Hi my name is Mazik McDaniel,

I am fundraising for my 2023 Portugal Soccer Tour invitation where I will be competing in the Algarve Youth Cup 2023. I have played soccer since I was 4 1/2, I started at the YMCA and moved to rec where I played for a year and a half, I loved training with my teammates and most of all weekend games. I was awarded the team ball for scoring 30 goals in my fall season that year I made the All-Stars team when I was 6 and my teammates were 8 years old. My dad was approached by a club coach who said that they were holding tryouts and it would be good for me to try out. I made the team as a center forward, and played left or right forward when needed. I know how to kick and do footwork with both my left and right feet so I was kinda unstoppable. I loved how physical the game was so I always loved to train extra outside of my practices in my back yard I remember crying when the sun went down and I had to come in. I have always said one day I will go pro, and I needed to stay working on it.

We moved here from the Central Coast in December 2019 and I tried out for San Juan Soccer Club in Rancho Cordova. I made the team and started training right away it was nice because I had to leave my team and friends on the Central Coast. The first tournament I played was the Presidential Cup we hosted Feb 2020, I scored 11 goals we ended up winning 2nd in the tournament. Then COVID hit and everything shut down there was NO soccer what was I going to do? My league signed us up for the Techne Fotbol App where we began doing technical training on our own and had a contest between our teammates. It was nice because I could set up my cones in the garage and work on my footwork. A few weeks after training ourselves on the app we began to hold zoom sessions with our coach and team. It was nice but also boring because I love the physicality of playing the game. We slowly went back to practice after our county approved us boy was I happy to be back to the game I loved so much. I played for the 2010 Lightning that year and it was a blast I love the game and love winning we didn't have much of a winning season but to be back playing was all that mattered.

The 2021 season was a much better season I went to tryouts and made the 2009 Lightning team and I was getting ready to play for one of the best technical coaches in our club this was going to be epic. I always played center, left or right forward, but I would be playing the center back position on defense this year. This was stress full at first because being a defender was new to me I was used to being a forward however the thought that I could be more physical was great. My coach taught me how to play clean defense and always play the ball this way I would cut my fouls down playing a forward and fouling wasn't as costly as being a defender and fouling. It was a tough year because I wanted to help my team win. After all, this was what I was good at and could do, but now I was the last defender that had to stop the other team from scoring when you think about it it's the same thing if they can't score they don't win. I learned to play more patiently and not rush my soccer which made my soccer IQ sharper.

After 11 months of training and playing, I had grown in my technique and my soccer IQ, 2022 we had tryouts again I made the 2010 ECNL team San Juan's top teams, this was amazing and the opportunity I have worked so hard for. Two weeks after tryouts at a year-end school party I sprung my ankle roller skating. This was devastating I remember going to a team meeting a day after the injury with a boot on and having to tell my coach. I remember him saying well Mazik it's not a good thing but it is the best time to have done it because we have off two weeks for summer club break and we don't start our season until August it was June. He told me that I had to sacrifice because of the level I was playing at and that I needed to protect my body you can't do anything that may cause you to have an injury he told me. I rested the first week and after 4 days I didn't put that boot back on I remember walking in the morning so my ankle didn't get stiff. The doctor told me that when there's no pain you can try jogging. I walked the first week, jogged the second, and sprinted the third I remember trying to do my cutting as I would on the soccer field but there was still a little pain. My dad took me to the chiropractor and had my ankle adjusted and we started the red light therapy on it this gives you 2 weeks of healing from your injury. I was ready to go back after 5 weeks I was still having my red light therapy done weekly so the healing would continue. I had to wear an ankle pod to protect me from rolling my ankle and I got blisters and my heels hurt. I was super nervous about going in and taking the ball because I didn't want to be kicked it was all in my mind and was all a distraction to stop me from playing I pushed past it and got three different cleats to help with my feet. Finally, my feet felt better but now I had to get into soccer shape all over again. I began running in the morning before I went to school to get my endurance back up I had to be the player that I was at tryouts and I was determined to be. After a few months of training on the weekend around games with my dad working on foot drills and running in the mornings training 3 days weekly with my team, I finally got back into shape.

In November we were notified by our ECNL Director that we would be hosting a Thanksgiving camp for 3 days and that we would have an opportunity to be chosen to travel to Portugal over spring break to play in a high competition leveled cup. I knew that I could make it I am an awesome player who loves, and understands the game. I went on the first day of camp and was asked to play with the older boys not knowing that this was because the team they choose will be a mix of 2009 & 2010 players, of course, I played up for years. I did drills, 1V1s, and scrimmage after day three we gathered in a group and they let us know that we would be notified privately if we would be invited to Portugal. On 12/5/2022 I received the invite to attend the cup, this is important to me because I can add it to my resume of all my accomplishments in soccer as I keep training to get ready to play in college.

I am raising 8,000 dollars for my Tour

My Invitation is below:

---Portugal Soccer Tour 2023 Player Invitation---

CALIFORNIA YOUTH SPORTS MANAGEMENT

PORTUGAL SOCCER TOUR

SPRING BREAK 2023

California Youth Sports Management (CYSM) invites boys born in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 & 2009 to experience quality training and high-level competition in Lisbon and Algarve, Portugal. This soccer tour will give players a unique opportunity to train in a professional environment at the Sport Lisboa Benfica academy and to compete in the Algarve Youth Cup 2023. Our soccer tours allow young players to learn from professional coaches, compete at the highest level and discover rich cultures such as the Portuguese.

Lisbon, Portugal (March 29 - April 2)

1. Enjoy high-level training directed by Sport Lisboa Benfica academy coaches.

2. Scrimmage against Benfica youth teams.

3. Tour the beautiful city of Lisbon.

4. Conference for players and parents presented by Portuguese coaches.

5. Creates an opportunity for selected players to be invited to train with Sport Lisboa Benfica academy.

The soccer tour to Lisbon will allow both players and parents to enjoy one of Portugal’s most prominent cities full of history, superb architecture, delicious gastronomy and lots of Football. Parents and players will enjoy a well-organized tour around the city’s most important landmarks.

Algarve, Portugal (April 2 - 9)

1. Compete in the Algarve Youth

Cup 2023

2. Compete against European Youth

Academies

3. Enjoy the beautiful town of Algarve in the south of Portugal.

4. The tournament guarantees a

minimum of 4 - 5 games.

5. **** Accommodation hotel.

The Algarve Youth Cup is a high-level youth competition that will allow our players to compete against European youth academies; we guarantee this competition will provide unforgettable moments both for players and parents.

Our History

California Youth Sports Management (CYSM) was established in June 2014, our organization was founded with the purpose of providing young soccer players with an opportunity to train and compete at the highest level while also experiencing different cultures. Ever since our inception, we have taken approximately five hundred young players to countries such as Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

At the moment we have a well-established professional relationship with several top academies in Europe and our goal is to continue to grow our network to be able to provide great programs and experiences to the young players we serve.

“Train and Compete with the Best: Create Lifetime Memories” CYSM soccer tours will help you to take your game to the next level by introducing high-tempo and dynamic sessions that will challenge players both mentally and physically.

The tour to Lisbon and Algarve will allow the players to enjoy training and competing in a professional and international environment. The Algarve Youth Cup offers an opportunity for our players to compete against European academies while also competing in a fantastic atmosphere.

Associated Costs:

Total Costs Player = €2,850 per player

Total Costs Companion = €1,850 per companion (This includes two supporter jerseys

for each companion) / **** hotel / 3 daily meals/transportation inside Portugal.

What is not included?

• Airfare