Coaches

Sissi do Amor

|Sissi do Amor, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
925.424.1251
sdoamor@laspositascollege.edu

Sisleide Lima Do Amor - Head Coach

Sisleide Lima Do Amor, most commonly known as Sissi, brings years of playing and coaching experience to the Pride. She began playing soccer at the age of seven and at the age of 14 she left her home in the small town of Esplanada to play professionally in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Brazil National team contacted her when she was 16 and her impressive accomplishments asa player include:

  • Joined FC Gold Pride as a player mid-way through the inaugural season (2009)
  • Participated in two Olympic Games
  • Participated in three FIFA World Cuptournaments
  • Received the Silver Ball from FIFA for achieving the title of “Second Best Player in the World” ( 1999)
  • Received the Golden Boot from FIFA for being the leading scorer in the 1999 World Cup
  • “Best Female South American Player” recognition
  • An international draft pick by the San Jose CyberRays, WUSA
  • Lead the CyberRays to the Inaugural Championship in 2001
  • Selected to the First Team WUSA each three years playing on the CyberRays
  • Humanitarian of the Year for the WUSA, 2002
  • Named FIFA Ambassador, 2005
  • Selected to the Organizing Committee for U- 20 and U- 17 Women’s World Cup by FIFA
  • MVP for the WPSL in 2004, 2008 ( Pacific Division)


Coaching Career:

While coaching in Brazil, Sissi was named the “Best Futsal Coach” leading her team to successive State and National Championships. In America, Sissi began coaching for Diablo Futbol Club (formerly known as Diablo Valley Soccer Club) in 2004 leading her U-16 girls to a Regional title in Idaho. In 2005, she began coaching for Las Positas Community College in Livermore, California and led the team to a first playoff berth in 2006. Served as the Assistant Coach of FC Gold Pride during the team's inaugural season (2009).

Personal:

Off the field, Sissi is devoted to improving the lives of children in Foster Care, with her and her family having fostered seven children. Sissi adopted a son in 2008, and is working towards adopting a little girl. Improving the lives of children in Foster Care and playing soccer have helped her fulfill her dreams. She is excited to help lead thePride to another historic season and continue to make this WPS and its players a success.

 

Marcia Tafarel
Marcia Tafarel, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
925.424.1000 x2015
mtafarel@laspositascollege.edu

Marcia "Tafa" Tafarel
Assistant Coach

 

Marcia Tafarel was born in Bento Goncalves, South of Brazil, in March 15, 1968. In her childhood she enjoyed playing soccer on the streets with her friends and relatives. On the street she learned to control the ball, agility, competitiveness, but most important than everything she learned to have fun when playing. Soccer unfortunately was not a sport considered appropriate for women, but against all the odds Tafa, as she is known, with the incentive of her mom pursued to play in a local club that was being formed.  With only 13 years old, the youngest player that tried out, she was selected to be part of the team. Four years later Tafa was selected to be part of the Women’s All Star in her state, Rio Grande do Sul. She moved to Campinas, in Sao Paulo state, after a tournament and began to play for one of the most respectful clubs in Brazil, Saad. Two years playing for Saad gave the opportunity to Tafa to be selected for the first Women’s Brazilian Soccer National team in 1988 for a pre-World Cup in China. She did not attended the competition, but her name was not forgot in 1991, when FIFA decided to organized the First Women’s World Cup. Tafa was part of the history, she was one of the members of the Brazilian Women’s Soccer team, and she had her presence in the Second Women’s World Cup in Sweden, and in the Atlanta Olympic Games, where for the first time women soccer was schedule to participate. In Brazil Tafa competed in the highest level, and she became an important player in the Women’s soccer National scenario. In 1997 Tafa was elected by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), an organization recognized by FIFA, the 5th South America's best Women's Footballer of the Century. In the same year Tafa started coaching young girls. She coached the U-18 and U20 of the Sabesp Association Futsal team from 1997 to 2003, being selected by the Paulista Futsal Federation , the Best Women’s Futsal coach in 2003. Transition in Tafa’s life was not something uncommon, and in 2004 Tafa decided to move to the United States where her best friend Sissi was playing. The transition to a new culture and environment brought new challenges, but Tafa is currently living in Concord and bringing her experience to the youth soccer at DFC (Diablo Futbol Club). In addition to the soccer experience in the United States, Tafa has being a Las Positas Student pursuing her education. She completed her A.A in Social Science, with highest honors, Sports Medicine Certificate and will go towards her A.A in Physical Education and Coaching certificate.