But the veteran coach prefers to measure success by smiles on young players' faces when he returns each year to the South American town where he was born--Moro, Peru, a village near the coastal, capital city of Lima--bearing gifts.

Comesana, an officer for the Santa Clara County probation department, visits his homeland "two or three times each year," sometimes conducting soccer camps or clinics and always bringing suitcases full of previously worn sweatshirts, cleats and other athletic apparel.

"I collect gear all year long, wash it, and take them to these kids who otherwise would not have them," he explains. The soccer supplies typically are found and donated by the athletic departments of local high schools, including Homestead, Lynbrook, Santa Clara and Wilcox.

"The looks on their faces express love, thanks and hope," explains Sunnyvale resident Dan Tellez, who was part of a four-man contingent that joined Comesana during a month-long stay in July.

Others on the trip were Jeff Kordes, Homestead's frosh-soph coach, and Homestead student-athlete Robert Tellez, the oldest of Dan's three children and a member of Kordes' team last winter. Comesana also invited recent Homestead graduates Jason Anthony and Craig Moberg, standouts on the Mustangs' 2004-05 squad, but they were unable to attend.

Dan Tellez, a volunteer in Sunnyvale youth baseball and soccer leagues for the past 12 years, was in Peru for just the first week. But that was plenty enough time to appreciate Comesana's commitment and become a firm believer of "Friends of the USA," a charitable foundation quietly established by the coach, and--to this point--largely a one-man operation.

"There were more than 60 kids in our camp," explained Comesana. "We sponsored two teams, under 17 and under 16, and we were able to pay some local coaches to help with training."

Although the playing field in Moro would look to Americans "more like a pasture, tended by goats and rarely watered," Tellez observed, "and at times players remove the cleats from their athletic shoes to make shoes for their feet, the kids there have an enormous love of the game of futbol."

Comesana was able to get the foundation's under 17 team training privileges in Lima, at the same place the Peruvian National team trains. Playing with older boys from the Moro village as part of the under 17 team, the younger Tellez was able to get some training with professional coaches and, as were his Peruvian teammates, was "thrilled to play at the big stadium in Lima."

"I never saw a coach so committed to bringing together the haves and have-nots under the common love of the game of soccer," praised Dan Tellez. "The most enjoyable moments were just being around a man who only cared to give these youth an opportunity to play a game and have a dream."

Tellez has vowed to become an active supporter and fundraiser for "Friends of the USA" and Comesana's plan to unite American soccer players with Peruvian soccer players.

"I am never going to give up on the idea of exposing our kids to other cultures who have less than us through soccer," insists Comesana, who was 12 years old when his family moved to Sunnyvale in 1976. "I have always been envious of churches and other organizations who can mobilize a group of people to Mexico or Latin America and, in just a week's time, build a house or some other building."

Robert Tellez, now beginning his sophomore year at Homestead, had an unforgettable summer, spending the entire month of July in Comesana's home village as a student and a soccer player. He experienced culture shock right away, as "the teachers spoke only Spanish."

School was Monday through Friday, 1-6:15 p.m. each day, following soccer training five or six mornings a week when the temperatures were cooler. He also noted differences in transportation and technology. "People walk everywhere," he marveled. "There are not many computers, and some people don't have TV."

Comesana is hopeful that Homestead's 2005-06 entire team can spend a week of Christmas vacation in Peru this winter for "some training and a soccer cultural exchange." But, the coach says, "if we can't pull it off, then for sure next summer I want to bring more Homestead players to Peru."

No matter how many Homestead players join Comesana on his next trip, he certainly will take suitcases filled with gifts.

And, according to Dan Tellez, "the most revered piece of old athletic apparel is anything that says 'Homestead High' on it, because it signifies Coach Comesana's commitment."