Chivas USA Host Fan Event After Wednesday Workout

September 18, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


Chivas USA returned to training Wednesday morning at the StubHub Center's Track and Field Stadium with an added attraction to the session. The mid-week practice featured a fan event with season ticket holders in attendance watching on as the Rojiblancos continued preparations for their Week 30 match when they travel to face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The session kicked off with group stretches before breaking out into individual ball work for added warm-up. Each player worked the ball at short distance and dribbled the ball for added sharpness. The group then returned for supplementary stretches before repeating the short ball-handling exercise. The squad then moved on to agility drills under the instructions of Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho, which included movements of high knees and leaping exercises.

The Goats then returned to ball work by pairing up with a teammate to complete passing drills starting from about 10 yards out and gradually increasing the distance. At 10 a.m. the group initiated an 11-on-11 tactical drill under the guidance of Head Coach Jose Luis Real, which ran for approximately 50 minutes. The pitch was segmented into three parts with the objective of both sides working the ball into their attacking third to create four-on-four matchups and finish the build-up with a score.

While the bulk of the team concluded their training with a cool-down session and final stretches, a handful of attackers stayed to work with Assistant Coach Marco Fabian on playing crosses into the box from the left sideline around obstacle poles. Meanwhile, a few teammates practiced their rapid-fire strikes on the opposite goal before likewise concluding their work day.

Upon completion of their preparation duties, fans got the opportunity to have their pictures taken with members of the Red-and-White, gather autographs and interact with their home team. Wednesday's matinee event was one of many recent community and ticket events that Chivas USA have put in place as a way to keep the team close to its fan base. The fans in attendance were all too thrilled to once again get the opportunity to interact with the Goats.

"It feels great, we never really get this kind of access [with other teams]," said Sean Montgomery, one of the fans that was at the event since the start of practice. "Chivas are always very willing and even though it's just the little things, it means a lot to the fans. Soccer is the best sport for that interaction with the team, especially Chivas, they're very appreciative."

Several of the fans echoed the sentiment of the accessible environment they enjoy when participating in such events with the team that has slowly but surely begun to string together positive results at home, where they are unbeaten in six out of their last games.

"It's great for the fans," said first-year season-seat holder Francisco Duran. "It's a way for us to have more contact with the players and interact with them. It feels great and it gives you a sense of pride to know that they support you and we support them. They're welcome has been fantastic."

The Goats will return to the SHC's Field 6 on Thursday for their second-to-last practice ahead of their trip to Houston beginning on Friday. Chivas fans can follow the action beginning at 5:30 p.m. (PT) in English on KDOC-TV as well as in Spanish on MundoFOX 22. The match will also be broadcasted in Spanish on W 690 AM Radio.

Dan Kennedy continue contributing to St. Jude

Chivas USA goalkeeper and team captain Dan Kennedy's superb work, talent, leadership and performance have always been obvious as he takes on the field. But Kennedy's innitiative goes beyond the field of play.

In the Red-and-White's last home match against the Portland Timbers, Kennedy hosted a patient from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Drew and his family were treated to an exclusive VIP access and a special meet-and-greet with Chivas USA players. Drew, 13, was all smiles as he witnessed Chivas USA working on their pre-game warm-up exercises on the field of play. It was a moment for him to enjoy the moment and forget about the rare disease that both he and St. Jude are fighting against, an MU Heavy Chain defect.

"Aside from the care, [St. Jude] is also doing ground-breaking research," Dan Kennedy told cdchivasusa.com. "They're able to care for kids like Drew, who have very rare diseases that are not easily treated, but because of St. Jude's resources and ability to research and provide care, they're able to treat them and Drew's going to live a relatively normal life in comparison to what it would be if they wouldn't have St. Jude."

After his first visit to St. Jude's Headquarters in Memphis, Tenn. in 2012, Kennedy returned to Southern California determined to continue making a difference, only this time at a local level. Throughout the year, Kennedy has visited many cancer patients and survivors and their families to help bring a smile to their face.

"There was a kid from my hometown [Yorba Linda] that was fighting cancer and he's beat it so far. He was at Orange CHOC, so I got to go see him and it's nice to just kind of brighten up their day because when the kids are in the hospital, it's can be long and boring. But along with St. Jude, we work with Teammates for Kids, Garth Brooks Foundation, and they also build fun zones for kids in hospitals and play centers for when the kids are in hospitals getting care, they have a place to go and have a feel as if it wasn't a hospital," Kennedy added.

Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative MLS W.O.R.K.S. continues working to raise funds for St. Jude through the Goals for St. Jude campaign; for every goal scored throughout the month of September, MLS will donate $100 to St. Jude. Unfortunately for St. Jude, Kennedy won't be scoring goals any time soon, but he hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of St. Jude patients and their families.

"Unfortunately for them I'm the goalkeeper and I don't score goals, I'm trying to protect it," Kennedy joked. "Having League-wide support on this is good, because it gets the word out as there are plenty of people out there like me when I didn't know about St. Jude.

"If there's an ability to donate or help out, St. Jude is going to benefit from that giving," the goalkeeper finalized.



Major League Soccer Stories from September 18, 2013


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