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Player from Thailand energizes AYSO Region 71 team

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Contributed by: Pam Vetter on 9/21/2008

Theerawat Chanroiet is his name and soccer is his game. A player to remember, he has moves on the field that amaze other teams.

Truly a nice player with a natural talent, Theerawat is best known as Jack to AYSO Woodland Hills Region 71 players, parents and supporters. But, watching him on the field is as good as going to a professional Los Angeles Galaxy soccer game.

Jack dribbles the ball down the field with great speed, bounces off opposing players and entertains the crowd.

Throughout the entire game, he encourages his teammates with positive advice. Much of his advice is met with smiles from his teammates. Jack expects other players to perform and take advantage of every opportunity on the field.

If there's extra time to make a good kick, he encourages players to take the time. If someone's open down field, he announces it to key players. When a teammate makes a great play, he gives him a pat on the back saying, "Good job, good job."

While he likes winning soccer games, it's more about playing incredible soccer rather than the final score.

AYSO Region 71 U-16 Coach Reza Shahmirzadi is pleased to have Jack on his team.

"It's been a pleasure having Theerawat (Jack) Chanroiet on my team. Jack is a talented soccer player who every coach would love to have. He has been a positive role model, good team player, and jack of all trades on the soccer field. You can play Jack in any position but he enjoys playing defense most. Jack is just like an Energizer speeding bunny," Shahmirzadi said, smiling. "He is fast, never runs out of energy, and as a result, energizes the entire team. He is well liked and respected by his teammates as well as other players and coaches in the region."

Born in Thailand, Jack, 15, started playing soccer at the age of 8. He moved to the Southern California four years ago.

"I started playing AYSO soccer in the United States when I was 11. Soccer is fun. You play with your friends and soccer makes me happy," Jack explained. "It's fun to be with your friends. I'm also on the El Camino High School junior varsity soccer team."

Jack was on El Camino's Junior Varsity team last year in Woodland HIlls and he remembers every game as though it was played yesterday.

"We played 20 games and only lost one game. We only lost to Taft 1-0," Jack said. "I'm going to be captain of the team this year."

Jack practices two days a week at Bischoff field in West Hills with his AYSO soccer team. In his free time, you can often find Jack playing pickup games of soccer or kicking the ball with other players.

He plays official soccer games on both Saturdays and Sundays. The El Camino season will be begin immediately after the AYSO season.

Jack's older brother, Chirawat Chanroiet, who is known as Mac, plays on the varsity soccer team at El Camino. Mac was selected to receive the Adam Bischoff Sportsmanship Award last season for exemplifying good sportsmanship on and off the field. The love of soccer runs in the family.

"Sometimes I play soccer at home with my brother, too," Jack said. "Soccer is fun because you make friends. The players are all my friends and they go to my school. AYSO is a good opportunity for kids!"

For more information about AYSO Region 71 Soccer, visit www.region71.org.

For more information about a league in your area, visit www.soccer.org.

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