Fall and Rise of Sheanon Williams
2010-11-09 00:17:31
By: Andrew Rogers
www.soccer365.com
Sheanon Williams has lived the high and lows of a professional footballer with stints in the Europe and the U.S. and is now settling with the Philadelphia Union and working to secure a starting spot and improve each day. Soccer 365’s Andrew Rogers looks at Williams odyssey and the toll it has taken on the player and his parents.
By: Andrew Rogers
Nine months ago Sheanon Williams felt his life had professionally hit rock bottom. With a fiancée, a baby on the way, and without medical insurance Williams had just been told he was not good enough for a development contract with Real Salt Lake.
Six months later you would have got longs odds on the Philadelphia Union right back training alongside global luminaries Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez, but that is what happened and is more remarkable for the fact that without the intervention of former U.S U-17 coach John Hackworth, he would have been released by USL 2’s Harrisburg Islanders.
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2009 was Williams’ annus horribilis, having led North Carolina to the NCAA final. The unfortunate decision to turn down a generous offer from Major League Soccer, and go on a Euro trial crap shoot, would have debilitating consequences and have broken a lesser man.
But fortunately for Sheanon his parents were able to literally resuscitate his footballing ambitions, and importantly recognised not only would Sheanon’s journey involve more heartache, but a realisation of a regret that they hadn’t been guided through the potential pitfalls for their son, when transitioning him from youth international to professional soccer.
Sheanon now feels the experience was actually a positive experience, in that it has helped focus his football ambitions, but his mother Lisa Williams explained that at times matters got pretty desperate. “Sometimes I simply couldn’t’ sleep. Sheanon was an excellent prospect, and the knowledgeable soccer fraternity, were adamant he could make a life as a professional.
“So to go from NCAA finalist and two time World Cup player, to nothing and I mean nothing was frankly bewildering.” As any mother would Mrs. Williams consoled and encourage her saddened son, but it was his father Stephano Williams who took matters into his own hands.
“Everytime I spoke to my son he was not happy, it breaks your heart. I was able to get advice from someone who had long taken an interest in Sheanon, and understood him and also how his game was going to progress. His career and his progressions have now been mapped out for him, and they are realistic goals.
“I made an initial representation agreement but somehow I needed to have known more about moving into the professional ranks. After Germany and Holland, Sheanon had a winter trial in France, it was a shot at first team football, with Le Harve, but he wasn’t fit, but he finally knew where he stood, and got the right answers to progress.
While Sheanon’s parents could see his future, Sheanon’s confidence had been destroyed at a series of trials where it didn’t work out. If he had understood how obtuse the chances were, he is likely to have been less demoralised, but the effect was U.S soccer was underwhelmed after the initial rebuff in 2009.
Sheanon struck out at Real Salt Lake, Miami and was a phone call away from getting the chop in Pennsylvania with USL 2 club Harrisburg Islanders. Williams had become a worrying mix of insecurity, and indecisiveness. John Hackworth stepped in at the last moment and suggested to Bill Becher the youngster should play up front, a position he played at high school.
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The idea worked and Williams went on to score on debut, and make his mark against New York Red Bulls in the U.S Open Cup. His performance against the Eastern Conference Champions, led to a two week camp in New York, which Williams found inspiring.
“I couldn’t believe I was playing with my heroes, players I had dreamed about growing up, it was an honor and I am grateful for the opportunity Mr. Backe extended to me. It was during this time that Tampa became a major consideration with the possibility of Philadelphia Union.
“Tampa was going to be an excellent progression, they are a proper outfit, ambitious and working for Paul Dalglish was all I needed to know. There was a delay with New York and agreeing terms with Tampa. At this point Mr. Hackworth called and said Mr. Novak wanted me to come to Philadelphia.
“My only thought was to keep playing and get more experience. It was a gamble to go to either in terms of fighting for a first team place, but it’s so far worked out for me at The Union, words will not express how happy this has made me.”
Williams is still coming to terms with realising his dream of becoming a professional. “The players, stadia and facilities are first class. It doesn’t get much better being a 20 year old playing in front of 20,000 fans, and against the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and Landon Donovan. I love being part of American soccer and MLS. I’m proud to have had a productive USL and college career, and to have progressed to the top league in the country.”
Williams has set his sights on fighting for his first team spot and becoming a regular starter in MLS, but admits he has a steep climb ahead of him, he added.
“The standards required to be an elite performer are daily, and that doesn’t happen overnight in MLS. My ambition is to establish myself with Philly and I know exactly how tough it will be.
The relief of the Williams parents is palpable. Mrs. Williams added. “We just didn’t know the pitfalls after youth football, as a family we have been through everyone, it has been excruciating but Sheanon is now a professional footballer. We did well to rectify our original mis-step and then got very sound support and advice. He’s different person to the athlete that trialled at Harrisburg eight months ago.”
If your son or daughter is facing the step towards professional soccer Mrs. Williams can be reached at llisawilliams@aol.com
