Local Youth Soccer Talent Runs Deep
QUIZ TIME:
Question: What percentage of the U.S. Men’s National Team preliminary roster for the upcoming World Cup has Southern California roots in youth club soccer?
Answer: Almost one-third.
That’s no surprise to soccer-crazy players and parents here who’ve watched first-hand as the thousands of club, high school and college teams annually crank out talented boys and girls who wind up making their mark nationally and internationally.
Former Cal South Youth Club Players
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Landon Donovan |
Maurice Edu |
Chad Marshall |
Jonathan Bornstein |
|
The list of former local CalSouth players from various local youth club soccer teams includes
- Carlos Bocanegra from Alta Loma, CA, RC United and Rennes (France)
- Jonathan Bornstein from Los Alamitos, CA, Irvine Strikers and Chivas USA For more on Bornstein, read his player profile on SN - Jonathan Bornstein
- Steve Cherundolo from San Diego, Nomads and Hanover 96 (Germany)
- Landon Donovan from Redlands, CA, California Heat and LA Galaxy
- Maurice Edu from Fontana, CA, Mission Viejo Pateadores and Rangers (Scotland)
- Benny Feilhaber from Irvine, CA, Irvine Strikers and AGF Aarhus (Denmark)
- Sacha Kljestan from Huntington Beach, CA, Cal South’s Olympic Development Program, Seton Hall University and Chivas USA
- Chad Marshall from Riverside, CA, Irvine Strikers and Columbus Crew who is currently on the injured list with a hamstring injury
- Robbie Rogers from Huntington Beach, CA, South Bay SC Black and Columbus Crew.
 |
| Robbie Rogers |
“Congratulations to each of these nine talented players,” said Johnnie Garza, president of Cal South. “This is an exciting time in their careers and for soccer in the U.S. The success of these players is a validation the Cal South system and the strength of our coaching and depth of soccer talent in Southern California.”
“We wish our alumni and the U.S. Men’s team great success and will join the world in watching the World Cup games,” added Garza.
The U.S. National Men’s team has reported to training camp in Princeton, New Jersey and will play two games in a send-off series, after which the final 23 team members will be chosen to head to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. team ranks as # 14 in FIFA's world rankings. The U.S. team gained respect last summer in the Confederations Cup when the Americans advanced to their first final in a FIFA tournament. While U.S. eventually lost to Brazil in the final, our country’s team upset top ranking Spain in the semifinals.
When World Cup play begins, the national team will be in Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria. The U.S. will open its sixth consecutive World Cup against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, and will follow that game with matches against Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.
Cal South, the official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation, United States Adult Soccer Association and United States Youth Soccer represents 230 member leagues and clubs comprising membership of more than 160,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. Cal South helps create the opportunity for youth soccer success in southern California.
ShareThis
Print
