As Father’s Day is fast approaching and families are planning on ways to honor the man in their life, Ezra Armstrong reflects on his father, National Hall of Famer and former U.S. National Team member Desmond Armstrong, and how his dad has shaped him into the young man he is today.
“I admire my father’s determination the most, when he wants something he sets his goals and will stop at nothing to do it and he’ll sacrifice so much to get there.”
“The best advice he’s ever given me would be to stay focused in school and soccer. He says that I’m young and there’s more to come, so I need to stay focused on what’s important for my future.”
Desmond has raised Ezra into the person he is today. “Home schooling helped shape me because it allowed me to stay focused and avoid distractions - it helped me to keep my goals in mind.”
“My dad taught me to respect people, even though my opinion matters, sometimes it’s best to keep it quiet because you can save it for later and people can figure out where you’re coming from then.”
Ezra has benefited from having a soccer-playing father help mold his skills as he got older. “Mainly through practices and drills. We would wake up early, when I was still at home, and go to the sand pitch and we would do drills for an hour and 30 minutes straight and that really nurtured my love of the game.”
Ezra wants to set the record straight on his father as a coach, “Some people think he’s scary as a coach, but once you get to know him he’s fun and goofs off a lot. You know when he’s serious though, because he’ll take off his glasses.”
A parting message for Father’s Day? “Thank you for sacrificing a whole lot to let me move out here at the age of 14. Thank you dad for letting me come out here and pursue my dream.”
