Three local soccer players who play on the nonprofit Martha’s Vineyard United (MVU) travel team, were selected for the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a youth soccer pipeline that identifies and develops talent across the country.
Rafael Assis, Mateus de Assis, and Thales Fernandes earned the spots through weekly ferry trips for extra practice and exposure and dedication to improvement, the young locals said.
“It’s amazing to see how they have grown over the past five years, and they are just kids, only 12,” Lena Queirós, mother of Fernandes, said. “A lot of good things have happened to them, but they had to work really hard. They are patient, competitive, and very friendly, and they try their best to do everything right, and I think they really deserve it.”
Tommy Geis, technical director for Massachusetts Youth Soccer, the host organization for the Olympic Development Program in the state, said the boys have gone above and beyond.
“On the Vineyard, their access to soccer is challenging [in and of] itself. Everything they have to do, they have to travel for. There’s a lot of soccer on the Vineyard, but when they want different opportunities, they have to get on the boat multiple times a week to get what most kids on the mainland can do in 25 or 45 minutes of driving,” Geis said.
The ODP is a high-level soccer training initiative run by Massachusetts Youth Soccer for athletes 12 and over. Assis, de Assis, and Fernandes will travel to Florida from Jan. 14 to 18 for an ODP event that is a primary evaluation phase in front of national team scouts and collegiate coaches at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Fla.
“They are 12 years old,” Geis said. He noted that experience through the ODP “is a big step” that “hopefully sparks that further interest, so they can want to see more.”
Fernandes, born and raised on the Island, began playing soccer at roughly 6 years old. He started as a defender, but now plays left attack. Fernandes said he learned to love the sport from his father, Flauber Fernandes de Souza.
Fernandes described a philosophy taught to him that helped him improve. He calls it “the art of losing.”
“I don’t think anybody in life likes losing, and I’m really competitive, so when I lose, I try to learn from it. I don’t accept defeat; I take it as a learning moment,” Fernandes said.
He described the call to compete at ODP both a surprise and a longer-term goal.
“A long time ago, I said the hard work was going to pay off, but I’m surprised to see how far I have come,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes said his goal is to play professional soccer one day, and make his family proud.
“I hope to prove my parents right and go pro. Just seeing your son [as] a professional soccer player would make my mom feel like she’s done well, and that’s my goal,” Fernandes said.
In an email sent by Assis’ mother, Aline Lucas, she called her son “the Bull,” because of his strength, determination, and heart when he plays.
“He never gives up on a play and always fights until the final whistle,” said Lucas in the email to The Times. “His grit and passion inspire everyone around him.”
Assis moved to the Island from Brazil in 2021, and plays midfield. Soccer was central to his childhood, he said, but when he first came to Martha’s Vineyard, he was worried about his soccer career.
“Ever since I got here, I felt nervous at first, because I wasn’t sure if I would find a soccer team,” said Assis. He eventually found MVU, moved into travel soccer, and later was invited to try out for the Olympic Development Program.
“It felt really big, because the Island we live on is really small,” Assis said. “It’s crazy how we were the ones who got selected for this big tournament.”
Assis’ goal is also clear. “I want to make it professionally,” he said.
Assis’ mother, Lucas, said her son is quieter, and more reserved than most kids his age, but “he lets his game speak for itself.”
“[He is] calm, thoughtful, and intelligent; every move he shows that you don’t have to be the loudest to make a difference. His humility, dedication, and love for the game shine through every match,” she said.
De Assis, also born and raised on-Island, plays attack and midfield. De Assis said his father, Torbelly de Assis, also ignited his interest in the sport, buying him jerseys and small soccer balls from a young age and watching Brazil games with him.
Lucas said de Assis “brings joy wherever he goes.”
He is “playful and full of energy off the field. He dazzles on the field with his quick feet, creative dribbles, and ability to weave past defenders with ease,” Lucas said. “He reminds us that soccer is not only about competition but also about creativity and happiness.”
De Assis said he loves soccer because it’s a fun sport, but it’s challenging too. “It requires a lot of determination and discipline,” de Assis said.
He credits their achievement to their dedication to the sport, traveling off-Island frequently, running drills with coaches, and playing pickup with his friends whenever he can.
“Ever since we started with MVU, they told us that if we work hard and have discipline, we could achieve this moment. It feels really good,” he said. “We’re going to Florida in January, and I’m just really excited.”
“The goal is to become a professional soccer player, and it’s my parents’ dream to see me up there,” he said.
Lucas said she couldn’t be prouder of the three boys.
“I am proud not only of the athletes they are becoming, but also of the respectful, humble, and kind young men they are off the field,” she said.
Good luck! Watching the World Cup made me a fan of football.
Hope to see you at an MVUnited game someday! While walking our dog near the WT school a few Sundays ago, we were attracted to a local football game going on. We were late – penalty kicks were already settling the score – but the enthusiasm of the teams’ supporters was infectious. I helped ease our post World Cup withdrawals!