'Dad told me if I go, I better make it': Bastrop teen Ezra Gaona heads overseas for pro soccer debut
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A talented goalkeeper, Ezra Gaona had quite the opportunity in front of him once he gets set to leave Bastrop. Gaona's parents had slightly different outlooks on his next step.
"Mom wanted me to stay as badly as she could," said Gaona with a smile. "Dad told me if I'm going to go, I better make it."
The opportunity was a tryout with Macclesfield FC, a club in the Northern Premier League. Gaona was first noticed by Macclesfield after he went to a camp in Italy earlier in his high school career.
How the English club discovered Gaona is quite a tale of searching.
"They had a coach who had a cousin come to one of my games because his nephew was at the game. [He] saw me, liked how I played and talked to his boss. Eventually, they found my number."
Gaona's dad got his wish, and Ezra made the club. He is set to head to England later this year and join the team.
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Macclesfield has had immense success as of late, continuing to climb the ranks of English Soccer. After being promoted into the Northern Premier League before this season, they're being promoted again to the National League North next season.
"They just won the league and they broke the record for the most points in a year, most wins and most games without getting a goal on them," said Gaona.
As the Bastrop native gets set to head overseas, he does so grateful for the journey in front of him.
"It's a struggle sometimes to keep my confidence, my ego in check, because it is so overwhelming. It's good to stay humble through it. It feels amazing knowing I'm going to be able to rep my school, not just a county map, a country map, but on a global map."