J.A.R: Good morning, today I am meeting with Juan David Forero, a U-17 youth player for the Santa Fe club, who also plays on the senior football team at CAS. Today, I’ll be asking some  questions about his final years on the football team.

J.D.F: Good Morning.

J.A.R: Good morning. I wanted to ask: how long have you been part of the football team at CAS?

J.D.F: I have been on the CAS team since my first year at school, that is, 13 years.

J.A.R:  And, what are some of your best memories, not only on the football pitch, but also with your teammates?

J.D.F: Well, in terms of football, I think that the most important memories are when we win the tournaments, when we celebrate. I think an important moment is when we show the unity that we have, whether we win or lose, our team is always united. We try to keep one another encouraged.

J.A.R: Speaking of tournaments, which ones did you manage to participate in, and which ones did you win?

J.D.F: We’ve participated in Copa Corazonistas, People Plays, ACN y ASOCOLDEP, and we have won People Plays and Copa Corazonistas.

J.A.R: Beyond the tournaments, how many hours do you commit weekly to football training?

J.D.F: With the CAS team I dedicate 2 hours a week, and with Santa Fe, my other team, I invest 10 to 12 hours per week.

J.A.F: On either team, Santa Fe or CAS, have you ever won any type of personal award?

J.D.F: With the CAS, unfortunately not. But with Santa Fé, I have won the award for the Highest Goal Scorer in the metropolitan under-17 category, also the Best Player in the Copa Metropolitana under-17 category, and the Best Player of the season for Santa Fé.

J.A.R: With your busy life playing externally for Santa Fé, how have you managed to balance sports with your studies and your personal life?

J.D.F: Well, it is not easy, but as much as possible I try to maintain a good communication with teachers; normally, they have a certain awareness and are empathetic with my sports activities. Additionally, I try to fulfill my duties no matter what, whether internally at CAS or externally with Santa Fé, by helping my teammates, and doing my best to achieve my best performance.

J.A.R: With both teams, how long have you played CAS and for your external team, Santa Fé?

J.D.F: With CAS, as I previously mentioned, 13 years, and with Santa Fe I have been with them for 3 years. This is because, well, at CAS I stood out, mostly. No matter how many children there were in school, I stood out. So, I got more into football because of this and one day, in 2021, a Santa Fe scout approached me; we were on a synthetic court, and he told me to try out for Santa Fe. After good performances, I climbed and realized that I could stand out. And with school, logically I stood out even more.

J.A.R: Okay, and being that outstanding football player, have you thought about leaving the CAS team to dedicate yourself only to Santa Fé?

J.D.F: The truth is I haven’t thought about it, since the soccer experience at CAS is unique. It is in an extracurricular space at school, and not academic. Also with your CAS teammates, it is people you already know and, well, I feel that it is a unique experience. Truthfully, it relieves stress and helps me support my academic life.

J.A.R: Okay, to wrap up this interview, could you leave a message to the new generations who want to be part of the CAS football team?

J.D.F: Of course, Juan Andrés. Basically, I think it would be that if they want to play sports, they should do it. It is something very nice, and maintains and helps mental health; but they should have a degree of responsibility, since it is always difficult to balance personal and academic life at CAS, which is not a secret to anyone. It is demanding, even more so with the International Baccalaureate program, but it can be achieved with discipline and perseverance. It is something good for us. Our mental and physical health are really important.

J.A.R: Well, thank you very much for your time!

J.D.F: Thanks to you, Juan Andrés.