Goncalo Santana
Hometown: Salvador, Brazil
Position: Midfielder
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
I love it. It’s very exciting to be here. The team has been great.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
My cousin plays on the team, too, and since he got here, he just called me and said, “The best thing you can do is come to Trinity and play for them.” I got to know Trinity by him.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
The culture shock.
Q: How are you adjusting to the Texas heat?
Salvador is a tropical city, so it gets pretty hot, but it’s not as hot as Texas, so you just have to keep hydrating all the time.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Q: Favorite team:
Bahia.
Q: What is it like playing with your cousin?
It’s amazing! We used to play together, but only in family meetings and stuff like that. And now that we can dispute a championship playing together, with this family connection, it is just amazing.
Q: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to live?
My hometown!
Jorge Villamarin
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Position: Midfielder
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
It’s been a fantastic experience. The team is great; the coach is great.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
Coach McGinlay convinced me and told me it was the best decision and, so far, it has been.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
Q: One of the challenges is the physicality of the game. They are a bit faster and stronger and that is challenging.
Q: How are you adjusting to the Texas heat?
It’s been really hard. I come from a city where we have mid-60’s all year long and it’s not humid, so getting used to the heat is pretty hard, but I just have to keep playing; it’s all I can do.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
Q: Favorite team:
Barcelona
Callum Squires
Hometown: London, England
Position: Forward
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
It’s great. Everybody is really nice and really welcoming. It’s more professional and the standard is very high so it’s tough, but you improve day by day and it’s just a great experience because everyone is committed to improving and gives 100 percent.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
The whole package really; I was introduced to it because it was a good school and is respected academically but also has a highly established soccer program as well. I wanted to study languages and Trinity is a great school for that. German is my intended major, but I’m also starting Chinese now.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
The heat. It’s killing me. I don’t think I am adjusting”¦London is generally pretty cool so the training here is just more rigorous.
Q: What do you miss about London?
I miss friends, mainly. Although obviously not having the whole lifestyle of the city I’ve lived in for 19 years is something massive that’s changed. I also miss the pub I worked in all last year. And my family, of course. I also miss being able to walk outside without breaking into a sweat. And, weirdly, I miss rain. Proper rain. Not Texas drizzle.
Q: How is it being in the U.S. and not being able to drink?
Well, I don’t drink anyway, but I’m pretty much the only person of my age that I know in England who doesn’t drink! So I can say that from their perspective it would be horrible and tough, but I reckon they’d find a way around it.
Q: Favorite soccer players:
David Beckham (retired, Paris Saint-Germain) and Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Q: Favorite team:
Manchester United
Q: Why Manchester United?
My dad’s from Manchester. I didn’t have a choice; it was either support them or find a new house.
Todd Whittaker
Hometown: Goulburn, Australia
Position: Goalkeeper
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
It’s a great group of guys. They’re very welcoming and have really made me feel part of the team.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
I chose Trinity because it has a really strong soccer program so that was a big decision for me, but once I saw how great the academics were and how strong the community was I knew that Trinity was where I should be.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
Homesickness isn’t a big problem for me because I’ve lived away from home before, but being away from home isn’t easy, so there are some challenges there.
Q: How are you adjusting to the Texas heat?
Not well. I was living in England for the first six months of the year and then I went back home to Australia where it’s winter, so I haven’t really seen the sun for about eight months.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Edwin van der Sar (retired, Manchester United)
Q: Favorite team:
Arsenal
Q: If you could go to any game in the world and see any match-up, what two teams would you want to see play each other?
As I’ve already seen Arsenal vs. Tottenham, I’d love to see a Fenerbahà§e vs. Galatasaray game. The passion surrounding that fixture would be immense.
Q: What are your hobbies?
I enjoy Pilates and other exercise. I also enjoy hanging out with friends, watching movies, etc.
Zacharias Edholm:
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Position: Forward
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
So far, it’s been great. I love the coach. The squad has a lot of variety. I think it’s going to be a great year.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
Actually I called my manager back in Sweden in March and I told him that I want to move and he said, “have you considered college soccer,” and I said, “no.” He said, “I know this guy at this school who has an amazing team. It would be a great experience and I think you would fit there.” So he called up Coach McGinlay who then called me and said, “Zach, I’m Paul. Welcome to Trinity.”
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
The mentality of the team is different. Europe is more hostile. I had my boots cut by someone so that I couldn’t play, and they played instead. Practice was war. It’s much better here. The team spirit here is great.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Q: Favorite team:
I’m going to have to disappoint you and say that I don’t have a favorite team.
Q: How are you adjusting to the Texas heat?
It’s a change. The Swedish summer doesn’t get warmer than 75, 80 tops. It’s a struggle. You just have to drink a lot of water. I thought before I came here, maybe I’ll get a tan because I’ll be outside, but then when I got here I said, “No way, I’m staying inside.”
Q: What food do you miss from Sweden? What’s your favorite dish?
I miss my grandmother’s cooking. She makes the best meatballs ever.
Q: Music playing on your iPod?
I listen a lot to Jimi Hendrix, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.
Francisco Vasquez
Hometown: Saltillo, Mexico
Position: Forward
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
I love it. I am enjoying my time here. I like the team because there’s a lot of variety. They are very friendly.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
I chose to come here because I met the coach and he made me feel comfortable.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
Leaving my family in Mexico has been hard. It’s a different environment. Balancing studying and playing is challenging.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Lucas Lobos (Tigres)
Q: Favorite team:
Tigres
Q: What do you like to do on the weekends?
On the weekends, I like to go out with my friends and relax, if we don’t have a game. When I was in Mexico, I used to share time with my family, rest and watch soccer games on TV.
Q: What’s your dream job?
As every soccer player does, I always dreamed to be a pro soccer player, but there is a time when you need to decide between soccer and studies, and due to my other passion, that is, medicine, I took the decision of coming here and got prepared for it. I am very happy studying and playing soccer at the same time. It is an opportunity that I didn’t have in Mexico.
Todd Edwards
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Position: Midfielder
Q: How do you like playing at Trinity? How do you like the team?
It’s really nice so far. I’m pretty happy with it. Everyone seems pretty cool. I like all the small little rituals they have.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Trinity?
I was recruited by Coach McGinlay, but also the small size of the school was an attraction to me. I really had no idea about Texas until I came here. It’s completely different from what I thought, but it’s got the iconic Texas theme which I like.
Q: How have you adjusted to the Texas heat?
Not that well”¦I’m still adjusting, but it seems to be getting a little better, which I am happy about.
Q: What are some challenges that you have faced since arriving here?
Getting used to having a roommate. Getting used to the heat and just getting back into the swing of classes and things.
Q: Favorite soccer player:
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Q: Favorite team:
Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund
Q: Do you follow any other sports other than soccer?
Futsol a little bit (indoor soccer). I like following tennis, as well. I used to go every year to the Australian Open.
Q: If you had to live off of one food for the rest of your life what would you choose?
I’d probably say pasta because there are so many different variations.
Q: How much Mexican food have you eaten before coming to San Antonio?
The occasional nachos and burrito, but I’ve had it every single night since I’ve been here.
