Five Sueno MLS Players to Begin Two-Week Trial with Chivas USA
March 7, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Wednesday, March 7, 2007) - Chivas USA and Major League Soccer announced today the names of the five players that have been invited to participate in a two-week trial with Chivas USA in the final stage of the nationally-televised player search, Sueño MLS: Chivas USA Wants You!.
The five invitees are:
Name Age Pos. Hometown NOTES
Jorge Flores 17 F Anaheim, CA Anaheim HS ('07) student scored Saturday after missing work
Abraham GarcÃa 17 M Santa Barbara, CA San Marcos HS ('07) student got strong family support
Aldo Iñiguez 20 GK Guadalajara, MEX Resident of San Fernando, CA; family awaits in Mexico
Carlos Ruiz 18 M Lawndale, CA Born in Peru; former West Torrance HS (06) student
Miguel Sánchez 18 M Inglewood, CA Recent graduate of Inglewood HS ('06)
The talented five begin their two-week trial this Friday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. PT, with a scrimmage at the Bell Gardens Sports Center, located at 800 Park Lane, Bell Gardens, Los Angeles County, Calif. 90201. From there, goalkeeper Aldo Iñiguez (age 20) will train in the mornings with Chivas USA's 28-man roster, while the four players ages 19 and younger will train in the evenings with the Chivas USA U-19's.
SCHEDULE OF TWO-WEEK TRIAL FOR SUEÃO MLS FINALISTS:
Dates What Where Time* Day(s)
March 9 Trial begins - Chivas USA U-19's scrimmage Bell Gardens 7 p.m. Fri
March 12-23 Chivas USA U-19 practices Bell Gardens 7 p.m. Mon/Wed/Fri
Chivas USA first team practices Carson (HDC) 10 a.m. Mon-Fri
March 23 Chivas USA U-19's scrimmage - Trial ends Bell Gardens 7 p.m. Fri
March 25 Announcement of Sueño MLS Winner National Television Sun
"We are pleased to have found enough talented, young players to warrant a call back of all five. However, this is not the end of the road. Each player will have to show his best during these two weeks if he hopes to earn a spot with Chivas USA," said Chivas USA Director of Soccer Dennis te Kloese. "These players saw against our U-19's last Saturday at The Home Depot Center that the level is high, and the road is not easy. We look forward to seeing the best from each of them during the course of the next two weeks, and to announcing our Sueño MLS winner on March 25."
The five standouts, ranging in age from 17 to 20, outlasted 2,000 players from across the United States and several foreign countries during open tryouts held in mid-February. A week later they beat out 60 players in the semifinals, and last Saturday they shined brightest at The Home Depot Center's world-class soccer stadium, where the "Final 24" took on the Chivas USA Under-19's.
On Sunday, March 25, one standout will be crowned the winner of Sueño MLS during Univision's popular weekly sports show, República Deportiva, which has been following the month-long quest in a unique "reality show within a show" format. In addition to the title of Sueño MLS champion, and a spot with Chivas USA's full 28-man roster or U-19 team, the winner will also receive adidas equipment and a special family ticket package to Chivas USA's home games at The Home Depot Center.
Chivas USA also announced today that eight of the younger standouts from the "Final 24," aged 17 and under, have been invited to train with the club's U-17 Team. The eight invited players are:
PLAYERS INVITED TO TRAIN WITH CHIVAS USA'S UNDER-17 TEAM:
Name Age Pos. Hometown NOTES
Omar Becerra 16 M San Diego, CA Dad was one step from becoming pro
Gilbert Contreras 17 M Downey, CA Mexican father, Honduran mother
Diego Delgadillo 17 F Bell Gardens, CA Walked 2 blocks from BG home
José Diaz 16 D Fontana, CA Los Osos HS ('09) student
Jaime Lara 17 M Torrance, CA Dad saw him play for first time Sat.
MartÃn Monroy 16 F Watsonville, CA One of 2 Pajaro Valley HS ('08) students
Andrew Robles 16 M Lynwood, CA Older bro is Chivas USA's Ãder Robles
Alejandro Rosas 16 D Watsonville, CA One of 2 Pajaro Valley HS ('08) students
"These players showed a good level during the tryouts but, in the end, were still at an early stage in their development," added te Kloese. "There are some very talented youngsters in this group. We look forward to bringing them into the Chivas USA fold and seeing how they progress over the coming weeks and months."
SUEÃO MLS KEY DATES:
February 16 - 19 Open Tryouts (max 2,000 players)
February 24 Tryout for 60 semifinalists
March 3 Tryout for "The Final 24"
March 9-23 Two-week trial with Chivas USA (5 players)
March 25 Announcement of Sueño MLS winner
April 7 MLS 2007 Season begins
Major League Soccer Stories from March 7, 2007
- Galaxy to Host Annual Fan Fest on Sunday, April 1 - LA Galaxy
- Five Sueno MLS Players to Begin Two-Week Trial with Chivas USA - MLS
- Revolution Adds Four Players to Roster, Re-Signs Gonzalez - New England Revolution
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