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SEBASTIAN MANTELLO: TESTIMONIAL

August 2007- Parents' Perspective

Sebastian Mantello in his first match for FC Schweinfurt 05 of the Bavarian Bayernliga U19s

Sebastian has a passion for playing soccer. He lives in Australia and traveled to Germany in 2006 with a squad organized by Alan Davidson (ex Socceroo and Australian National Team Captain) for the Mecure Cup in Frankfurt. The Australian Team was sponsored by Werder Bremen Soccer Club and the Australian team to everyone but their coach's surprise came 5th in the tournament.

This was the beginning of Sebastian dream to play soccer in Europe. He discussed it with us, his parents and when we returned to Australia we researched the possibilities. We settled on FARA because we were attracted to FARA's objectives and its combination with a school exchange program. Hence, we commenced a process of phone calls and organization with Michael Carlson, the President, resulting in Sebastian's placement by FARA in Schweinfurt, Germany in August 2007 for the year long school exchange and soccer program.

FARA representatives including AYUSA (School Exchange) have been thorough in Sebastian's placement with a host family, school and soccer club. Sebastian is playing in the Bayernliga Under 19s, Bavaria's highest youth division.

Sebastian arrived in early August and then traveling with the team to Munich to a Sportschule, a wonderful complex with excellent sporting facilities for the best athletes in the region.

Sebastian and we his parents (made the long journey from Australia to settle him in) were enthralled with the training facilities at the Schweinfurt Soccer Club, the warmth of the players and coaches, the organization and quality of the training. The trip to Munich was a bonus and helped Sebastian cement his place in the team because of the intensive three day program which allowed the boys to bond, get to know each other and practice playing soccer together with excellent coaching and support staff.

The thing which surprised us the most was the amazing condition of the grounds in Germany, contrasting to the Australian grounds which are not in very good shape due to continuing drought in the southern states. During the three days, we wandered off to sightsee, but Sebastian and his team mates had a strict regimen of training, theory, recovery, nutrition and rest scheduled from 7am-10pm each day. They also played three matches against Bundesliga and Southern Bayernliga Clubs like Erfurt and Ingolstadt.

Mantello happy after his first German match.

During the three weeks we were in Schweinfurt we managed to meet Ronnie, FARA representative and contact for Sebastian. Ronnie made contact with us, traveled to meet us and Sebastian's host parents who are really wonderful people and with whom we have great comfort in leaving Sebastian. Seb's good fortune is in having a host father who is also a well qualified soccer coach and a host mother and brother who are very athletic. All are very caring and from our perspective the best balance for our son.

After we returned home, Sebastian had his first soccer game. Seb was very nervous for his first game. He was on bench in the first half and came on the park 10 minutes into the second half. Within minutes he has a golden opportunity from a goalie spill and SCORED!

FC Schweinfurt celebrates Sebastian's first goal in Germany!

His host parents captured the celebration with the boys after the goal and we got to experience it through the email. It was wonderful.

Sebastian's training four days a week and playing on Sunday. He trains really hard but it is concise, targeted and intense. He is exhausted because he has never trained anything like it before, and knows developmentally he could not be in a better place at this time.

School has now started and all the lessons are in German except for English. We are sure that Sebastian will do well in English, and we hope to hear him speaking fluent German by the end of his year in Germany. We really are very excited about the prospect.

We know that Sebastian will have a wonderful year, in soccer, school and in gaining an amazing life experience.