For the second time this summer members of the Delta, San Francisco’s professional soccer club, participated in a match between San Quentin’s two soccer teams: the OGs and the Youngsters.
Delta defender, Andrew Lubahu, coached the OGs while Pablo Diegio, the Delta winger from Brazil, coached the Youngsters.
Kily Thron, head of human performance for the pro club, loosened up both teams with pre-game drills.
“I came to be a part of this,” said Delta goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who shared his expertise with OG Marco Villa and Youngster Moses Fuentes, SQ’s two goalies.
Ten minutes into the match Carlos Moreno scored on a kick over the outstretched limbs of Villa, the OG goalkeeper, 1-0 Youngsters.
The five-time-champ Todd Donivan responded from 25 yards out in minute 11, beating the Youngster keeper for the equalizer. Donivan solidified his rep inside prison walls as an OG.
In minute 26 Moreno put the Youngsters ahead, 2-1, and was on pace for a first-half hat trick. He looked unstoppable.
“I’m very impressed,” said the six-footer Ceus from the sideline.
A few substitutions made by coach Lubahu before the half held off the Youngster attack. The score remained 2-1 Youngsters.
“When Todd gets the ball, we need to run behind him,” said OG coach Lubahu during his half-time speech. “We need to stop giving the ball away.”
“We’re good, everybody’s playing together,” said coach Diego, whose team dominated the first half.
At the start of the second half 62-year-old Jose “Shorty” Viera, who stands under five feet, was brought in. To no one’s surprise, except for the Delta, he scored in minute 53, tying the match at 2-2.
The Youngsters, who had relied heavily on their speed in the first half, looked tired as two more goals came in minutes 65 by Donivan and 78 by Jeff Williams.
“This is where we slowly twist the knife,” said Lubahu as the OGs seem to have found their fountain of youth.
The match ended at 4-3 with a goal at minute 79 off the leg of Miguel Flores, the Delta equipment manager. He said that he was surprised to see some real quality players inside a prison.
