Zarate Puts Family’s Needs First

Birmingham High’s Luis Zarate is one of the quickest, most agile and talented soccer goalkeepers in the region.

In most cases, he’s also the fastest to leave the field after a game.

Zarate, a junior who has dreams of graduating from college, doesn’t stick around to celebrate a victory with his teammates. He’s running to Balboa Boulevard to catch the bus home so he can take a shower and go to work. Zarate works at a fast-food restaurant five days a week.

Having a job is not uncommon for high school athletes. However, Zarate doesn’t work to pay off a car loan, to keep his car insured or to have a pager or cell phone.

He works to help put food on the table and keep a roof over his family.

“I feel that Luis is a very special kid trying to help his family,” Birmingham Coach E.B. Madha said. “It’s a shame the kid has to grow up so early. The struggles that he has gone through are hard enough for adults to handle.

“I admire him and have more respect for him knowing that he can balance the complexities of both an adult’s life and a kid’s life. There aren’t too many kids that put family first. He not only says he puts family first, he does it.”

Zarate comes from a Van Nuys family that needs three incomes to pay the bills.

His mother is on disability. His older brother, Jairo, a senior at Birmingham, no longer works at trying to raise his grades. Luis, Jairo and their father, Jesus, provide for the family.

Luis must contribute $275 of the $450 he earns each month to keep the lights and heat on in the house.

Another $50 of his paycheck goes toward lunch tickets at school. He tries to tuck $50 away for college. The remaining $75 helps pay for clothes, school supplies and to fill the gas tank in his father’s car, which is shared among four family members.

“It’s very tough and stressful, but I feel great,” Zarate said. “I’m helping my family. My parents want me to do well in school, but they need my help and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to help them.”

Jesus Zarate gets teary-eyed when discussing the sacrifices his son makes.

“I really appreciate what he’s doing,” Jesus said through an interpreter. “I’m proud of him because he’s helping us financially. I admire him because he’s working, playing soccer and doing school.”

Luis, whose talent belies the fact he has never received formal training as a goalkeeper, balances soccer, work and academics.

After work, he studies past midnight and rises at 6 a.m. for another hour of studying before school.

“I don’t want to have to work at Taco Bell my whole life,” Zarate said. “I want to make more money to help out my family.

“I’ve always wanted to be successful in life. I don’t want to be a regular person.”

In an effort to attract college coaches, Zarate joined the California Quest club team in September. But because he couldn’t get time off from work, he played in only a few games and missed all the tournaments.

Zarate said he wants to play college soccer but would have trouble paying tuition.

“[Work] really does try to give me time off, but it’s hard,” he said. “It’s really busy there and they need me. I want to play soccer in college. It’s really important for me to get an education.”

Madha said a lack of exposure has hurt Zarate’s chances of earning a scholarship.

“This kid has so much talent that it could take him to college, but unfortunately no one gets to see him,” Madha said. “If this kid would be given some exposure, he’d be one of the players colleges would look at.”

Zarate has a 2.3 grade-point average, but he insists he isn’t sacrificing his studies for soccer and work.

“Education would have to come first, because if I end up getting hurt in soccer, I’d have to have something to fall back on,” he said.

Birmingham hopes Zarate isn’t forced to give up soccer. He has been the backbone of the Patriots (7-6-5) this season. In 18 games, he has 11 shutouts and has allowed seven goals.

The Patriots are the only team in the region that has beaten City Section favorite El Camino Real. Birmingham trails the Conquistadores by a point entering the final round of West Valley League play.

The rivals face each other today in a key game. El Camino Real has not defeated Birmingham in four years and is determined to break the losing streak.

“It’s obvious our team has trouble scoring goals, but we’ve done everything else right,” Madha said. “One of the keys to us being one point behind El Camino Real has been Luis’ reflexes in goal. He’s kept us in every game.”