Paola Ramos

So everyone you talk to when they mention the name Gerse is that he was sweet. He's this very sweet, kind, young boy. He grows up in northern Venezuela in a town called Machique. It's literally known for cows. It's rural. Everyone says that he loved to draw. He likes to dance salsa. I talked to his sister, Yorgely Reyes.

So everyone you talk to when they mention the name Gerse is that he was sweet. He's this very sweet, kind, young boy. He grows up in northern Venezuela in a town called Machique. It's literally known for cows. It's rural. Everyone says that he loved to draw. He likes to dance salsa. I talked to his sister, Yorgely Reyes.

When she talks about her brother, she remembers him loving baseball as a very young kid.

When she talks about her brother, she remembers him loving baseball as a very young kid.

So Diercy kind of grows up watching his dad playing soccer, and then he starts to sort of love the game and love the sport. Diercy's father starts training his son. Slowly, Diercy kind of forgets about baseball. He's completely focused on soccer, and this love for Real Madrid starts, this obsession with the game starts.

So Diercy kind of grows up watching his dad playing soccer, and then he starts to sort of love the game and love the sport. Diercy's father starts training his son. Slowly, Diercy kind of forgets about baseball. He's completely focused on soccer, and this love for Real Madrid starts, this obsession with the game starts.

One of the things that his sister told me repeatedly was, I mean, literally, when his sister talks about Jersey, it's just football. That's literally all that she talks about because that's the image that comes to her mind. The thing about Yersin, that's what his sister describes, is that he kept going, like he kept fighting for this dream.

One of the things that his sister told me repeatedly was, I mean, literally, when his sister talks about Jersey, it's just football. That's literally all that she talks about because that's the image that comes to her mind. The thing about Yersin, that's what his sister describes, is that he kept going, like he kept fighting for this dream.

He starts training with one of his dad's former teammates. It's this coach named Yogerse Jose Viloria.

He starts training with one of his dad's former teammates. It's this coach named Yogerse Jose Viloria.

This coach is still in the very same town where Diercy grew up.

This coach is still in the very same town where Diercy grew up.

What was, I think, beautiful about this conversation that I had with the coach is that he was just like kind of, he couldn't wait to get out of that room and show me the field where he watched Diercy grow up. So there's this moment where he literally like takes me out. He's like, come with me. And he walks down the street and he starts, you know, he flips his camera the other way.

What was, I think, beautiful about this conversation that I had with the coach is that he was just like kind of, he couldn't wait to get out of that room and show me the field where he watched Diercy grow up. So there's this moment where he literally like takes me out. He's like, come with me. And he walks down the street and he starts, you know, he flips his camera the other way.

And he literally shows me this very humble field in the middle of nowhere. And you can see there's literally like not much around there. This gives them so much pride. This gives them so much dignity. And this is the field where this coach watches Jersey grow up.

And he literally shows me this very humble field in the middle of nowhere. And you can see there's literally like not much around there. This gives them so much pride. This gives them so much dignity. And this is the field where this coach watches Jersey grow up.

He joins these travel teams. So he gets to travel across Venezuela, different regions, different cities. He then becomes a starting keeper on a champion under-16 national team. He actually made it to a tournament in Barcelona. So I'm just picturing Dirce. Oh, it's a dream. Exactly. This kid that is obsessed with Real Madrid. And he eventually makes it... knowing the Venezuelan pro football league.

He joins these travel teams. So he gets to travel across Venezuela, different regions, different cities. He then becomes a starting keeper on a champion under-16 national team. He actually made it to a tournament in Barcelona. So I'm just picturing Dirce. Oh, it's a dream. Exactly. This kid that is obsessed with Real Madrid. And he eventually makes it... knowing the Venezuelan pro football league.

That's what the coach kept talking about. El ultimo torneo. In the last tournament he played in, in 2024, when he was with us... You know, this specific moment in this specific era where Djerse leads his team to the final of the third division.

That's what the coach kept talking about. El ultimo torneo. In the last tournament he played in, in 2024, when he was with us... You know, this specific moment in this specific era where Djerse leads his team to the final of the third division.