The path to becoming a professional soccer player can be unpredictable, especially for youth soccer players from 209 backgrounds.
Chris Hernandez is doing everything he can to give Stockton's athletes a chance to showcase their football talent while the city's talent is constantly being ignored. Stockton FC founder and Franklin Soccer Head Coach took five local athletes to a three-day trial with FC Cincinnati's youth club from March 12-14.
“I just network. That's my job, talking to people and trying to see if there's anyone interested in the players or the market here in Stockton,” Hernandez said. said. “I just got lucky. Somehow, somehow, I found a way to generate interest in this field.”
Thanks to Hernandez's connections in the soccer world, Franklin University's Daniel Guerra, Aaron Chavez and Angelo Vieira, Lincoln University's Caleb Clyburn and Venture Academy's Angelenoe Perez have all been able to try their luck in Cincinnati. did it.
“The best this market has to offer”
As someone who is always looking for Stockton's next Alex Alcala, Hernandez hand-picked five players to make the trip to Ohio State. These players have played important roles in this year's high school and club seasons and have been outstanding for Hernandez.
Clyburn was the Trojans' leader and primary attacker at the midfielder position last season. Although Perez plays for Stockton's club team rather than Venture Academy's soccer team, he has a tenacious work ethic. Guerra, whose last name means warrior, is exactly that on the field as one of Franklin's more physical players.
Vieira stands out as the only left-footed player among the five players, making him difficult to defend. This will be the second time he has traveled out of state for youth soccer trials, having gone to Germany in July 2023. Chavez is the youngest of the five, a 6-foot-2 freshman who played varsity for the Yellow Jackets last season.
“I have known these players for a while, and because they are so close to this market and have studied it, I think they are the best this market has to offer,” Hernandez said. Ta. “So for kids born between 2007 and 2009, players in that class, these are the five best players to me.”
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out of your comfort zone
During the three-day trial period, Stockton's five players participated in various training drills and scrimmages in hopes of catching the eye of FC Cincinnati director of player development Larry Sunderland.
Sunderland has a long history of nurturing and discovering young talent in soccer, including as a former USA Youth National Team coach and Portland Timbers Youth Technical Director.
“While in Portland, I became familiar with some of the great talent pools and markets around California, and Stockton was certainly one of the places we looked to scout and find talent. “I did,” Sunderland said. “We have a very diverse market that is very different from the talent pool here in Cincinnati.”
The five players displayed their versatility and shined in their own way throughout the trials. However, the transition was not easy as they faced a level of talent never seen in Stockton. For Perez, facing that level of skill was his favorite part of his journey.
“My favorite part was not being one of the best players there,” Perez said. “I like being around people who are a little bit better than me, or on the same level as me. I think it's good to be able to experience that.”
The athletes faced a new level of competition and got a taste of what it's like to train at an MLS facility.
“On the first day, we met the director of the club and then we got a little tour of all the crazy, super, amazing stuff like the facilities where the pros train and the locker rooms where they eat,” Clyburn said. . “Then we got our jerseys, changed in the locker room and got to meet some of the team.”
What's next?
The trials ended on March 14, so the five athletes are waiting to see if their numbers will be called for a general invitation to FC Cincinnati's youth club and a chance to play on Cincinnati's GA Cup team.
Sunderland say the club are looking for players who fit the club's needs and style of play, rather than a specific player profile. A decision will not be made until closer to the date of the GA Cup, which will be held from March 30 to April 7.
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While the five players wait for their professional destiny to be decided, they can rejoice in the fact that they have an opportunity not often afforded to other soccer players in the Stockton area.
“It feels great because I get to travel to other states and countries to play soccer,” Vieira said. “For me, this trip felt like there was a lot more at stake because I know I don’t have much time left. It’s hard to join a team as you get older, so I wanted to take this opportunity to Thank you very much and thank you to Chris as well.”
Recorder Shannon Belt covers sports. Contact her at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local Her News and subscribe to the Stockton Her Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
