ASN: Sergino Dest, 16, Is Opening Eyes on the U-17 World Cup

A dual-citizen who performs for Ajax’s U-19 crew, Dest has helped stabilize John Hackworth’s backline on the U-17 World Cup in India—and he has made himself an integral a part of this promising crew. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 19, 2017
12:00 PM

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IN A MASSIVELY DISAPPOINTING YEAR for American soccer, followers are discovering promise within the spectacular outcomes from youth nationwide groups. In 2017, the USA U-20 males’s nationwide crew superior to the quarterfinals of its World Cup and the U-17 males will face England on Saturday for a spot within the semifinals.

Expectations had been excessive for the U-17 crew earlier than it arrived in India and thus far the crew has lived as much as its billing. Star gamers like Josh Sargent, Andrew Carleton, Tim Weah, and Chris Durkin have paved the way. Extra importantly, new gamers have stepped into the highlight and seem like promising gamers who will help this system within the years forward.

One such participant is true again Sergino Dest, 16, who at the moment performs for Ajax’s U-19 crew and is a product of the Dutch membership’s famed academy. Simply over a 12 months in the past Dest made his American debut with the U-17 crew when John Hackworth gave the teenager a shot.

Born within the Netherlands, Dest has a background much like many dual-nationals within the U.S. program. His father, a New York Metropolis native, served within the U.S. army and met his mom whereas stationed in Holland. Dest grew up in Europe however U.S. Soccer observed him as he progressed at Ajax.

Since his 2016 debut with the Stars and Stripes, Dest has impressed Hackworth and has emerged as a key starter for the U.S. U-17 crew. The teen has set his sights on the World Cup.

“Personally, I am feeling really good,” Dest informed American Soccer Now from India. “That is the largest event I’ve ever performed in my whole life. You’ll be able to’t anticipate to do something higher at this age. We have completed very effectively till now. We’ve got to maintain going.

“England is a tough opponent—they’re very good physically. They have a lot of very good individual players. But I think if we play well collectively as a team and work hard, I think we can beat anyone.”

Forward of the event, many anticipated the U.S. would characteristic among the best offenses in India. Whereas that also stays the crew’s power, the American protection that has quietly exceeded expectations, posting three clear sheets within the crew’s 4 video games. Dest has performed a giant function in that spectacular statistic.

Central defender James Sands has been part of the crew’s core because the starting of the cycle and has come away impressed each by Dest’s potential to stabilize the backline and to rapidly combine right into a squad stuffed with strangers.

“That’s probably one of the most difficult things—coming into a team where everyone is so close,” Sands mentioned. “But he’s done such a good job with it and it’s showing in the games. He brings so much into the game. He can move forward and he can defend really well. Everyone feels he is part of the group now and that’s all you can ask for.”

The Dutch federation has proven little curiosity in Dest regardless of him enjoying for the nation’s most storied membership. However Dest has undoubtedly observed the U.S. U-17 crew, and believes that this technology of American gamers is of very top quality. 

“This team is good,” Dest mentioned emphatically. “Once I was rising up in Holland, you’ll suppose the USA is not that good. This crew is simply totally different. I believe this crew is much like a European crew.

“But to be honest, I expected it,” he added after pausing to gather his ideas. “I watched the Nike Friendlies from 2015. I thought they were on the level of a great team. In Holland, we had some very good individual players but collectively, the U.S. was much better. We do it together. It is such a pleasure to be a part of this team in a World Cup.”

Dest’s rise inside U.S. Soccer’s youth ranges additionally coincides together with his rising connection together with his American roots. 

“My first time to America was in 2014 and I went to New York,” Dest recalled. “Once I went to New York, my eyes went broad open. I’ve by no means seen something so massive. I visited my uncle. In Holland, issues are fairly small. I liked it.

“I believe New York is one of the best metropolis.”

Dest acknowledged that whereas it’s odd to carry twin citizenship from two nations that shockingly failed to succeed in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he believes the success of the USA’ U-17 and U-20 groups counsel higher days forward. 

His experiences on the U-17 World Cup haven’t solely strengthened his bond with the USA, they’ve additionally given him a brand new set {of professional} targets: “For me personally, after this World Cup I want to prepare myself in a year-and-a-half to be on the U-20 World Cup team,” Dest mentioned. “I will do everything I can to be part of that.”