When One Door Closes, Another Opens: Manil's Journey From Player to Coach

In his own words Manil—an SWB Colorado alumnus and current coach-mentor—shares his heartfelt journey from feeling overlooked to leading with purpose.

From nearly walking away from the game to becoming a leader for the next generation, Manil’s story is honest, reflective, and a powerful reminder of what a supportive team environment can unlock. We’re honored to share his words in full.

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For me, soccer was a boring and uninteresting sport. That is how I viewed it before I actually played it. If you asked me back then what soccer meant to me, I couldn't have answered.

Everything changed when I came to the U.S.

Many people may relate to my experience, and many others may not. I just wanted to play the sport I grew to like. So, I joined my high school soccer team.

At first, I enjoyed it. I liked playing with new people, learning different play styles, and I believed I would fit in easily. But reality was different. Soccer became unplayable for me on that team. The players were selfish and focused only on dribbling, taking highlights, and showing off. I thought at first that they wouldn't pass the ball to me because I was the new guy. In time, though, it became evident that those guys didn't care about anything else except winning and attendance.

I tried hard to fit in and actually put in real effort, but it all went to waste after I fell sick and

missed a week. When I returned, it felt like I was a stranger. I was dropped to the second team, and half the players acted as if they didn't know me. Playing with them became so awful that I decided to quit.

That was seriously one of the worst experiences of my life. But when one door closes, another opens.

My senior year, one of my friends approached me and suggested joining a soccer team called Soccer Without Borders (SWB). Initially, I was totally against the idea. Then I told myself, “Well, why not? I’ll probably quit after a week anyway.”

But I was simply wrong.

SWB turned out to be so much more than I had expected. The players were all welcoming, and the coaches put an emphasis on having fun and building real connections.

That season became the best season of my life and brought back my love for soccer again. Graduating led to the opportunity to become a mentor coach with SWB. I was nervous and riddled with self-doubt, but I tried anyway...and again, another door opened.

Coaching with SWB became one of the best things I've ever done. Teaching and mentoring the next generation of players, meeting talented players, and watching them grow felt meaningful. In fact, to this day, I sometimes look back at my high school team experience and remind myself of the importance of a positive environment.

I have no idea what exactly the future holds in store for me, but I'll keep moving forward, knowing that when one door closes, another one always opens.

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