Abdoul Diallo is a senior who is captain of the soccer team. In this interview he shared some of his experiences and advice on the pitch over the past four years.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
When did you join the Pace soccer team?
I started in 2020, my freshman year.
What did that look like during the remote year of school?
It wasn’t a lot of us. There was us and Mr. Macias during that time. We had ten people on the team, mostly seniors and juniors. So we were just playing with Emma Lazarus [High School].
When did you guys start competing again?
2021. Yeah, that was sophomore year. That was when we started to go into seasons again.
What’s the hardest part about being captain?
Just making sure I’m doing the right thing. I’ve got to make sure I’m not doing too much, or that I’m giving the wrong emotions. Or when we’re losing, I can’t be the first one giving up.
Where did you learn to play soccer?
I learned from my older cousin because I used to play with him and his older friends, so I started playing with older people at a young age.
What’s one thing you learned in your experience playing soccer over these past four years?
Anything can change at any moment. People can get injured at any moment. People can get better at any moment. You can always lose at any moment. You can’t give up until the game is over.
What is some advice you can give to people who want to join soccer?
To be patient, even if it is your first time playing soccer. You can get better because I know people who played soccer for the first time and they got better. They showed up and came to practice every time.
Do you think you’re gonna do college soccer or potentially pursue it professionally?
Yeah, I’m trying to do college soccer, but I didn’t even know about it because I don’t know what college I’m going to yet.
