When He Makes the Call, It’s Expensive

When Rico Cunha calls in the plays for the Troy girls’ soccer team, the phone bill is not cheap.

Cunha, Troy’s coach, has been trapped in Brazil since early December. He went to visit relatives in Rio de Janiero, but had trouble returning to the United States because of visa difficulties brought on by the federal government’s three-week shutdown, according to volunteer coach Cale Coelho. Cunha is expected to return at the end of the month.

With Cunha calling occasionally from Brazil with instructions, Coelho helped Troy come within one goal of winning the Freeway League championship.

Coelho, who played at Servite from 1982-86 and at Cypress College from 1986-87, is a paramedic and also attends Mt. San Antonio College. He rearranged his schedule to coach the team.

“I was kind of nervous on my way to the first practice. I had never coached girls before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after a few weeks it was kind of like they became my family,” Coelho said.

Coelho is assisted by Bob Silva, the father of freshman Kacey Silva, Troy’s starting sweeper. Bob Silva handles the administrative duties and runs practices when Coelho can’t be there.

“We didn’t want to disappoint these kids,” Silva said. “I just said, ‘I’ll do it. I’ll be here for them.’ ”

Troy (13-2-1), which lost 10 seniors from last season to graduation, will host South Torrance (10-5-8) at 3 p.m. today in a Southern Section Division II wild-card game.