For the first time in school history, the Codman Academy Girls Soccer team is heading to the state tournament and their head coach, Maldini Bantefa, couldn’t be more pleased.
“I have been waiting for this moment, and it’s deserving,” he said of his players. “They have been wanting to go to the playoffs and to the finals. They have never received a championship before, so they are very excited, and I am happy for them.”
The 28-year-old Bantefa, of Codman Academy’s class of 2015, returned to the Washington Street campus three years ago and this year he guided the Codman girls to a 7-4-2 season record, earning the Coach of the Year Award from the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO).
“Three years ago, we were losing, losing, and losing, and they were getting tired of it,” Bantefa told The Reporter. “Thank God, last year, when we beat one of the best teams, that’s when the motivation went up. When they knew they could win a game, they were happy and knew they could get better for next year.”
The improvement also comes as the result of a collaboration with the Neighborhood House Charter School, which is located a little over a mile.
Chib Belonwu, Codman Academy’s athletic director and a physical education teacher, noted that Codman once struggled to roster a full girls soccer team.
“I knew another team was struggling; they couldn’t get a team, but had a good four or five strong girls,” said Belonwu. “The AD reached out and said they were going to forfeit, so we came together and started a co-op.”
He added: “We’d been playing against Neighborhood House for a couple of years. I wouldn’t call us rivals, but it’s cool to see the dynamic shift now. Everybody comes to our games, even the kids who play basketball on both sides. They come together as one.”
With the support of two schools behind them, the girls have flourished on the field this season. Last week, the 7th-seeded Codman Corbas won their first MCSAO playoff game, knocking out the number two team, Prospect Hill Academy. Belonwu described the win as an “upset” for the whole city.”
The win was a team effort, with junior class standouts making key plays spread throughout the field, including striker Keicko Quest, midfielder Katherine Monterroso, and goalkeeper Shayan Maxi-Latson.
In addition, eighth-grade midfielder Kyrah Simmons is seen as as someone who can spark a successful future for the team. “She’s very motivated. She is a leader,” Bantefa said. When the team sees an eighth grader like this, they want to do the same thing,”
Last Friday, these four girls and their teammates lost to the No. 3 seed Pioneer Charter 2-0, but they are already looking forward to the state tournament.
While the schedule of play is yet to be released, the Cobras have clinched their spot. “I am very excited. I am training them hard. They are very motivated, we’re trying to work extra hard and feel like they are ready,” said Bantefa.
Along the way, the coach of the year plans on doing what he has been doing the whole season – pushing the girls to be their best on and off the field.
He added, “When they saw me get an award like that, they were so happy, but it’s like, okay, one day I want you guys to be better than me.”
