Know Your Goat, Giovani Casillas

Published on June 3, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


As one of the youngest players on the team, Giovani Casillas, or "Yova" as he is known around the club, says that he enjoys keeping the mood light and enjoyable around his teammates. Whether at training, at home or in the locker room, Casillas, 19, says his favorite method of doing so is music.

Born in Guadalajara, the Chivas Guadalajara product has always had a passion for music, most notably regional Mexican. Casillas points to his family as the ones who instilled that love for music at functions and gathering at an early age.

"Mi family has always been big on singing," Casillas said. "My dad plays the guitar and so does my brother. I think it was there where it started. There was a time where my dad wanted to have me play the drums and have my brother sing and play guitar, as a fun hobby for us."

But the midfielder acknowledges that there was never any doubt about where his first passion was, so he went onto pursuing his career in soccer. Casillas came up through Guadalajara's youth ranks and etched his name in Mexican National Team history as a member of the U-17 squad. Casillas scored the second goal in the title game of the 2011 U-17 World Cup played in Mexico's Estadio Azteca to put the exclamation point on the 2-0 victory over Uruguay.

As huge of an accomplishment and dream as that moment was, Casillas points out to his debut in Mexico's Primera Division with Chivas as his greatest accomplishment in his young soccer career thus far. His debut came during the Apertura 2011 tournament against Pumas UNAM and was his primary objective as a professional, he says.

Now a member of Chivas USA, Casillas says he feels right at home in Southern California, "just as if I was in Guadalajara," he mentioned. And that comfort level is noticeable on the pitch and dressing room as well, as the first-year Rebaño Angelino midfielder can be frequently heard singing and laughing and occasionally seen displaying some of his dance floor moves during cool-down sessions or in between drills. But the young Goat mentioned how he knows when it is time to flip the switch and take care of business. It is then when he leans on some of the squad's more veteran players such as Dan Kennedy and Walter Vilchez to learn how they assume leadership roles and communicate with teammates when needed.

"I'm cheerful, that's how I like it," Casillas added. "I never like to be down. I like to add a little cheer into the locker room and I always observe the veterans on the team; how they conduct themselves, how they communicate, so that when it is my turn to fill that role I can do it just like them."

The left-footed midfielder has already shown flashes of what he can bring to the Red-and-White. Casillas has appeared in five matches in his first year in the League, recording his first Major League Soccer goal in Week 2 during a 3-1 home win against FC Dallas. And how did he celebrate his first goal with Chivas USA? The same way he did for the goal in the World Cup - doing a little dance step for the crowd cheering on him.

Calvert extends goal record

Twenty-three goals in less than one year. That's the record that Chivas USA Youth Academy forward Caleb Calvert extended today as he scored in the Red-and-White's Reserve League match against the Seattle Sounders Reserve squad at The Home Depot Center.

With his parents and uncle among the fans in attendance, 16 year-old Calvert headed the first goal of the match in the 68th minute off a ball from Jose Manuel Rivera.

"I feel very comfortable, especially with Rivera. He's a great player; he and I just linked up in the whole game and he gave me a fantastic ball and it just worked out very well. It was the most perfect ball you could ever ask for and it was a simple header off the 'keeper," said Calvert on his first goal with Chivas USA's Reserves squad.

In early May, Calvert was invited to First Team training for one week, time of which he got to know a few of the players, participated in a friendly scrimmage against a local club, and inclusively obtained a second invitation to return to First Team training once classes were not in session in the summer.

Although Calvert already felt comfortable with the team, it was nice to see another familiar face among his teammates, fellow U-18 player Álex Sánchez.

"It's incredible, honestly. I love playing with these guys because they're class players and I love playing at the highest level as I can and these guys are just tremendous to play with and it's easy to play with them.

"I'm glad that I get the opportunity too, but I'm thrilled that my teammates also get a chance to do this as well because they're also fantastic players and I love having them out here," Calvert said after the game.

For "Rooney," as he is known as among family, friends and teammates, the best is yet to come. Chivas USA's U17/18 and U15/16 teams are currently preparing for U.S. Soccer's Development Academy playoffs that are set to kick-off June 24 in Frisco, Texas, and we're sure that fans will hear more on Calvert once they are underway.

Rivera looks to become an important element

In his first season in Major League Soccer and with the Red-and-White, midfielder Jose Manuel Rivera is among the team's most well-traveled players, having come up through the academy and pro ranks in Mexico's First-Division and spent time with three different clubs in Europe. The experience and knowledge he has acquired is what he feels can put him in a position to serve in a leadership role on this young club.

In Sunday's 2-1 Reserve League win against Seattle Sounders FC's Reserves, Rivera was named team captain. Having played a league match two nights before, usual Chivas USA captain and goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was not in Sunday morning's lineup, which left Rivera as one of the prime candidates to wear the captain's armband.

"I was very happy to serve as captain," said Rivera. "You have to be ready and work. It was a plus. It means that [the coaching staff] had confidence in me. I was happy when they told me, which is good, because it means that I'm becoming a more important part, and that's what I want, to be an important part on the club."

Rivera not only provided leadership with his vocal approach on the pitch on Sunday, but the Guadalajara native figured in both of the Rojiblancos' scores in the second half. In the 69th minute, Rivera worked the ball in the attacking third just outside the top of the box and linked up with forward Caleb Calvert. Rivera chipped his pass over Seattle's defense and placed it where the young Goat could head in the tally. In the 76th minute, Rivera again looked to distribute from his center-mid position, as he found Josué Soto on the left side of the box, who then crossed it to forward Tristan Bowen for the left-footed one-time goal.

"I've always liked to be vocal and communicate," Rivera mentioned. "And not to just for show, but to help and generate good play and motivation. It is always helpful to have someone vocal and that is what I like to do. You can't just talk and not do anything. That's why today was about getting results first and play well before anything, to then, quote on quote, get permission to speak up to help."

Chivas USA's U23 team kicks off

The season has begun for Chivas USA's new U23 squad in the So Cal Premier League as they kicked off action this weekend. In their first match, the Red-and-White earned a 2-2 draw with Sport Club Orange County in Servite High School's Turf Field in Anaheim.

The four goals of the game came in the first half. It took some time until the Red-and-White were able to find their rhythm in the first half, but even with that handicap the team was able to put the ball into the back of the net. Chris Gonzalez notched the inaugural goal in the League and for Chivas USA in the 13th minute of the match. Ten minutes after the first goal, the Orange County squad scored the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute. The Sport Club Orange County took the lead for the first time in the 31st minute, notching the 2-1 against Chivas USA. Before going into halftime, Gonzalez notched the second goal for the Goats that would give the final 2-2 score.

The Red-and-White returned for the second half looking to notch the victory goal that would give them their first three points in the League. With several chances at goal from Chivas USA, the Red-and-White dominated the second half, but it was not enough to earn a victory.

After the match, the U23 coach Samuel Rivas said he was pleased with the effort and performance from the players in their first match. Up next for Chivas USA's U23 will be FC Expat at John Anson Ford Park in Bell Gardens on Saturday, June 8 at 5:00 p.m. (PT).

Farfán and Ávila welcome Anthony

Before Saturday, young Anthony Plascencia only dreamed of attending a Chivas USA home game. Working along with a friend, Red-and-White midfielder Gabriel Farfán made sure to make that dream come true and hosted young Anthony and his family to Chivas USA's match-up against the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening at The Home Depot Center.

For the past few years, young Anthony and his family have been fighting an illness no parent is read for, their son's battle against cancer. Since his diagnosis, Anthony has been undergoing treatment for cancer at a hospice in Riverside. In order to attend the game, Anthony was brought in during team warm-ups in an ambulance and required medical staff to be at his assistance at all times. Moments before the Goats headed to the locker room to prepare for the game, Farfan and fellow teammate Eric Avila went over to midfield to meet Anthony and his family.

"It was something very special for us to have him come out and watch our game. We met his family and they were all really great," Avila said after Saturday's game.

Anthony and his family were able to watch the entire Chivas USA match-up against the Seattle Sounders FC. Even though it was a loss for the home team, he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of attending a soccer game and exclusively met the entire Red-and-White squad after the game.

After meeting young Anthony and his family, Farfan and Avila were happy to meet such a special boy and assured to keep in touch in order to follow-up on his health.

"He's a Chivas fan, and the family was very kind to us. I hope he enjoyed the game even though we weren't able to get a win for him," Avila finalized.

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