For student-athletes, going abroad can be an exhilarating yet uncertain transition. Will there be a chance to keep training? Will four months off the field set them back? Those questions were front of mind for Spring ‘25 CYA Students Εvan Diebold and Paul Surkov as they prepared for their semester in Athens.

Paul, a Bowdoin College student majoring in Government and Legal studies and Russian, East European and Eurasian studies, and Evan, a DePauw University student majoring in Political Science and Kinesiology, both have a passion for, and commitment to Soccer. Thanks to an opportunity facilitated by CYA’s Student Affairs department, the two were connected with local soccer team AO Byron—and what started as a way to stay in shape became something much more meaningful.  

On their relationship to soccer, and why practicing in Athens mattered.

Evan: I’ve been playing soccer since I was four. I played my entire life up till now. I still play for my college. I’m a center back as well, so it’s a little position.”

Paul: I’ve been playing soccer for a very long time now as well. I’m currently playing on my team at Bowdowin as well, and I play left back at the college.

Evan: I was extremely grateful I was able to practice here, I was worried that I would have four months off and in college athletics, that’s a really long amount of time. I’m also recovering from an injury, so the opportunity to play here was incredible… I was technically fully healed before I got here, but throughout my time playing here, I felt like more myself.

Paul: “It’s definitely very important for us as players to keep practicing, especially in the offseason. We’re very grateful to OA Byron for bringing us in for practices. As athletes, especially on college teams, it kind of feels like a part of you is gone if you’re not participating in your sport… having that side alive, especially while interacting with people that are locals here, it’s been great, and we’re very thankful…

Evan: Another thing is that being a student athlete, I’m so used to the schedule… when I’m not involved in sports, academics tend to dip and drop. Being able to practice here has actually helped me with my academics as well. 

About practices, Language, and culture 

Evan: [Practicing with a team that spoke Greek] was really unique… I grew up on a very Hispanic team… however, fully Greek was…interesting! The coach communicated purely in Greek. Honestly, I really enjoyed it… I was taking Greek this semester, I was able to understand him more and more… And then the guys on the team are a lot of fun to practice with. The energy is just so high!

Paul: I don’t take Greek here! Going to the practices and then everyone’s speaking a different language was fun, kind of trying to figure out what drill we’re doing… the group of players that we were with, they were all very open to interacting with us. It felt like a break from like the ultra competitiveness… being able to interact with the guys and have more fun.

Evan: They also taught us a bunch of Greek words!

About Playing Style

Evan: For me, when I play back home, it’s very physical… Coming here, it’s like 90% technique… it gave me experience that I can bring back to my team.

Paul: Just all across the board… the way we play out here compared to in college is a step down, but at the same time, that gives us more freedom to be able to work on what we want. And especially making smarter decisions with the players around us because, you know, we have to fit to their strengths regardless of what the level is and that’s what we are mainly ableable to work on. Adaptation and technique were the most important things which helped me see the game in a different way. 

Beyond Soccer

Evan: I felt like [through practicing with the team] I got an authentic Greek experience. We were surrounded by the culture, I felt a lot closer to the place… I loved it. They gave me a great experience. And then through that, I was able to go to my coach’s village for a Greek Easter. We ate a lot, danced, played the traditional easter games, it was my favorite experience at CYA.

Paul: I feel that, if I didn’t play on a team, it would be way more difficult for me to have interactions with the locals here. I’ve had a couple of friends that I met here that are local, but being on a team is about the camaraderie and, you know, them bringing us in regardless of the language barrier, and being able to soak it all in, it was an amazing experience. I probably would have seen things a lot differently if it weren’t for the team. 

Evan:  I also would have never met Paul, we met through the team! That’s something I hold really highly.

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We’d like to thank Evan and Paul for sharing their experience with the CYA community. If you’re a CYA student-athlete interested in connecting with opportunities to practice your sport in Athens, reach out to the CYA Student Affairs Office.