| The Sports Pulse of Laredo Sports All of Texas Lrd Sports Wire News Network |
Over the last couple years here in Laredo, the sport of the
world "el juego bonito" or how they say in Spanish "el futbol" or
how they call it in America "soccer" has been advancing to new
heights steadily. These advancements have been made by
several people and organizations as they have worked
tirelessly to promote the growth of the "beautiful game". One of
these organizations has been the Laredo Heat Soccer team
under the direction of owners Shashi Vaswani and Priya
Vaswani along with Laredo Heat General Manager JJ Vela. The
Laredo Heat plays in the US PDL Division which is a Player
Development League and has had great success by reaching
the national championship 4 times and hoisting the
championship cup once. All that soccer success has raised
eyebrows at the US National Team level to come scout some of
our local youth talent and see if any future soccer stars are in
our midst.
One of those such scouting visits happen last night as US
National Youth Team Technical Advisor Anthony Latronica
along with San Antonio Elite Soccer Club Coach Manuel
Bustamante made their way to our fair city. Coach Latronica is
one of nine national level advisors who scouts talent in our
southwest region and reports directly to US National Team
Youth Head Coach of Player Development Tab Ramos. Most
people in Laredo will remember Tab Ramos as US National
Team Captain and three time World Cup member whose
masterful play was integral to the US international success.
Also sometimes Coach Latronica reports directly to US National
Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann who won the World Cup
in 1990 and every other major European trophies in a stellar
international career. Klinsmann is also considered among the
top 100 superstar players of all time as produced by world
soccer icon and Brazilian soccer legend Pele. The soccer guru
mentions all this as to let the soccer community know the
importance of such a visit and the impact it could have at the
international level.
Coach Latronica held the soccer player training center at
TAMIU Soccer Complex. He broke down the sessions in two
groups by age. The first group was the under 14 followed by
the under 17 group. Both groups were mixed as both girls and
boys were taking part in the soccer player clinic. This soccer
player clinic had players from the several different soccer clubs
here in Laredo. Youth soccer clubs such as Generation FC,
Liberty SC and Laredo Heat SC were well represented by some
of the city's best young under 14 talent. The under 17 group
had some of the city's high school level talent as there were
players from United, Alexander, United South and LBJ. The
soccer clinic was an invitation only and the players had to have
shown a certain level of play to get invited by the US scouting
staff.
The soccer players training center was very intense. After a
very good warm-up and stretch the fun was about to begin with
all it's fury. It did not mater what group you were in, it was at a
high level of play and at a fast pace. Players were tested on
their strength and conditioning. Their were tested on their level
of fundamentals with the soccer ball along with foot work and
ball control. Players were also tested on how well they can work
with other players on the field to see if they recognize passing
lanes and other on field opportunities. Ability to pass the ball
as well as their versatility to play all over the field was also
being observed. The players soccer IQ was also tested as
tactics in their play was being looked at to see how well they
move without the ball. You throw all that into the mix, then you
throw in the adrenaline of players trying their best to get
"noticed" or take advantage of this "opportunity" so you have a
stage for some exciting, interesting soccer play.
After both sessions were done, Coach Latronica spoke to
both groups and told them to keep working hard to achieve
their dreams. He reminded them that it take hard work and
dedication to reach the next level. He also advised them to play
against the best competition possible as that will only make you
a better player and raise your level of play as well. The players
who had not met each other before this were already making
plans to keep training together to maintain that intensity going.
Some were even talking about playing on each others club
traveling team to attain new levels of play. You could tell that
the kids enjoyed the intense workout as it brings out the best in
everyone.
The soccer guru spoke with Coach Anthony Latronica about
what qualities he looks for when scouting for the national team,
Coach Latronica said " first and foremost is their technical
ability. No matter if they are boy or girl or no matter what age
they are if they have a good technical foundation that is a
starting point. Obviously also if they have good tactical
knowledge of the game and a good feel for the game. So I say
that those three components but also the physical aspect as
well as the psychological".
The soccer guru asked him about the influx of the Latino
influence started by Coach Klinsmann at the national team
level and whether there was talent here in our city, he said "
that is a big part of why I'm doing what I'm doing at the
grassroots level, obviously as technical advisor for US Soccer
in the Texas region and as you know there is a large Hispanic
and cultural in Texas. That is why I'm making an effort to come
down to Laredo as well as El Paso and the valley to try and find
the best kids no matter the club affiliation, no matter what
demographic background and no matter what location".
The soccer guru asked Coach Latronica if the USA could hoist
one day the World Cup, he said "I hope so. The reason we are
making the push at this level is that hopefully 5 and 10 years
down the road we could look back and say that during our era
or during this time period we made a push to change and make
US soccer better". The soccer guru asked Coach Latronica if
he thinks school districts here locally should incorporate soccer
into the elementary level, he stated " I think it depends on who
the technical leadership is. I think first and foremost if you give
the right soccer coaches the right mind coaching the little ones
that is the most important.
Too often we put our best coaches with the older kids instead
with the younger kids. Depending on who and where those
coaches come from if we could put those coaches with the little
ones to set good foundation we are off to a good start". The
soccer guru asked him what he told the kids in their after
practice meeting, Coach Latronica said " US Soccer cares
about this soccer community in Laredo. This is my third trip
here to Laredo. I'm spending the time and the effort getting to
know this community. It is important that we get out into the
grassroots level of soccer in this town to find the best players
and that is why I'm here".
The soccer guru then spoke to Laredo Heat General
Manager JJ Vela about Coach Latronica's trip to see Laredo's
young talented players. He said "personally, having Anthony
visit us and conduct United States Soccer Federation Training
Centers here in Laredo is fanatastic. I appreciate his honesty
and professionalism as a Technical Advisor for the United
States Soccer Federation plus the fact that young soccer
players from our area are on his radar for a possible
opportunities with our mational teams makes everything we do
worth it.
At this point, after his third visit to Laredo in eight months, my
only hope is that everyone in the process, players, coaches
and parents understand the importance of the commitment
needed to compete at a very high level of soccer. At the end of
the day, we want players from Laredo to be given the
opportunity to be seen and we want these players to take
advantage of every opportunity given to them. This is only the
beginning, I know bigger and better things are on the horizon
for our young soccer talent".
The soccer guru knows that there is oodles of soccer talent
here in Laredo. We have had success at the high school level,
the college level as well as the PDL level. We have had two
former LBJ soccer players in Felix Garcia and Frank Lara play
on the US National U-20 team. We have had several kids
already get invited to higher level training centers like United's
Alexia Herrera and Alexander's Jorge Rocha. Youngsters
Mariana Avina, Emily Zapata and Diego Rocha have also
already taken part in specialized training centers as all there
are still young but are already getting noticed at the state and
national level. The time is now to take advantage of the world
class talent present on our community. So please go support
all soccer events whether they are elementary, middle school.
high school, college or PDL level games as the future stars are
right here right now.
world "el juego bonito" or how they say in Spanish "el futbol" or
how they call it in America "soccer" has been advancing to new
heights steadily. These advancements have been made by
several people and organizations as they have worked
tirelessly to promote the growth of the "beautiful game". One of
these organizations has been the Laredo Heat Soccer team
under the direction of owners Shashi Vaswani and Priya
Vaswani along with Laredo Heat General Manager JJ Vela. The
Laredo Heat plays in the US PDL Division which is a Player
Development League and has had great success by reaching
the national championship 4 times and hoisting the
championship cup once. All that soccer success has raised
eyebrows at the US National Team level to come scout some of
our local youth talent and see if any future soccer stars are in
our midst.
One of those such scouting visits happen last night as US
National Youth Team Technical Advisor Anthony Latronica
along with San Antonio Elite Soccer Club Coach Manuel
Bustamante made their way to our fair city. Coach Latronica is
one of nine national level advisors who scouts talent in our
southwest region and reports directly to US National Team
Youth Head Coach of Player Development Tab Ramos. Most
people in Laredo will remember Tab Ramos as US National
Team Captain and three time World Cup member whose
masterful play was integral to the US international success.
Also sometimes Coach Latronica reports directly to US National
Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann who won the World Cup
in 1990 and every other major European trophies in a stellar
international career. Klinsmann is also considered among the
top 100 superstar players of all time as produced by world
soccer icon and Brazilian soccer legend Pele. The soccer guru
mentions all this as to let the soccer community know the
importance of such a visit and the impact it could have at the
international level.
Coach Latronica held the soccer player training center at
TAMIU Soccer Complex. He broke down the sessions in two
groups by age. The first group was the under 14 followed by
the under 17 group. Both groups were mixed as both girls and
boys were taking part in the soccer player clinic. This soccer
player clinic had players from the several different soccer clubs
here in Laredo. Youth soccer clubs such as Generation FC,
Liberty SC and Laredo Heat SC were well represented by some
of the city's best young under 14 talent. The under 17 group
had some of the city's high school level talent as there were
players from United, Alexander, United South and LBJ. The
soccer clinic was an invitation only and the players had to have
shown a certain level of play to get invited by the US scouting
staff.
The soccer players training center was very intense. After a
very good warm-up and stretch the fun was about to begin with
all it's fury. It did not mater what group you were in, it was at a
high level of play and at a fast pace. Players were tested on
their strength and conditioning. Their were tested on their level
of fundamentals with the soccer ball along with foot work and
ball control. Players were also tested on how well they can work
with other players on the field to see if they recognize passing
lanes and other on field opportunities. Ability to pass the ball
as well as their versatility to play all over the field was also
being observed. The players soccer IQ was also tested as
tactics in their play was being looked at to see how well they
move without the ball. You throw all that into the mix, then you
throw in the adrenaline of players trying their best to get
"noticed" or take advantage of this "opportunity" so you have a
stage for some exciting, interesting soccer play.
After both sessions were done, Coach Latronica spoke to
both groups and told them to keep working hard to achieve
their dreams. He reminded them that it take hard work and
dedication to reach the next level. He also advised them to play
against the best competition possible as that will only make you
a better player and raise your level of play as well. The players
who had not met each other before this were already making
plans to keep training together to maintain that intensity going.
Some were even talking about playing on each others club
traveling team to attain new levels of play. You could tell that
the kids enjoyed the intense workout as it brings out the best in
everyone.
The soccer guru spoke with Coach Anthony Latronica about
what qualities he looks for when scouting for the national team,
Coach Latronica said " first and foremost is their technical
ability. No matter if they are boy or girl or no matter what age
they are if they have a good technical foundation that is a
starting point. Obviously also if they have good tactical
knowledge of the game and a good feel for the game. So I say
that those three components but also the physical aspect as
well as the psychological".
The soccer guru asked him about the influx of the Latino
influence started by Coach Klinsmann at the national team
level and whether there was talent here in our city, he said "
that is a big part of why I'm doing what I'm doing at the
grassroots level, obviously as technical advisor for US Soccer
in the Texas region and as you know there is a large Hispanic
and cultural in Texas. That is why I'm making an effort to come
down to Laredo as well as El Paso and the valley to try and find
the best kids no matter the club affiliation, no matter what
demographic background and no matter what location".
The soccer guru asked Coach Latronica if the USA could hoist
one day the World Cup, he said "I hope so. The reason we are
making the push at this level is that hopefully 5 and 10 years
down the road we could look back and say that during our era
or during this time period we made a push to change and make
US soccer better". The soccer guru asked Coach Latronica if
he thinks school districts here locally should incorporate soccer
into the elementary level, he stated " I think it depends on who
the technical leadership is. I think first and foremost if you give
the right soccer coaches the right mind coaching the little ones
that is the most important.
Too often we put our best coaches with the older kids instead
with the younger kids. Depending on who and where those
coaches come from if we could put those coaches with the little
ones to set good foundation we are off to a good start". The
soccer guru asked him what he told the kids in their after
practice meeting, Coach Latronica said " US Soccer cares
about this soccer community in Laredo. This is my third trip
here to Laredo. I'm spending the time and the effort getting to
know this community. It is important that we get out into the
grassroots level of soccer in this town to find the best players
and that is why I'm here".
The soccer guru then spoke to Laredo Heat General
Manager JJ Vela about Coach Latronica's trip to see Laredo's
young talented players. He said "personally, having Anthony
visit us and conduct United States Soccer Federation Training
Centers here in Laredo is fanatastic. I appreciate his honesty
and professionalism as a Technical Advisor for the United
States Soccer Federation plus the fact that young soccer
players from our area are on his radar for a possible
opportunities with our mational teams makes everything we do
worth it.
At this point, after his third visit to Laredo in eight months, my
only hope is that everyone in the process, players, coaches
and parents understand the importance of the commitment
needed to compete at a very high level of soccer. At the end of
the day, we want players from Laredo to be given the
opportunity to be seen and we want these players to take
advantage of every opportunity given to them. This is only the
beginning, I know bigger and better things are on the horizon
for our young soccer talent".
The soccer guru knows that there is oodles of soccer talent
here in Laredo. We have had success at the high school level,
the college level as well as the PDL level. We have had two
former LBJ soccer players in Felix Garcia and Frank Lara play
on the US National U-20 team. We have had several kids
already get invited to higher level training centers like United's
Alexia Herrera and Alexander's Jorge Rocha. Youngsters
Mariana Avina, Emily Zapata and Diego Rocha have also
already taken part in specialized training centers as all there
are still young but are already getting noticed at the state and
national level. The time is now to take advantage of the world
class talent present on our community. So please go support
all soccer events whether they are elementary, middle school.
high school, college or PDL level games as the future stars are
right here right now.
Seeing first hand the pool of soccer players in Laredo was exciting since the USA TEAM SCOUTS and
Player development were in town to look at the Laredo soccer talent. There is Antony Latronica , then
Tab Ramos and then the head trainer for the USA National team .That is the order in our countries soccer
program and we had Antony Latronica looking at our young talented soccer players. Here is the article
and interview the Soccer Guru conducted. PICTURES by the Publisher and Photojournalist for Texas Lrd
Sports Wire News Network .
Player development were in town to look at the Laredo soccer talent. There is Antony Latronica , then
Tab Ramos and then the head trainer for the USA National team .That is the order in our countries soccer
program and we had Antony Latronica looking at our young talented soccer players. Here is the article
and interview the Soccer Guru conducted. PICTURES by the Publisher and Photojournalist for Texas Lrd
Sports Wire News Network .
