It’s been a really good Spring for Barra Brava FC.  We started this season with two goals simple in definition but perhaps not as simple in execution – For Premier to win the Emerald Division Championship and for Select to win the Opal Division Championship.  As the Washington International Soccer League re-aligns to a more logical format this Fall, these championships guarantee promotion for both teams and a place in the newly formed WISL 1^st and 3^rd Divisions respectively.

Every player at our club has bought into the club mentality and deserves congratulations for accepting and achieving our collective goals for the season.  It all boils down to winning games and over the course of the short season and we got to be pretty damn good at it.  The numbers speak for themselves.  BBFC Premier finished the year with an undefeated record of 7-0-1, 33 goals scored, and a +24 goal differential.   BBFC Select finished with a 6-1-1 record, 35 goals scored, and a +26 goal differential.  With just a few exceptions, our teams not only cruised to easy victories over decidedly lesser competition, but we were also able to identify and cultivate an attractive, possession-based style of play atypical of your everyday pub teams.  Many of our newest signings bring college, semi-pro, and even professional experience with them and their positive impact on our club over the course of the past year cannot be overstated.

We have a lot of ambitious plans for the club both in the near term and the long term which makes it so important that we continue taking steps forward.  Our current players are laying the foundation for future players and future successes and although all of our goals are club and team oriented, we would also would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the outstanding contributions of the individuals at the club that have performed exceptionally well over the course of the past 6 months.  These are the guys that stood side-by-side with their teammates all season long and fought to raise the bar.  Whether it was a series of stellar goals, hard goal-saving tackles, tireless work on and off the ball, refusal to lose possession, picture perfect passes on the money time and time again, or a unusual ability to consistently and reliably play well game after game, these players demonstrated a rare ability to positively change the direction of their team by virtue of individual effort.  The following players were selected by their teammates for recognition for outstanding performance over the course of the entire season: 

Barra Brava FC Spring Post-Season Awards:

BBFC Premier Player of the Season – Denis Mittakarin – Denis is the consensus heart of the team for the past two seasons.  He is a tireless worker in the center midfield with an incredible touch and intelligence on the ball.  It seems that everything either starts or finishes through him.

BBFC Premier Defensive Player of the Season – Ryan Rose – He is a solid and reliable anchor to our league leading defense.  Ryan can be characterized by outstanding positioning, ability to read the game, and fantastic one-on-one defending.

BBFC Premier Offensive Player of the Season – Trevor Jacka – Lead the team with 8 goals in about 6 games.  Trevor is a game changer who is just as likely to put a 30 yard shot upper 90 with his right foot as he is to bury a full-volley inside the far post with his left foot.

BBFC Select Player of the Season – Milton Muñoz – Milton scored 4 goals and assisted on another but perhaps his biggest contribution was an outstanding work ethic and composure on the ball.  He was a reliable teammate and a leader on the pitch game after game.

BBFC Select Defensive Player of the Season – Andre Souza – Extremely talented Brazilian left back added a bit of offensive flair in a league where few players have the ability to play both sides of the ball.  Fantastic left foot and a vocal and positive influence from the back line.

BBFC Select Offensive Player of the Season – Sonny Rajlawat – On a team full of scoring ability, Sonny stood out as the one player that seemed to score goals at will.  His speed and 5 goals led the team.  His ability to perform with a hangover is uncanny.

Congratulations to these players and to everyone else at Barra Brava FC for the success this season.  With the season over, our attention now turns to the Terrill Cup.  By virtue of our finish atop the Emerald Division, BBFC Premier have qualified for this Cup which will put us up against the top teams in all of WISL.  Starting on July 10^th, this will be a great opportunity to measure our current team against all other competition.  Our goal is to soon become the top amateur team in the Washington DC area.  This tournament will be just a small indicator of progress thus far….let’s see where we stand!

Thank you to all of you that have supported us this year.  It seems odd for an amateur team to have supporters, but many people in the Barra family have asked me about the club and even have come out to see our games.  I hope that someday Barra Brava FC will be a recognized name on a national level and your support, in whatever form, is greatly appreciated.

I would like to offer a special thank you to our sponsors Molly Malone’s and Peroni.  There is no doubt in my mind that these sponsors have given us an upper-hand when it comes to player recruiting.  Their contributions offset a significant portion of our costs that would otherwise be passed on to our players.  Please help us thank our sponsors with your business and let them know that you appreciate their support of Barra Brava FC.