profits go to the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource & Image Center, Howard County General Hospital, a division of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

DWWS Soccer Highlight

Chelsea FC Kicks Against Breast Cancer

2007 NCAA DivisioN iii MeN’s AND WoMeN’s soCCer ChAMpioNships

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) brought the Division III Men’s and Women’s Soccer Champion-ships back to Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex, November 22-24, 2007 and featured the top men’s and wom-en’s teams in DIII soccer. The tournament was hosted by the Sunshine State Conference.

In the women’s division, a total of 60 teams qualified for the tournament bracket, with four teams receiving automatic first-found bi’s. Two of those teams made it to the finals with Wheaton College Thunder (27-0) recording the first undefeated season in school history with a 1-0 win over Messiah College (23-1) to clinch their third NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer National Championship in four years.

In the men’s division, first round play started with 40 teams while seven received first-round bi’s, totalling the tourna-ment field with 47 teams. After advancing to the finals of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships in a shootout victory over three-time national champion Messiah the previous night, Middlebury took home the program’s first national title in a second shootout victory, this time against undefeated Trinity (Texas) in a 0-0 game. Middlebury finished the year with a record of 18-2-2, while Trinity ends their season 23-1.

Today marks the first day of the girl’s portion of the 2007 Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club. The girl’s tournament will run through Wednesday, January 2.

Also occurring today are the boy’s semi-finals and finals. Good luck to those competing!

Today at the Showcase

In 2007, English Premiership side Chelsea Football Club became presenting sponsor of Disney’s Soccer Showcase Series. One of the biggest and most suc-cessful clubs in Europe, the team they call “the Blues” boast some of the best players in the world, including England captain John Terry, and their famous stadium Stamford Bridge sits in the heart of a fashionable part of London. Their ambitions to grow their fan base in the United States are reflected in the launch of a web-site and membership program designed specifically for American soccer fans. For Blues news go to www.chelseafc.com/America.

Be sure to visit the Chelsea FC table at the Showcase, located in the results area.

Game 3, Kick 4 December 30, 2007

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Happy Birthday!!

Victoria Bailey U16 Showcase Michigan Hawks 92 BlackKristen Barg U16 USYS League Dallas Texans 92 Red DallasEmily Bolinsky U15 Showcase Team Boca 92-93Taylor Dearbaugh U16 Showcase Cincinnati United Premier RedAlexandra Eagle U17 Showcase White Montclair United AristocatsCourtney Geis U17 Showcase White Neusport Tabagators 91Wole Kekere-ekun U16 Predator Freestate TitansGrant Kyker U15 Copa Alpharetta Ambush RedNicholas Lara U16 Showcase NY Hota Academy 91Tebogo Maqubela U15 Copa FC Greater Boston BoltsLinsey McKinney U16 Predator Germantown Soccer Association Fury 92 PremierKatherine Murphy U15 Showcase Loudoun Soccer 92 RedBarbara Platenberg U15 Showcase BRYC Azul 92/93

Fair Game Magazine

Fair Game, the 100% women’s soccer magazine, is proud to announce it’s sponsorship of the Fair Play Award at the 2007 Disney’s Soccer Showcase. Fair Game will present the Fair Play Award to the team in each girl’s flight that exhibits the best sportsman-ship and will take into consideration positive play as well as respect for teammates, opponents and offi-cials. Coaches and officials in each flight will rate the sportsmanship of each team they meet in pool play games.

Question or comments can be directed to Gayle Bryan at Fair Game Magazine (706) 373-4846 or gayle.bryan@kickingitaround.com.

Disney’s Soccer Showcase’s Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has a substantial and profound presence in the world of soccer. It’s someone who has truly helped and impacted the game of soccer. In 2007, that person is Ed-die Firmani.

Throughout his career, which started with a youth club in his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, Firmani has played all over Europe. In 1950, he joined his first senior club, Charlton Athletic in England, a club he would return to three times across his career. During his first stint with the Addicks, he became a top goal scorer, including five goals against Aston Villa in a 6-1 victory in 1955.

After Charlton, he spent eights year in Italy with the national team. Firmani also played for Internazional, Genoa and Southen United before retiring in 1967.

Firmani Recieves Lifetime Achievement Award

He spent his early retirement years managing Charle-ton before he moved to North America in 1975 and has since managed several North American Soccer League sides and claimed two NASL championships, one with the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975) and also with the New York Cosmos (1978). He was named the NASL Coach of the Year in 1976. He later managed Canadian side Montreal Impact in 1993 and Major League Soccer side New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 1996.

“This is the #1 youth soccer tournament in the coun-try with over 7,000 athletes coming to Disney’sWide World of Sports Complex” said Patrick Dicks, Disney Area Sports Manager-Soccer “It’s important for these athletes to recognize those that came before them.”

Congratulations Eddie!

Firmani w/Charlton - 1964