Bravos' Shipp living professional dream

HIDALGO - Don't say defender Samuel Shipp is inexperienced.

Yeah, he's never played professional soccer, and will make his debut for Rio Grande Valley Bravos this Saturday night. But just because his first touch Saturday night will be his first professionally doesn't mean he isn't seasoned.

Shipp, 29, who played collegiate soccer at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, served a three-year Mormon mission in Argentina, where he learned Spanish. He makes a living through his window-washing business, work that nobody could say is easy. To say that his path to becoming a professional soccer player hasn't been the straightest or anywhere near conventional would be an understatement.

But all of that makes Shipp, who moved to the Valley with his Mission-native wife after college, appreciate his opportunity to start a career even more. He isn't like some of his teammates, some that are a decade younger and hope to move up to higher levels. He's playing for the Bravos not to eventually become a star in American or Mexican soccer, but simply to do something he's always wanted to.

"When I finished college and we moved down here, the only soccer I thought I'd be playing would be in the local leagues and I was finished," Shipp said. "But when this opportunity came along, that made this a fair opportunity for everyone. So, I thought why not?"

Well, there are some answers to that.

He admitted that his style of play is different than the one coach Ismael Moreira Braga prefers. Shipp describes his style as European, one that is more physical and less dependant on speed than strength.

Moreira Braga's style, meanwhile, is one that prefers speed and artistry. Of course, that makes sense considering his Brazilian background and desire to play free-flowing soccer.

But Shipp can be coached to adjust to a different style, and a physical defender is always needed to control the area in front of the goal.

What can't be coached out of him is the strain of trying to maintain a business while playing professional soccer.

"Other than it being exhausting, I just have to compartmentalize pretty much," Shipp said. "Put things... "'OK, now I'm at work,' so I concentrate on work. ‘Now I'm at soccer,' put work aside and concentrate on soccer. That's something I've always had to do.

"I've always had a busy schedule and that's coming in handy right now."

Moreira Braga and the Bravos have understood the strain on Shipp. He hasn't been able to attend all of their morning practices because of work, but makes up the training on his own time.

But the simple fact that Shipp is playing is something that obviously pleases Moreira Braga. When Shipp's name is mentioned, the pride in his voice is obvious. He sees Shipp as the example for what he thinks the Bravos are meant to be for area players.

"You're always going to find him not complaining about anything," Moreira Braga said. "This is a pleasure. He's a blast to have on the team."

Brian Sandalow covers Rio Grande Valley Bravos FC for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436