This article was written by PrepSoccer staff writer, Matt Smith. Matt Smith is a special news and communications correspondent with SF Elite Academy and will providing viewers with an inside look into SF Elite and what makes our club so special.
The name Cerda rings loudly within San Francisco Elite, as there are three girls playing for the Soccer Club.
Two of them are twins, Juliana and Jayla, who play for the 2012 Girls Blue team, coached by Kyle Valentine. The two don’t look at being twins and being compared to one another as a burden. In fact, they see it as an advantage as they identify each other’s strengths and they complement each other.
Juliana, can play in the midfield or play forward, but she prefers midfield while Jayla plays centrally in the midfield or defender, with the center mid spot being her preferred position. Jazleen, a 2009 Girls Blue player, has been an inspiration for the younger girls and led them to the Club, and all three girls were inspired by their parents what it meant to be dedicated and committed to something. ​However, it was their grandpa, Rigoberto Padilla, who was a big part of why they got into it. Their grandfather was a well-known local player in San Francisco, and helped them fall in love with the sport. Since his passing, soccer has taken on an even larger meaning to them. The girls joined SF Elite three years ago, and are glad that they did. Juliana likes the challenges and opportunities to play competitively, and loves how the coaches are encouraging and supportive in helping you become a better player on and off the pitch. Jayla really enjoys the fact that you can build strong relationships with teammates and everyone else associated with the club. She really likes how positive and inclusive it is. Even though the girls are only 10 years old, they are already seeing soccer in their future. They both plan to play in high school in a few years and they are looking forward to continuing to play the game in the future, perhaps beyond high school.