Royal Palm Beach soccer raises standards: 'They’re always going to see the banner'
BOCA RATON — Written off as the hapless little brother of 7A-District 11, the Royal Palm Beach boys soccer program shocked both Wellington and Palm Beach Central this season to win the district title for the first time since 2016.
In the process, the Wildcats have established a new standard, and the seniors are set to leave the program having earned a championship banner to cement their high school legacies.
“The whole district title thing and playing in the district finals — that is no longer a goal of ours,” Royal Palm head coach Malik Hasan said. “That is now the standard that we have set here. The state championship series, that is what we’re after. That will be our goal from here on out for the future.”
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The program’s second-ever district title speaks volumes to the growth of the team under Hasan. And though Royal Palm’s coach has played a significant role in the meteoric rise, his gratitude toward the players buying into his teachings was evident in the team’s postgame huddle.
“Be proud of yourselves,” Hasan told players after the loss. “If you guys need anything — and I’m not just talking the next week or two — lifelong. If you guys ever need anything, reach out to me. I will always be here for you guys. You’re not just numbers to me. Each one of you means something very special.”
In a way, the Wildcats' squad serves as a microcosm of the Royal Palm community, which Hasan said sometimes gets an unfair reputation.
“It’s just a hardworking community,” Hasan said. “It’s a blue-collar type of community. Nothing is handed to them. We’re not as privileged and we don’t have that sense of entitlement, and I think it’s great that the soccer program is showing people that by working hard, you can achieve anything that you want to achieve.”
If the Wildcats were to choose a player representative of that belief, they need look no further than team captain Sam Dorcelus-Cetoute.
Dorcelus-Cetoute suffered an injury at the end of the regular season that kept him sidelined from the beginning of the district tournament.
But rather than sit on the bench, nervous energy forced the senior to pace behind the bench during each game of districts.
A similar sentiment could be shared by fellow captain Andy Sanchez, who played through injury during the district tournament and regional match.
After Wednesday's regional quarterfinals loss to Boca, Dorcelus-Cetoute spoke with unbridled passion — a brief monologue during which his teammates quietly surrounded him to support their captain and wish their coaching staff a final farewell for the season.
“I want to be on the pitch so badly, but I can’t physically, and it hurts,” Dorcelus-Cetoute said. “Through injury, we were able to play, and I feel like that says something about us. It really shows the passion we have behind it.”
Ultimately, his effect has helped change the direction of the program for the better, and for good.
“It feels great knowing it’s my last year and I left something that’s going to impact the school forever. They’re always going to see the banner. 2023. They’re always going to see that.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Royal Palm Beach boys soccer raises standards with championship season
