My name is Clark Curnow and I’m 18 years old. I currently play in the Oberliga on Neckarelz in Germany. I graduated high school when I was 17 and was excited to see where my soccer career was headed. Prior to graduating high school, I had already been in talks with George Hahui and Alin Suru from CGA Academy about my options for playing soccer at a high level in Europe. They had spoken to me and gave me an extensive plan for what I would need to do in order to reach that level and what kind of opportunities I would have in Europe if I am able to progress at the rate I did. I was ecstatic that there was a trip headed to Europe and I would be able to attend.
I landed in Germany a week before any of the other boys. I immediately made new friends the day I landed. I had several trainings with boys from Hoffenheim and other high-level teams. The boys I met were charismatic, kind, genuine and best of all amazing soccer players. They’re not only your friends but they turn into your teammates that you are able to compete at a high level with. These are friendships that go way beyond the soccer field. They are able to teach you things about the European culture and the European style of soccer and also technical things that maybe you had never seen before.
When I landed in Germany a man by the name of Iulian Olaru picked me and my father up from the airport. He welcomed us to Germany with open arms and excitement for the trip. Every time there is a new training with a different team or new players you are able to meet more people in the soccer community and connect yourself better than you could anywhere else in the world. You met coaches and agents and Scouters from all over the world.
Every facility we attended was high-class with good fields and great locker rooms. They were clean and tidy and ready when we got there. The fields were always clean the nets were in order and ready for us to train. Not only were the facilities high-class, but they were also inviting to peers that would like to watch us play. At every game, there was always coaches from all over watching us, interested in the new CGA American team that was playing in a foreign country.
Every time we had a game or training it was an opportunity to show someone your talent and skill set. Near the end of the trip, we played the best team by far. The name of the team was Neckarelz that now plays in the second highest league in Germany. I was starting center back and knew we had a tough match ahead. The game started and within the first 25 minutes, it was 4-1 for them. The guys that we were playing were phenomenal with the ball and without the ball, they were well coached and very disciplined. After the game, I was upset because of the results of the match and I felt like we did not show our full potential. But I was excited to hear that the coach from the opposing team was interested in my style of play and offered me a one-year contract to play with them. From this trip, many opportunities have come. You just have to be able to show yourself in situations where you need to be shown.