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Real Reminisces on Early Memories on the Diamond

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


At around the age of 12 or 13, Jose Luis Real remembers the first time he took the field at the Universidad de Guadalajara to represent his home state of Jalisco against other states as part of preliminary amateur all-star games.

As the current Chivas USA Head Coach described, his wide-eyed amazement as a youth getting the opportunity to compete on such a memorable stage, he says it felt like the equivalent as though he was as playing at Mexico's legendary stadiums such as the Azteca or Estadio Jalisco.

Only the young Real at the time was not taking the pitch for a soccer match - he was taking his spot on the diamond to represent Jalisco's youth baseball team.

Long characterized as having hotbeds of Mexican baseball in places such as Sinaloa, Sonora, Tijuana and Monterrey, baseball too came to grow in popularity in the tapatio state, and Real says he fell in love with it immediately.

"My generation was a generation in which we had a variety of sports activity at school," said Real. "And because of that, I played baseball, I played basketball and logically I played soccer, even swimming. And I'm speaking just from personal experience. In my neighborhood there was a team formed for every one of these sports, and I played in each of them. I was selected to be a part of each team to represent the area and later the state."

As a youth, Real recalls his coach batting him fifth or sixth in the lineup, which in hardball terms is an indicator that he was someone who could drive in runs and had some pop in his bat. Real also notes that he had a good arm, as he often played at third base or first.

UDG was the home field of Jalisco's then-professional team the Charros. With various versions, the franchise had been in existence for decades as part of the Mexican Baseball League. But the latest version of the team ceased to exist in the 1990s. It was because of such reasons that the stability and promise of Mexican soccer ultimately convinced and drove Real to focus himself completely in the sport that has made him a national icon.

"It was more professional. In soccer you could reach the national team level, you could become a professional, you could play abroad, and all that was not as available in baseball. It ceased to be played at a professional level [in Guadalajara], ceased to be promoted and that was partly what directed me to continue with soccer, which was the most practiced sport."

Nevertheless, Real remains a loyal Los Angeles Dodgers fan and credits the emergence of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in the 80s and Fernandomania as the excitement that reinvigorated those memories and love he had for the game as a youth.

"I began to relive that part of my childhood," Real recalled. "It was awakened when you saw a successful Mexican on the Dodgers that made their style of play appealing to all of Mexico, by having someone of the quality that Valenzuela has always been. And since then, I think that a lot of us Mexicans root for the Dodgers."

Asked what his prediction for this year's season outcome would be, Real stated without hesitation that the Dodgers would go all the way to take the World Series.

Preview: Youth SuperClásico

The SuperClásico between Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy First Team may be over for this season, but the Youth SuperClásico has just begun. This Saturday, Oct. 19, Chivas USA and Galaxy's U14, U16 & U18 Teams will face off in the first SuperClásico of the season. With the Galaxy playing host, games are set to begin at 3 p.m. (PT) at the StubHub Center's Track & Field Stadium.

Kicking off action on Saturday at 3 p.m. (PT), Chivas USA's U14 squad will face the LA Galaxy U14's in their first-ever match-up in U.S. Soccer Development Academy action. With no losses in the season, the young Goats are ready to go up against the cross-hall rival. Despite having a bye week last weekend, the U14s participated in the 2013 Generation adidas Cup where they were able to come out with a strong 5-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes and a scoreless draw with the Seattle Sounders. Also participating in the tournament was the Galaxy's U14 squad, who were unable to come out with positive results in their last two games of the Generation adidas Cup.

Following the first match, the Red-and-White U16's will look to revert their last score as they face the LA Galaxy's U16 Team for the first time this season. In their last game, the young Goats suffered their first loss of the season, falling 3-1 to Real Salt Lake AZ despite taking the early lead in the game.

With last week being a bye weekend for all teams, the young U16 squad has been able to prepare for this Saturday's game, counting on several of its members for the Generation adidas Cup. According to U16 Head Coach Keith Costigan, although the tournament was hectic, it served as a way to prepare and be ready for what's coming, not just in the match against the Galaxy, but for the rest of the season.

"I think the only difference between this and the other games is that, even though it's a local rivalry, the kids all know each other, and if you see it on the field, they're still friends," Costigan said. "We try to focus the boys and tell them, 'we're not going to get four points for beating the Galaxy, you only get three points for every win, you don't get any points for a loss.' We approach it like we approach every other game."

Last but not least, Chivas USA's U18s will have to fight to earn their first victory of the season as they conclude Saturday's SuperClásico. With kick-off at 8 p.m. (PT), the Red-and-White will have their work cut out as they face third placed team. Even though LA started off on the right foot, taking four consecutive victories, it was not enough to earn a victory in their last game, falling 3-1 to Real Salt Lake AZ. Meanwhile, the Chivas USA side also comes from being defeated by the Arizona squad, taking a 2-0 loss on Oct. 5.

While the boys are focused on getting the win, they know that they'll have one advantage, knowing their enemy. Even though the team rivalry is locally important, several Red-and-White players maintain friendships with Galaxy players, but according to U16 player Kedrian Ramos, those friendships won't be reflected on the field.

"We're still friends, but the game is different," Ramos said. "We're friends outside the field, but inside the field, it's a different story."

Stay updated on this weekend's Youth SuperClásico by following us on Twitter: @ChivasUSAYouth & @cdchivasusa.

Coast Soccer League action continues

While teams participating in U.S Soccer's Development Academy are preparing for Saturday's SuperClásico, teams participating in the Coast Soccer League continue action.

The following is a preview of each game set for this weekend:

Chivas USA's U13 Team will be fighting to match last week's positive score that the young team was able to earn. This Saturday, the Red-and-White U13 will be visiting FC Golden State Platinum at 2:50 p.m. (PT) in the University of California, Irvine's Field 3. The Red-and-White enters the match with a 2-1 victory over CUSC 99 Blue last Saturday. Meanwhile, the team's next opponent, FC Golden State Platinum, enters the match with a scoreless draw with FC Deportivo Panteras in last week's match. The youngsters will have to earn a positive result this weekend in order to continue climbing spots in the overall standings.

With five games left in the current season, the Red-and-White U15 will face LA Premier FC this Sunday and will be looking to earn its first win in five games. Last weekend, in a double-match weekend, Chivas USA earned a 1-1 draw with Albion SC and fell 1-0 to DMS11 Academy; both games were played in UC Irvine's fields. LA Premier FC enters the match with a 2-0 loss after falling to Valley United Dema. Currently, the Red-and-White's U15 Team is in the tenth spot in the overall standings and a victory would give them the confidence needed to continue climbing in the standings.

In their second away match of the season, Chivas USA's U23 Team will visit Pomona United, facing the club for the second time this season. The Red-and-White enters the match with 15 consecutive victories, most recently defeating LA Misioneros 4-1. Pomona United enters the game with a 2-2 draw with Pateadores SC in last week's action and is currently in the seventh overall spot in the general standings. This Saturday's match-up between Chivas USA and Pomona will kick-off at 6 p.m. (PT) at Veteran's Park Soccer Complex's Field 1.

For all the latest news on Chivas USA's Youth Development Academy, follow us on Twitter: @ChivasUSAYouth & @cdchivasusa .

Reserve League, a chance for the youth

The MLS Reserve League has worked as a place for Youth Academy players to get an opportunity and be seen by the First Team staff. After Chivas USA concluded their 2013 Reserve season, Assistant Coach Marco Fabian, who leads the squad in such matches, talked with cdchivasusa.com about the benefits and the importance of having a Reserves League.

"It worked out very well, because it gave us the opportunity to watch academy players," said Fabian. "Some [players] have showed some interesting things that could make them be called to the First Team. It is a competitive league where teams try to have good results, and this causes it to have competitive games."

Fabian has worked with youth for more than 15 years inside the Red and White institution, in which he has accomplished numerous championships in different divisions, and now participating in the Reserves League has left a very good impression on Fabian of the type of competition that exists.

"Personally, I'm very happy for having been able to get to know this competitive category. The fact of traveling to face other MLS reserve teams is a good experience. It is a category that helps to develop the youth and put them in the maximum level and see who is coming into a good stage for the first team."

The opportunities that the young players have to share the field First-Team players are very limited, but thanks to a good performance that they may show with the Reserves, with continuity and work, academy players can possibly get to share a place inside the First Team. Fabian knows the importance of this, that is why sharing time and advising the youth is important for their development.

"The fact that they are called up speaks well about them and to arrive to the First Team locker room is very important for them. I tell them that it is a great opportunity to be seen by the First Team staff, and that these opportunities should be taken serious to try to be on the First Team," Fabian concluded.

Caparelli's successful stint in Reserves League

One of the goals that Chivas USA's Youth Development program has is that its players have the opportunity to ascend to the First Team. One of the many opportunities given to the young Academy players is to be seen by Chivas USA's Coaching Staff when they are called up to participate in Major League Soccer's Reserve League.

On Tuesday, midfielder Jonathan Caparelli, who plays for Chivas USA's U-18 team, traveled to San Jose, along with the Reserve squad for the final game of the season to be played against the Earthquakes. In the match, Caparelli played the entire 90 minutes in the 3-2 victory over the Northern California side.

With three games in the books with the Rojiblancos in the Reserve League, the 18-year-old attacker has been able to experience first-hand what it's like to play at a professional level. Even though the beginning of the experience could be nerve-wrecking, his more experience teammates have supported him by offering him advice on how to improve.

"They've helped me a lot; they give me options in what to do to help the team better," Caparelli said. "There are players that are more intelligent, that are bigger, and with a lot more experience as well. I'm 18, and they're obviously older."

The opportunity to participate with the Reserves offers the young Development Academy players an opportunity to be seen by Chivas USA's First Team coaching staff. Red-and-White Assistant Coach Marco Fabian has worked directly with Caparelli and believes that the youngster has a bright future.

"To be honest, I'm very happy with him," Fabian said about Caparelli. "Soccer-wise, I think that he's very capable of doing a lot, and we have to know how to use that. Hopefully, little by little, he can adapt more and that he can work more with the First Team so that in a future not far away, he can be one of the team's promises."

Even though the 2013 Reserve League season has finalized, activity for Caparelli and the rest of the Youth Development Academy has just begun, as they will compete in the 10-month U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. With the continued support of the Red-and-White coaching staff, Caparelli will look to standout with his team and close the season the best way possible,

"I'm going to keep going. I have five or six months with the Academy and right now I'm with the U23 as well, so I have to play there as well. In June, we'll see what happens and hopefully we can win the championship," Caparelli finalized.

Red-and-White return for full squad session

Chivas USA returned to full training Friday morning at the StubHub Center's Field 6 two days after the Reserve Team played their season finale at San Jose. The session kicked off with a group stretch before completing a series of 10-yard runs with variations of movement and regular trots to return to the starting line as part of initial warm-ups.

The team was then split into two, with half the players jogging around the pitch in groups of five and six at a measured pace. The other half ran through distribution drills in the center of the pitch under the instructions of the squad's assistant coaches. Meanwhile, the initial groups that started their training with jogging changed lap directions and increased the tempo under the guidance of Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho.

Afterwards the two sides alternated drills, the groups then reunited and competed in a six-on-six tactical drill under the watch of Head Coach Jose Luis Real that ran half the length of the pitch with a goalkeeper in goal. Meanwhile, the team of players waiting for their turn to enter the drill kept loose with games of torito off to the side. After competing for about 30 minutes, the morning duties came to an end with a cool-down session and supplementary stretches.

The Rojiblancos will have their second consecutive bye weekend from MLS action but will train through the Saturday and Sunday in preparations for their mid-week game against Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. The 6 p.m. (PT) match at Rio Tinto Stadium will be the third and final leg of the series and will mark the last road game for the Red-and-White. The contest can be seen in Spanish on KWHY Super 22.2 and can also be followed in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM.

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