With UTRGV Men’s Soccer conference play underway we had a chance to sit down and talk with Captain and Senior Midfielder Arthur Rogers. Rogers originally from England, explains the significance soccer had in his formative year.
“It is everything in school, you don’t play any sport but football, if you are one of the kids who play on the team you are automatically a cool kid, like for you guys I would say its like basketball in America, football is everything anyone cares about.”
Yet playing for UTRGV and being over 5,000 miles away from home, Rogers explains the hardships of missing family and friends.
“Family and Friends, cause I only get to go home once a year at Christmas, and that like 11-12 month wait really takes a toll, in my 3 years I’ve been out here, I’ve been home twice. So obviously just being away, obviously my team and my friends here they make me feel like I have a family, but it still tough we you are texting or calling home and you know you just aren’t going to be able to see them for another 6,7,8 months. That’s the toughest part about being away.”
Yet rogers finds company and peace with his teammates through various activities.
“We are always in and out of each others room, just talking and playing FIFA, watching a film together. Like obviously we are around each other all the time, in terms of the team, but when you don’t have that pressure of training, worrying about a game and you can just relax and just hang out with friends I think its the best way to relax.”
On the pitch Rogers has high praise and high expectations for his team.
“I think this is, in my opinion, the best, the most complete team we ever had, since I’ve been here, in my 3 years. We don’t really have a lot of weaknesses, in the side right now, which is obviously really good to have, and every game no matter what we kinda set a little motto before a game. We all say “We win no matter what”, so whether things are going great or things are going bad. We are going to get the win. That how we are going into every game. that mindset.”
Rogers and UTRGV Men’s Soccer’s next game will be on the road against Western Athletic conference opponent, Houston Baptist University, as UTRGV looks to improve to 3-1 in WAC conference play.
Reporter: Luis Rubio
