Courtesy: RoxReview.com


Phila. U. Hall of Fame soccer player represents United States

By Stuart London

When Pat Morris was a student at North Catholic, meeting people from different cultures meant knowing people from Bridesburg. Nowadays, there are very few continents in the world where he does not know someone."I was just a kid from Port Richmond who went to North Catholic," said Morris a 1995 North graduate. "Now, one of my best friends is from South Africa. I've gone all over the world because of soccer.

"It's just crazy. It's a neat experience."

Morris' latest international venture came as a member of the U.S. Futsal National Team which placed third in the CONCACAF championships held June 3-8 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Futsal is an indoor version of soccer. Eleven of the 12 players on the team were drawn from Major Indoor Soccer League, where Morris has been a seven time All-MISL selection with the Philadelphia Kixx.

The third place finish advances the USA to the FIFA World Cup from Sept. 30 to Oct. 19 in Brazil. Morris and Jamar Beasley (brother of national team member DeMarcus Beasley) are the only returning players from the last World Cup team, which finished seventh in 2004 when it was held in Tai It might not be the World Cup that most people know but it is taken quite seriously. The team is sponsored by U.S. Soccer and coached by Keith Tozer, who has won four pro indoor titles with the Milwaukee Wave

"We'll probably be in Brazil 8-10 days prior for training, get a couple of exhibition games and maybe go somewhere for a week's training session before that," said Morris. "I was on the 2004 team so I know what's involved."

The United States won its pool in the CONCACAF but lost in the semifinals to Guatemala, 4-0. It had to come back and beat Panama, who it had played to a 1-1 tie in pool play, for the final World Cup bid. The USA won 7-1. "Against Panama you have to score the first goal because they pack it in," said Morris. "If you score first they have to come out and we were able to open it up. It actually could have been a lot worse."

Going against the home country in the semifinals was an experience for Morris. He is used to passionate Philadelphia sports fans but soccer to the rest of the world is a whole other level.

"It was unbelievable. We couldn't even hear each other talk and we were maybe five yards away from each other," he said. "I've been to Flyers playoffs, Sixers playoffs but this was loudest crowd I've ever heard.

"Coach said he gave up yelling to us because no one could hear anybody. I couldn't understand what they were saying except for the whistles because I don't know Spanish."

Despite the massive crowd noise against him, Morris enjoyed the experience.

"It was the best experience I ever had playing-wise, and I've played before 17,000 here in Philly," he said. "But over there it was 10,000 people who lived and die soccer. It's crazy, our bus pulls up and the people are already there - going bananas.

"It was awesome. It's something I can tell my kids one day."

He began getting to know people from other parts of the world when he went to Philadelphia University (then known as Philadelphia Textile). He was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame last year.

"I got a chance to meet so many different people up there," said Morris, who has a degree in finance from Textile's last graduating class. "My soccer team alone was Jamaicans, Polish, South Africans, guys from all over. To me it was awesome to meet people with different cultures and experiences. It was great. It was the first time I was told I talked with the accent"

Brazil might be even more interesting later this year as Morris played there with the USA team in the Pan-American Games last year to train in an exhibition game and remembers 13,000 fans in the stands and the game on national television.

"And they were crazy then and now you bring the World Cup," said Morris, 31. "It's going to be real crazy."

One of his Pan-American teammates was Kixx coach Don D'Ambra, also a North Catholic, but due to commitments he can not play on this year's national team.

Morris is not looking to give up playing any time soon.

"Knock on wood, I haven't had any (physical) problems except for wrist surgery," said Morris, a 1999 graduate of Philadelphia University. "As long as I'm healthy I'd like to play as long as possible. I'll keep doing it until the wheels fall off.

"I do have plans for when I stop playing. I'd like get into coaching. I like teaching kids."

Morris is the director at a number of the summer camps the Kixx run, including the one at the Lansing Knights field from June 16-20. He hoped to help at his alma mater this fall but the World Cup schedule has scotched that.

"It has been a busy year," he said. "I do have so much pride in North Catholic. I do tell everyone I come from the greatest high school there is, North Catholic."

There is talk of Futsal being added to the 2012 Olympic Games as the sport is becoming very popular in England, which is hosting the Games.

"That is my one individual goal, to play in an Olympics," said Morris. "But that's a long way off. I've gotten to play in two world championship and that's pretty cool.

"I tell people when I speak at schools; I could never imagine the things that soccer has done for me."





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com