Name: Michael "Mika" Torrefranca Ortelli
DoB: March 2, 1989
Age: 23
Place of birth: Vénissieux, Lyon France
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 150lbs
Playing position: Right/Left Fullback; Right mid
Current club: AS Minguettes Vénissieux (5th tier)
Previous clubs: US Vénissieux, AS Saint Priest, AS Minguettes Vénissieux(5th tier), Lyon Duchère AS(4th tier)
"Mika" Ortelli, was a once promising soccer player and future Azkal. A youngster who was climbing his way up to the higher tier in the French leagues before a spate of injuries more than one year in duration derailed his football career in France and with the Azkals.
PLAYING HISTORY
Like most European boys, football was a sport one gravitates to at an early age. As it was, Mike started at an early five years old with US Vénissieux. At 15 he moved to AS Saint Priest playing in its youth team. Five years later, at the age of 20 he signed with AS Minguettes Vénissieux(5th tier).
Thing began to progress much faster for Ortelli when in 2010 he signed with Lyon Duchère AS, a Championnat de France amateur or CFA league team(4th tier). He quickly established himself as a starter excelling in defense and like current Azkal "Dream Teamer" Dennis Cagara, an offensive minded, fullback.
The last active season of his career with Lyon Duchère AS, in the 2010-2011 season, he started 19 games and was a substitute in one. He also garnered seven yellow cards for the season.
BROKEN DREAMS
He received his Philippine passport in Feb 26, 2011 in anticipation of playing for the Azkals. In June of that year he was scheduled to join the Azkals in Manila. But he never got there, on May 9 he tore his meniscus in two and underwent surgery on the 18th.
Things went well considering his injury and he once again started practicing in September with his team, Lyon Duchère. Just as quickly, on Sept 28 he received another blow, an injury that could potentially end his career. Sidelined once again, on Dec 1 he tweeted, "Maybe the end of soccer for me...." quickly following with this the next day: "Almost 1 year and still wounded...".
REDEMPTION
Hoping that such a promising young player would not so easily hang up his cleats, I searched for any news about Mika(the last message on Mika's twitter page was in December of last year). Hours upon hours of searching finally paid off! It appears that Mika has decided to hit the pitch once again albeit in a lower tiered club.
Mika has re-signed with his former 5th tier team, AS Minguettes Vénissieux! The teams first game of the 2012-2013 season is just a few days from now, on Aug 26. Whether he is back to good playing form remains to be seen, stay tuned.
THE PARALLEL
If you've been reading my blog since early this year, and if you've been paying attention you've probably noticed an uncanny parallel with another European based player who I wrote about. Being from different nations, yes, but both were Azkals hopeful in 2011, both were supposed to reinforce the team for the World Cup Qualifier, both had severe leg injuries, both played for 4th tier teams, both saw their soccer career "end" in December, both RETURNED playing for 5th tier teams but this is where the parallel ends.
Have you guessed which Azkal player it is yet? It's Patrick Reichelt!
To read my previous blog on Reichelt click ( HERE ) & ( HERE )
It would seen that some in the Azkal organization(and many fans) used to think highly of Mika Ortelli, now that he's back perhaps it's time to take a look at the promising fullback once again. After all, what team wouldn't want an, overlapping, 23 year young fullback who can play on BOTH sides of the pitch AND who's been dying to play for the Motherland for so long?
Azkal fans have been raving about our speedy new midfielder, Patrick Reichelt. Maybe, just maybe, the Parallelism extends to Mika Ortelli's career too?
So what are you waiting for? Tell a friend, better yet tell Mr. Dan Palami and Coach Weiss, Michael Ortelli's back!
I hope he can fully recover and play again.
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