Andy Borregales will become the first Venezuelan to play in a Super Bowl this Sunday. He will do it with his New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and with the special support of his family.
“It is a pride that he represents the country, in Venezuela everyone is going crazy,” the kicker’s parents say in an interview with EFE.
Two days before the most important game of his life, Borregales’ parents, Vivian and Enrique, arrived at the San Francisco airport on a flight from Miami. They proudly wear the Patriots sweatshirts with their son’s number 36, as well as the logo of the University of Miami, where he studied. The emotion and tension are evident, but they still politely stop to attend to EFE a few steps from the terminal.
“Pride, very proud of him, of the team, of everything they have achieved this year. Here we are, with very strong nerves, but here we go. We just arrived and we hope that everything goes well,” Vivian Martínez, Andy’s mother, assured EFE.
“It is a pride that I can represent the country, There in Venezuela we are all going crazy. First time there is a Venezuelan in the NFL, and more playing in a Super Bowl, all very new,” he continued.
In it Levi’s Stadium in Santa ClaraBorregales will have the support of his parents, his brother, his wife and many friends, but he will also have clear affection from the distance of his entire country.
“Of course, the whole family will watch the game on television, for sure. I imagine that all of Venezuela will see an American football game for the first time,” said Vivian.
“And not because of the half-time show,” adds his father with a joke.
Getting to the Super Bowl stage is very special, especially looking back. The Borregales arrived in Miami in 2004, when Andy was about to turn two years old.
“He started playing soccer with his older brother. He was 5 years old and his brother was 10. They played soccer and American football for 10 years, both sports. You can imagine what the practices were like: running there, running here,” said his father.
“Then, when they went to high school, they stopped ‘soccer’; just American football,” he added.
When Andy opted for American football, he began a long work that led him to obtain a scholarship at the University of Miami.
“They began training to make him a good kicker, with different coaches, different companies that hold kicking camps. He improved and improved and they gave him his scholarship at the University of Miami. Thanks to doing well, the Pats drafted him this year.”Vivian stated.
With Andy concentrated with his Patriots in view of the Super Bowl on Sunday, his parents remember through EFE what the key is to perform at your best.
“It’s all here, in the head. Mental strength is the only thing he needs. “It’s 90 percent in the head and 10 percent in the leg,” they say.
