BOYS IN GREEN: MANUEL PEREZ
Greenville, SC – His skill on the ball is undeniable. On any given Greenville FC match-day you can see Manuel Perez make an impact. His ability to move off defenders and pass the ball for other attacking players makes him a valuable member of the team. “What I like about the midfield is timing,” says Manuel, “getting away from the defender into a pocket and then receiving and turning finding a pass through. I like being the transition from defending into attacking play.” Manuel’s skill with the ball is incredible but his journey to Greenville FC is even more so.
Manuel Perez grew up in Valencia, Venezuela. A two-hour car ride north-west of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Manuel describes it as a big city with a small-town feel. “It is a very industrial city,” Manuel says, “growing up we played soccer and focused on school.” Manuel recalls, “It’s like a small town with loads of people. The group of people that I grew up with, we all still know each other.”
Manuel always dreamed of soccer but playing in Venezuela is tough. Manuel grew up playing in the Venezuela soccer system playing as a number nine but was eventually shifted to the number ten role as a center attacking midfielder. “As a kid I wanted to play pro but in Venezuela you don’t get paid much from it. There isn’t a good future in it at the time.” It was Manuel’s mother who convinced him to get a scholarship and education in America first and try to play from there.
To move to the US and play Manuel decided to stop focusing on soccer so much and more on his SAT test and TOEFL test. Manuel moved to Boston where he got a good score on his TOEFL. Being in Venezuela it was hard to get scholarships so Manuel attended Barry University in Miami, Florida to get a bachelors in Exercise Science. From there he reached out to the coaches and soon joined the soccer team by his Sophomore year. He is currently getting a master’s in strategic leadership at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.
Manuel soon decided to leave for the US but that doesn’t keep him from returning home despite the current situation in Venezuela. “Right now the situation is pretty bad back home,” says Manuel on the current economic situation in Venezuela. “Last time I went back home it was dangerous. Every time I went out it was a race everywhere I was supposed to be because I could get kidnapped.”
When Manuel heard Greenville FC was looking for an attacking player, Coach Lee Squires talked to him, and he arrived in Greenville. Manuel’s speed and ability to get by defenders has got him to the right midfield or wing on the pitch. Manuel felt a big breakthrough for him was the goal he scored against the Emerald Force in Greenville’s fourth match. In the 75th minute Manuel hit a shot from outside the box that found the back of the net. “It was a relief” recalls Manuel. The goal was a favorite moment for Manuel because even though Greenville lost the match it was a confidence builder for everything to come. On his experience with Greenville Manuel feels, “everything has been amazing. The club treats us right, the team is great, the atmosphere is great, and I’d love to come back.”
Contributor: Zachariah Tollison/Greenville FC
Photo Credit: Blake Schultz