By Sara Biela – Staff Writer
For most, No. 13 has been labeled as unlucky. Superstitious people purposely avoid using it as much as possible — but for San Jose State’s Eduardo Buenfil, he found luck in the “cursed” number.
The sophomore first received his “lucky No. 13” when he started playing soccer at 8 years old.
“That was my first number and I’ve had it since I was a little kid,” Buenfil said. “I’ve kept it throughout my whole life. I consider it to be lucky.”
The San Jose native spent four years with Pac Soccer Academy before joining the soccer team at James Lick High School.
Buenfil had a distracting family life and wasn’t the best student in school, but his love for the sport kept him motivated to do his best.
In 2016, the midfielder made the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Best XI List for Under18 boys.
However, the thought of not being given the opportunity to continue his journey of fulfilling his dream of playing soccer professionally clung to him for years.
The All-State First Team selection appeared in a showcase in hopes of gaining interest from college programs. He eventually caught the attention of SJSU’s head coach Simon Tobin.
Determined to make him a Spartan, Tobin offered a helping hand to Buenfil and made sure he got the aid he needed to succeed in the classroom.
“He gave me that chance,” Buenfil said of Tobin. “I’m the first one in my family to go to a state university. Now that I’m here, I’m trying to get to the next level, focus on my education and get my degree.”
Going from a high school graduate to a first-generation college student, the support from Buenfil’s family has added to the flame within him.
His teammates build to the fire, while also recognizing the vast amount of contribution.
“He’s a good player and brings a lot to the team,” said senior forward Miguel Castillo. “When it comes to playing, he’s always serious. He keeps pushing and does what he does.”
Buenfil’s versatile abilities on the field benefit the team more than anything else.
“He’s a pretty honest player,” said junior defender Angel Farias. “He’s very adaptable and does well on scoring from the outside. He contributes to the team and will continue to do so heading into playoffs.”
This year in six starts, Buenfil has scored twice on six shots on goal. Regardless of how many games he starts, the local talent gives everything he has to the team.
Buenfil’s passion for soccer serves as motivation in every aspect of life.
“When I played soccer, I wouldn’t think about anything. I would just have fun,” he said. “It would help me forget about everything bad happening around me.”
It all traces back to “lucky No. 13.” That’s where his story began.
“Soccer has kept me strong,” Buenfil said. “Instead of bringing my dreams down, I brought them up. I’m here and I will continue to focus on my future.”
Follow Sara on Twitter @sarabielaa
