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TNERS R A P T S E THE B D N U O F RUE T AND E S S M E O C C C OF SU REAMS S D R G A N E I Y K 2 A OF M HAD 1 S E L V A A O H G E R W ILL OU F L U F S U TO HELP SUEﾃ前 ALIANZA
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PROUD TO HYDRATE
©2015 The Coca-Cola Company. POWERADE® is a registered trademark and POWERADE ZERO™ is a trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
©2015 The Coca-Cola Company. POWERADE® is a registered trademark and POWERADE ZERO™ is a trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
Habla con tu Agente de Allstate.
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© 2015 FMF™ © 2015 Allstate Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
P R OTÉGE TE DE
WELCOME TO ALIANZA DE FUTBOL 2015 2015 will be a cause for celebration for all who take part in Alianza de Futbol, not only for our 12th anniversary, but also for our new partnerships and tournaments that allow us to continue benefiting the community, providing Hispanic soccer players with endless opportunities to succeed in the sport. In addition to our signature tournaments, RAM® Copa Alianza and Copita Alianza, now sponsored by Telemundo®, we have joined forces with Coca-Cola® to host the most important youth soccer tournament in the world: Copa Coca-Cola®. Furthermore, in response to the great talent that exists among women who practice and play soccer, we will launch our first ever female-centered soccer tournament, Alianza Femenil. It is a great honor to have a partnership with POWERADE®, giving the tryouts a new name POWERADE® Sueño Alianza, the largest Hispanic scouting event that aims to showcase the best talent across the country where the top scouts from some of the key teams of the LIGA MX, MLS and soccer federations of Mexico and United States are looking to recruit the cream of the crop, no matter their country of origin. We are well aware of the U.S. National Team players such as Dennis Flores of Club León, Julio Morales of Coras FC, and Edwin Lara from the Mexico U17 National Team and Pachuca who came about through the POWERADE® Sueño Alianza tryouts, they are not the only ones and we want to discover more. Get ready—it could be you! 2015 will be a year of new challenges, but we are confident that united as one we will overcome them all.
CONTENTS
OUR 12TH YEAR 6 THE MOST COVETED CUP 8 THE NEW COPITA 10 LADIES TIME 12 WORLD CLASS 16 EVERYTHING FOR SOCCER 24 THE VALUE OF ALIANZA U 26
WE WELCOME THE EXCITEMENT THAT CAN ONLY BE CREATED THROUGH SOCCER! RICHARD COPELAND & BRAD ROTHENBERG
Founders of Alianza de Futbol
info@brcgrp.com SAN FRANCISCO
MEXICO CITY
475 GATE 5 RD.,
ANDRES BELLO 10,
SAUSALITO, CA.
INTERIOR 401, COL. POLANCO
ZP 94965
CP. 11560
Alianza de Futbol Hispano a BRC GROUP property Photo: Jorge Mar tínez, Germán Alegría, Jorge Nieto, Saúl Molina, Pablo Salazar, Miguel Zavala, Lepoldo Smith y Femexfut/Imago7
OUR
12TH YEAR
In 2015, we are celebrating 12 years of success and growth as we join forces with two new sponsors, POWERADE® and Coca-Cola®, and introduce two new tournaments to our tour: Copa Coca-Cola® and Alianza Femenil. Thanks to POWERADE® Sueño Alianza, the most talented soccer players throughout the country are recognized. Meanwhile, Copa Coca-Cola®, Telemundo® Copita Alianza and Alianza Femenil encourage youth to fulfill their dreams of playing soccer while exposing them to a high level of competition. With 7 months of non-stop soccer ahead, from April to October, culminating with our signature event, POWERADE® Sueño Alianza National Showcase, a week long exhibition of raw talent and passion. Alianza de Futbol returns in 2015 filled with pride and a renewed desire to create even more opportunities for participants to realize their dreams, from the youngest players in the U-6 category, to those with high hopes of playing professionally and those players who crave a chance to hold the famed RAM® Copa Alianza trophy.
San Francisco Denver
Los Angeles
Phoenix
El Paso
HERE WE COME! TOUR 2015
PHOENIX
Westside Sports Complex APRIL 25 & 26
DALLAS
Trinity View Park MAY 2 & 3
HOUSTON Cullen Park MAY 23 to 25
ATLANTA
Wade Walker Park JUNE 20 & 21
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NUEVA YORK
Flushing Meadows Park JULY 11 & 12
DENVER
Gates Soccer Complex JULY 18 &19
CHICAGO
SAN FRANCISCO
Morgan Hill Sports Center SEPTEMBER 5 to 7
EL PASO
Westside Sports Complex SEPTEMBER 12 & 13
MIAMI
Naperville Polo Grounds AUGUST 1 & 2
Amelia Earhart Park SEPTEMBER 26 & 27
LOS ANGELES
POWERADE® SUEÑO ALIANZA NATIONAL SHOWCASE
San Bernardino Soccer Complex AUGUST 8 & 9
OCTOBER 2015
New York Chicago
Atlanta Dallas
Houston Miami
ALIANZA IN NUMBERS
SUEﾃ前 ALIANZA
+1,250 +30,000 +1,200 TEAMS
PLAYERS
CITIES
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+43
STATES REPRESENTED
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THE KINGS OF 2014
Meet the 2014 champions of the largest amateur hispanic soccer tournament in the U.S., RAM® Copa Alianza.
THE MOST COVETED CUP
DALLAS Final: Partizán vs NTX Rayados
CHAMPION: PARTIZAN (2-0)
PHOENIX Final: Sonora vs. Xolos Tucson
CHAMPION: SONORA (4-3 PENALTIES)
DENVER Final: Guadalajara vs. Valencia
CHAMPION: GUADALAJARA (1-0)
ATLANTA Final: SRP vs. Pumas
CHAMPION: SRP (2-0)
HOUSTON Finalists: Regals FC y Puebla Blue * Suspended due to weather
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The RAM® Copa Alianza has reached its 12th year. Once again, 2015 will bring together the best amateur teams from 10 cities in the United States to compete for the most coveted cup. Our tour will kick-off in Phoenix on April 25th, then will make its way through nine other major cities in the U.S. in search of the next victors. Last year, we witnessed several exciting tournaments, however, a team worth mentioning is Necaxa Salinas. During the San Francisco Super Group championship, they dominated their opponent, Jérez, 5-1 in the final match. This year there will be over $100,000 in prizes at stake and more than 250 teams are expected to participate from all over the states, including several border cities of Mexico. Previous champions will not give up their titles so easily without putting up a strong fight, but there can only be one victor in each city. Over the past 12 years, we have seen many great rivalries take place, favorites defeated, and underdogs triumph. This year, after six months of waiting, the action returns and the battle for the RAM® Copa begins!
2015 CALENDAR
+$100,000
25 APRIL
Prize Money
2 MAY
PHOENIX
20 JUNE
ATLANTA
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DC Final: Oriente Petrolero vs. Pumas
DALLAS
CHAMPION: ORIENTE PETROLERO (3-1)
23 MAY
HOUSTON
JULY
DENVER
1
AUGUST
CHICAGO
CHICAGO Final: Morelia vs. Atletico Nacional
CHAMPION: MORELIA (2-1)
8
AUGUST
L.A.
LOS ANGELES Final: San Nicolas vs. Intek FC
5
SEPTEMBER
CHAMPION: SAN NICOLAS (2-1)
S.F.
12
SEPTEMBER
EL PASO
SAN FRANCISCO
26
SEPTEMBER
MIAMI
Final: Super Group Necaxa Salinas vs. Jérez
CHAMPION: NECAXA (5-1)
EL PASO Final: Municipio vs. Hooligans
CHAMPION: MUNICIPIO (2-1)
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PASSION: GO BIG OR GO HOME! AGE HAS NO LIMITS IN SOCCER. THE YOUTH OF THE TELEMUNDO COPITA ALIANZA WILL PROVE IT IN 2015. The players of Telemundo® Copita Alianza always show up! For these young players, age does not dictate their level of performance nor their participation at this competitive level. Year after year, they continue to come prepared to demonstrate their skills and exhibit their passion on the field. Going on 7 years, Telemundo® Copita Alianza remains one of the largest and most important soccer tournaments for youth in the Hispanic community. In 2015, Telemundo® Copita Alianza returns with a new sponsor and an added challenge of continuing to provide youth with great memories and more reasons to smile this season. We turn to Telemundo®, who has decided to support the dreams of youth in one of their most important stages of development. This year awaits the participation of over 11,000 players and more than 500 teams. The tour will start in Phoenix in April and conclude in Miami, Florida in October after reaching the most prominent Hispanic soccer communities. The tournament is open to teams within the categories of U-6 to U-18. Telemundo® Copita Alianza is a great example of a traditional soccer tournament in the Hispanic community that not only provides a high level of competition and prestige amongst the participating teams, but also a weekend of fun and unity that help strengthen families. This year the two finalists will receive uniforms, medals, and trophies (first place team only), but most importantly they will be able to fulfill their dreams. Don’t Miss Out! 10
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Telemundo® Copita Alianza celebrates
YEARS +11,000 players
+600 teams
2015 CALENDAR
25 APRIL
PHOENIX
23
2 MAY
DALLAS
MAY
HOUSTON
20 JUNE
ATLANTA
11 JULY
NY
18 JULY
DENVER
1
AUGUST
CHICAGO
8
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
L.A.
5
26
SEPTEMBER
MIAMI
SEPTEMBER
12
EL PASO
Categories
S.F.
•U6 •U8 • U 10 • U 12 • U 16 • U 18
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LADIES, YOUR TIME IS NOW ALIANZA FEMENIL IS BORN, THE NEWEST TOURNAMENT FOR THE BEST FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO COMPETE. For the first time in its twelve years of existence, Alianza de Futbol Hispano has established a tournament for women to be held in the top U.S. cities with prominent Hispanic population— Alianza Femenil. The tournament comes at a time of great relevance when more and more Latin American countries are turning to the U.S., a dominant figure in women’s soccer, to fill their countries’ national teams with players who crave to represent their country of origin. Two categories will be offered: Women’s Open and a U-19 category. The tour will commence in Phoenix on the 25-26th of April and will end in Miami, Florida on the 26th-27th of September. “This is yet another example of how Alianza de Futbol supports the growth of soccer in the Hispanic community, and now we turn to the ladies,” explains Brad Rothenberg, co-founder of Alianza de Futbol Hispano. Alianza Femenil will have a strong presence in 2015 — “we are anxious to discover the best female soccer players in the United States,” adds Rothenberg. Finalist prizes will include uniforms, medals, and a trophy (for first place team only).
2015 CALENDAR
25 APRIL
PHOENIX
1
23 MAY
CHICAGO
HOUSTON
2 MAY
DALLAS
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SEPTEMBER
8
AUGUST
MIAMI
L.A.
18 JULY
20 JUNE
ATLANTA
12
26
AUGUST
DENVER
SEPTEMBER
5
SEPTEMBER
S.F.
12
EL PASO
‘OUR DOORS ARE OPEN’
2015 ALIANZA FEMENIL MAKES ITS DEBUT
+3,000 players
+160 teams
Categories:
Open & U 19
We have never closed our doors and we will continue to keep them open for all the young female players in the U.S., they are important to the sport.” LEO CUELLAR, Head Coach of the Mexican Women’s soccer team
It is not uncommon to see Mexican-American players representing the women’s team of Mexico. Their advantage, states Leonardo Cuéllar, is being raised in a country whose women’s soccer infrastructure is superior to that of even Mexico’s. “Women’s soccer in the United States is a matter of equality, culture, and participation of female players all over the country. For example, young girls and boys start playing organized soccer on mixed teams where on the same team you would see boys and girls both participating. By the age of seven, they tend to separate, but they have had a fair start and from there participation develops,” concludes Cuellar. Monica Gonzalez, ambassador for Alianza de Futbol and Alianza U—who was born in the U.S. and played with Mexico in the 1999 FIFA World Cup and 2004 Olympics, is a great example of the Mexican-American talent integrated into the Mexican team. Although the tendency for Mexico to recruit U.S. born players with dual citizenship is decreasing as Mexico finds more talent at home, Cuéllar will not close the door to skilled individuals desiring to wear the green jersey—or to the possibility to discover these ladies at the Alianza Femenil.
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WORLD
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CLASS
IN 2015, POWERADE® JOINS ALIANZA DE FUTBOL
TO FUEL THE DREAMS OF THE MOST TALENTED HISPANIC SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE UNITED STATES
1
Sign up at alianzadefutbol.com. It’s FREE.
THE PROCESS
2
Attend a tryout and become one of the top 40 players to play in the local showcase.
3
Earn a spot and join the best 48 players in the nation at the POWERADE® Sueño Alianza National Showcase.
4
Compete to win an invitation to practice and play for the LIGA MX, FMF or US Soccer.
5
Fulfill your dream and play professionally with a club or the National Team of your country.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS MINEROS
MINEROS MINEROS
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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF ALIANZA, TWO ALIANZA PLAYERS THAT WERE CALLED TO THE UNITED STATES FIRST TEAM
HISTORY MADE! When Dennis Flores and Miguel Palafox made their professional debuts with Club León on March 12, 2014, Alianza de Futbol experienced one of the best days in its history. This would mark the first time that two POWERADE® Sueño Alianza alumni would play together in an official match of the first division of Mexico. The good news for Flores kept coming. He was summoned to play for the U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team —he made his first goal on August 6th against the Bahamas and played a friendly match against Brazil in October. His performance did not go unnoticed when he was summoned to the first team of the United States by Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, himself. He joined the team for
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the first matches of 2015, with the Copa de Oro in sight. Another notable moment for Alianza de Futbol was when another POWERADE® Sueño Alianza alumni, Julio Morales, a Coras Tepic player and runner up in the Liga de Ascenso in Mexico- was summoned by Klinsmann to join the USMNT. Flores and Morales became the first players to come through the ranks of Alianza de Futbol and make a first team call up. Their age makes them both eligible to join the U-23 USMNT as they look earn a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, but more importantly, their call up further confirms what we at Alianza de Futbol already know: they are players of high caliber.
Julio Morales
FORWARD, 21 YEARS OLD SAN JOSE, CA
SUEÑO ALIANZA
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“Playing for the United States is what I had in mind and it is a dream come true. I will do everything in my power to impress Jurgen Klinsmann so that he will put me to play and have me in mind for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. I will not let this opportunity go to waste,” states Morales, a San Jose, CA native. “It wasn’t the first time I had been called up to join the national team, but until now it hadn’t been possible. —he was previously summoned to play for the Mexican National team by Sergio Almaguer— it is indeed the first time he has been invited by United States, the country where he was born. “Tab Ramos (the U-23 head coach) contacted me first. He said that there would be a call up in early January; then about a month and half ago, Jürgen Klinsmann called me to ask me if I was interested and I said yes.” “I love both countries, but right now the U.S. is giving me a chance and I am not going to waste it.”
Dennis Flores
MIDFIELDER, 21 YEARS OLD PASADENA, CA
“I am still the same, nothing has changed, although it is a professional career for me, I feel that the most important thing is that I’m still doing what I love: I am still working hard”, he says. “Humility is key and these experiences are unforgettable.” “The time I have spent training and playing with Leon and the USMNT has definitely influenced me, I feel I have improved my tactical skills, I can’t explain it but I have really taken all I have learned and put it to use.” “I am so excited; I’m fond of my country and grateful for the chance to wear its jersey and represent it. It is always an honor to be called up. My dream is to play a World Cup with my national team.”
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Edwin Lara
FROM ALIANZA TO THE MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM
15 YEARS OLD, DEFENDER BERKELEY, CA
THE LIVES OF EDWIN LARA AND LUIS TAVARES CHANGED IN VERY LITTLE TIME THANKS TO THE POWERADE® SUEÑO ALIANZA TRYOUTS. THEY NOW HAVE HOPES TO PLAY IN A WORLD CUP WITH MEXICO.
I will always be thankful to Alianza for helping me get noticed by the club teams because this led to an invitation from Tuzos and gave me the chance to make the Mexican National Team.”
LIST OF PLAYERS ON NATIONAL TEAMS IN THE HISTORY OF POWERADE® SUEÑO ALIANZA 18
To understand the impact of the POWERADE® Sueño Alianza tryouts, one can simply look at how the lives of Edwin Lara and Luis Tavares changed soon after they were discovered by the scouts of the Mexican National Soccer Team. Both players once hoped one day they would stand out amongst the dozens of other guys who shared the same desire. They made the first cut, were invited to play for a team from the Mexican League and were later included in the group of talented few who had earned the honor to wear the tri-colored Mexican National Team jersey. Lara plays for Pachuca and Tavares plays for Santos Laguna. Both players were born in the United States, born of Mexican parents and are now living the dream they had ever since they began playing soccer. “Alianza de Futbol helped bring the club teams to see me and there I was chosen. It’s a dream come true, I feel great pride because ever since I was a child I used to see Mexican National Team games. I remember watching Jared (Borgetti) and I was inspired since then,” said Edwin, native of Berkeley, California whose immediate goal is to be a part of the team that will find it’s place in the U-17 World Cup, which takes place this October in Chile. Luis’ life since being noticed in the tryouts is hard to believe. He has reached two of the goals he has worked so hard for: he plays for Santos Laguna as well as the Mexican National Team, while maintaining his United States citizenship. “Alianza changed everything for me, it helped me live my dream, but also become a better person,” Luis added.
USA DENNIS FLORES Generation 2013 U.S.National Team U 23 and 2014 & 2015
JONATHAN GONZÁLEZ Generaction 2013 U 15 Team
JESUS VAZQUEZ Generation 2013 U 20 Team
LUIS ARREOLA Generation 2013 U 15 Team
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JORGE CALIX Generation 2013 U 15 Team
EDUARDO MORENO Generation 2010 U 17 Team.
JULIO MORALES Generation 2010 Senior National Team 2014
BENJI JOYA Generation 2009 U 20. Played the 2013 U 20 World Cup.
Luis Tavares
16 YEARS OLD, MIDFIELDER STOCKTON, CA
I thought it would have been much more difficult to play in Mexico not being Mexican, but it’s not as difficult as I used to think it was and thanks to Alianza I was able to do it.” Josimar Coreas, Forward, Annandale, VA
We live here and do a lot of things together. We both came from the same Alianza de Futbol program and we are united like brothers.” Miguel Palafox, Defender, Los Angeles, CA
SALVADORIAN PASSION JOSIMAR COREAS AND MIGUEL PALAFOX NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE DISCOVERED. THANKS TO ALIANZA AND CLUB LEON, BOTH NOW HAVE HIGH HOPES OF REACHING THEIR LONGEST YEARNING: PLAYING ON THE SALVADORIAN NATIONAL TEAM.
Alianza changed everything for me. It helped me live my dream, but also become a better person because it’s about the person first then the soccer player.”
Josimar Coreas and Miguel Palafox share the same roots as well as the same dreams. Salvadorian blood runs through their veins and they both dream of playing in the Salvadorian national team jersey. Although the two traveled by different paths, they arrived at the same destination: Club Leon, whose scouts noticed them thanks to the POWERADE® Sueño Alianza tryouts. While they are not the same age, they met as a result of the tryouts and discovered they had a lot more in common. “We were always talking about El Salvador and how we would love to play on the national team,” recalls Miguel, who was the first of the two to make the team and debut in the last tournament with Gustavo Matosas as the coach. “This is something big, I still cannot believe it happened, but it happened for a reason and now I must keep working hard,” added Josimar.
MEXICO DANIEL CUEVAS Generation 2009 U 20. Played the 2013 U 20 World Cup. IAN HINES Generation: 2009 U 20 Team
EDWIN LARA Generation 2011 U 17 Team. Qualified for the 2015 U 17 World Cup in Chile
HONDURAS LUIS TAVARES Generation 2013 U 16 Team.
DAVID SILVA Generation 2010 U 17 Team.
JULIO MORALES Generation 2011. U 20. Played the 2013 U 17 World Cup.
VICTOR SÁNCHEZ Generation 2008 U 17 Team.
JUNIOR SANDOVAL Generation 2009 U 20 Team. JORGE CALIX Generation 2013 U 20 Team.
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MEXICAN LEAGUE TALENT
POWERADE® Sueño Alianza is committed to showcasing the best youth soccer talent and facilitating the scouting process for Mexican league teams. Thanks to the POWERADE® Sueño Alianza tryouts, many talented soccer players born in the U.S., of Latin-American parents, have had the opportunity to play in various categories of teams in the Mexican soccer league. The majority of players scouted from these U.S. tryouts have been brought onto play with one team in particular, Club Leon. This team has scouted five players; however, several other players have landed spots with at least ten other top teams in Mexico, and there is growing interest from Mexican league teams looking to scout new players north of the border.
20
+50
have signed professional contracts since 2008
+18
Of these are active players
+20
Players have received invitations to national league teams from the EU, Honduras and Mexico
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*inPlayers the process of registering.
Jonathan Navarro
MIDFIELDER, SAN JOSE, CA Generation: 2014
I have a lot of respect for Alianza for giving me the opportunity to get to where I am, it is something I would not have done without their help.”
*
Sergio Martínez
Luis Alberto Carrillo FORWARD, TYLER, TX Generation: 2014
*
I owe everything to Alianza, I am very happy to be where I am, and I will take full advantage of it. Alianza has helped me very much, they have given me the opportunity to follow a dream (to be a pro soccer player) hopefully I will accomplish that.”
DEFENDER, STOCKTON, CA Generation: 2014
Alianza has provided a lot of support to me, it opened the door to an opportunity to reach my dream. Without them it would have been much more difficult and I would never have had the opportunity to be seen by different Mexican club teams.”
Giansebastián Goicochea FORWARD, QUEENS, NY Generation: 2014
*
I didn’t want to live my life wondering if I could have been a professional player without at least trying. Which is why I went to the Alianza tryouts, and now I am playing with Atlas.”
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Ramón Ceja
FORWARD, LAS VEGAS, NV Generation: 2013
Everything I sacrificed was worth it because now I’m living my dream…playing soccer with a professional club. I wake up each morning, train and play at a highly competitive level surrounded by professional teammates.”
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Jesús Vázquez
DEFENDER, SANTA MARIA, CA Generation: 2013
My life has changed drastically since attending the tryouts. Without Alianza the doors would not be open for me; they have very good connections.”
Guillermo Guerrero
GOALKEEPER, HOUSTON, TX Generation: 2014
When opportunity presents itself take it, especially if it involves playing for Club Leon. I was further motivated to go to Leon after seeing the success of Dennis Flores and Miguel Palafox.”
TE KLOESE ON ALIANZA:
“SCOUTING FOR TALENT” DENNIS TE KLOESE, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS IN MEXICO, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ALIANZA DE FUTBOL HAS BROUGHT THEM CLOSER TO MEXICAN ROOTED PLAYERS.
“Alianza has provided many young players in U.S. and Mexico with the opportunity to follow their dreams,” Te Kloese added. “It is important to This year there recognize the value in having a prowill be several gram like Alianza; their events are tournaments well organized and are always filled where talent with high expectations and aspirafrom Sueño tions.” Alianza will In 2013, Julio Morales became the compete with first player detected at POWERADE the Mexican Sueño Alianza to play with the U-20 youth national Mexican National team in the 2013 teams. Turkey FIFA World Championship Cup. In 2015, Edwin Lara will join U-17 Mexican National team that will play in Chile’s World Cup this October. “It is important for us to monitor the athletic development of our young talent and keep track of their performance before allowing them to represent our national team and have the prestige of wearing the Mexican jersey,” Dennis Te Kloese. Te Kloese also highlights Frankie Olvera’s participation with the Mexican Futsal team in a four-match international tournament held in Thailand. “My advice to these boys is to chase their goals, not their dreams. Do it match by match and always have a clear aim and a plan that will allow you to fulfill that. To play with a national team is one of the best experiences you can have as soccer players,” he concludes.
THIS 2015
Alianza has allowed us to detect these players first hand by allowing us to attend their scouting events, states the Dutch executive and one of the most renowned scouts in Mexican soccer.” Dennis Te Kloese
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COPA COCA-COLA® AND ALIANZA DE FUTBOL UNITE THIS YEAR TO ORGANIZE A GRAND TOURNAMENT HOSTING MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION SOCCER PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORD. It all began in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1989. What started out as a goal to develop the local talents and promote an active and healthy lifestyle among the youth soon converted into a tournament involving more than 1.3 million women and men from all around the globe. Coca-Cola’s first tournament was held in Bulawayo, teams from 10 provinces competed. Today, Copa Coca-Cola® is recognized in 60 countries, including Mexico where its name was adopted in agreement with both the Mexican and U.S. Soccer federations. Since its conception, more than 80,000 schools have participated in Copa Coca-Cola® whose mission is to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and spread values like teamwork, friendship and respect. “Copa Coca-Cola® is more than a game, it’s an opportunity for adolescents to stay active while playing the sport they love,” says Hande Aksoy, Coca Cola’s Global Marketing Manager. “We want to inspire young players to live an active and healthy life, build lasting friendships and go after their dreams.” Brad Rothenberg, co-founder of Alianza de Futbol, believes this union with Copa Coca-Cola® will mean a stronger impulse for programs that Alianza has already done in the United States, and this will serve as an open window to display more talent that exists in the country. “We have a long and rich tradition that coincides with the values of Copa Coca-Cola®,” Rothenberg said. “In addition, both companies are driven by their passion for soccer and the community,” he added.
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THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT WORLDWIDE
We have built a program not only defined by the competition and the sport, but also to represent our values and leave a lasting legacy“, Hande Aksoy, Coca Cola’s Global Marketing Manager HANDE AKSOY, Global Marketing Director, Coca-Cola®
T
Did you know?
CALENDAR 2015
• Héctor Moreno, Mexican soccer star and defender of Espanyol de Barcelona, played in Copa Coca-Cola®. • The Copa Coca-Cola® finals are hosted at infamous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. • In 2014, 116 boys and girls from around the world were selected to participate in the first Copa Coca Cola® International Camp in Brazil.
25 APRIL
2 MAY
PHOENIX
DALLAS
23 MAY
20 JUNE
HOUSTON
1928
1989
Coca-Cola® signs its first sponsoring of a sporting event, as the first sponsor of the Olympic Games.
The first soccer tournament sponsored by Coca-Cola® is born in Zimbabwe.
ATLANTA
11 JULY
18 JULY
N.Y
DENVER
1
AUGUST
8
AUGUST
CHICAGO
L.A.
5
SEPTEMBER
S.F.
SEPTEMBER
26
SEPTEMBER
12
EL PASO
MIAMI
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…
24
Mexico adopts the name Copa Coca-Cola® and it still remains.
Currently
more than
60
1998
+80
Thousand talented players from different school have participated in this tournament.
teams per city
+1.3
million
boys and girls around the world participate in Copa Coca-Cola®
16 countries organize Copa CocaCola®.
2014
The first year that the Copa Coca-Cola International Camp took place, 116 young boys and girls participated from over 28 countries.
boys
8 girls
U14
Category Only ALL PARTICIPATING TEAMS WILL RECEIVE UNIFORMS AND A SOCCER BALL! In addition: • Trophy and medals for the first place team. • Medals for the second place team
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SHAPE THEIR FUTURE
ALIANZA SCHOLAR
This past season I trained hard, I wanted to be able to make a difference on the field and be influential in every game.”
Cylus Sandoval Student at Sacramento State University “I chose to go to college instead of looking to become a professional player right away because I value education. I know a career in professional soccer can be very short, and I felt that having a plan for a career after college would be necessary” shares Cylus. “Besides, I really liked the campus, the soccer facilities, the coaching staff, and my teammates. After attending the 2012 Sueño Alianza National Showcase, I became a more confident player and each day I have gained more trust in my skills and talent,” he explains. “As a matter of fact, that was my main objective as a freshman: to adapt. I know that there are a lot of players who jumped from club to university soccer and have found it to be a difficult and very distinct level of play. My goal was to learn! To ask questions; essentially, acquire the knowledge required to help my team as much as possible. I worked hard during trainings to achieve the level of play my coaching staff expected of me to succeed on the field.”
CYLUS chose to attend Sacramento State because of its athletic program and opportunity to continue in higher education.
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I firmly believe that as soccer players we can strive for success and improvement everyday, and that is my goal.”
Thanks to Alianza U, scholar athletes and their families are counseled on the process of applying to and being accepted into a university, finding scholarships and are given information concerning the recruitment process. 2014 was a year of accomplishments for several of our Alianza Scholar Athletes: two of them, Martin Melchor and Kevin Partida, won titles with their respective university’s teams, while others, like Cylus Sandoval and Leo Folla, overcame obstacles and still managed to play several games, and became familiar with NCAA soccer. Each one of them recognizes the impact that Alianza U had on their academic careers; especially since the advice they received has allowed them to not only determine their best option for continuing their education, but has allowed them to playing the sport they love: soccer.
ATHLETES Leo Folla Student at the University of Albany, State University of New York
“Thanks to Alianza de Futbol, I have had the opportunity to play soccer at the highest collegiate level in the country. I have to thank God and my family for helping me chase my dream of becoming a professional soccer player and getting an education. “Since I found Alianza [in the summer of 2013], my life has improved and I have had chances I never thought I would,” adds Leo, “The Big Apple is known to house many dreamers and very successful people. Anyone could think that there are lots of chances in life but many do not get the chance to fulfill their dreams. For me, college was not among my priorities, nor did I believe I would ever play soccer in college. “Once Alianza came to my life, I was taught that I had the chance to follow my dream of playing soccer. The perk was that I could also continue my education. Without Alianza U, I would not be here, competing in of one of the Division I conference of the NCAA,” he proudly says. LEO studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York and is a part of the Great Danes men’s soccer program.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALIANZA U IN 2014, THE FOLLOWING THREE PLAYERS ACHIEVED THEIR DREAM OF GETTING ACCEPTED TO A UNIVERSITY AND CONTINUING TO PLAY SOCCER AT THE SAME TIME. THESE ARE THEIR STORIES.
At the beginning, I just wanted to learn and play as much as possible. But I thank God I was able to go beyond my expectations and redefine them with such significant achievements. “
Martín Melchor Student at Coastal Carolina University “My first year at Coastal Carolina was an unforgettable experience, I learned so much and enjoyed every moment. Alianza helped me to get here but it is my family who motivates me and showers me with their support. They work very hard so that I can have an opportunity like this one. “The main lesson for me was realizing that I was more than capable of competing against the best players in college soccer. And, certainly, the best example of this was when I scored the winning goal against Florida Gulf Coast University in the NCAA National Tournament (November 20, 2014). “At the beginning, I just wanted to learn and play as much as possible. But I thank God I was able to go beyond my expectations and redefine them with such significant achievements. “ MARTÍN will always remember his first year in the NCAA and scoring one of his best goals of the postseason.
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THE GREATEST SUPPORT
Eduardo Ayala
Kendra Arriaga-Castellanos
“You must be consistent”
“The sport is important”
“Alianza U and Verizon have a special place in my heart. Belonging to a university like Berkeley carries a large financial burden on a guy like me, coming from a low-income family, but their decision to give me a scholarship of $20,000 has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders. They made my life easier and gave me a reason to feel proud, and I will try my hardest to make everyone else proud.” “For everyone who dreams big and struggles to become a professional, be it as an athlete or in a career, it is very important to maintain focused on one’s goals.”
“The scholarship of $10,000 that I won has given me the funds necessary to continue attending UCLA, and I feel very relieved because I no longer have to worry about tuition and I can concentrate fully on my studies.” “Alianza U and Verizon give students the help necessary to reach higher education and at the same time it reminds us that sports, like soccer, are equally as important to our education.” “For those who want to attend a university, consider the importance of good grades while you practice a sport.”
Student at UC Berkeley
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Student at UCLA
THE ALIANZA U SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNIZED TALENT IN YOUNG HISPANICS AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THEIR COLLEGE STUDIES.
SUCCESS ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE GREAT EFFORT THEY DEMONSTRATED ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM, BROTHERS MORALES LOYOLA OBTAINED AN ALIANZA U SCHOLARSHIP.
Christian Ambrose Castillo Student at Adams State University
“I feel so relieved” “The scholarship of $10,000 that I won thanks to Alianza U and Verizon allowed me to select my top choice in universities amid all the other schools where I had been accepted. “Its incredible that organizations like Alianza U and Verizon grant scholarships and encourage the dreams of young hispanics. What they do sets a good example for other organizations and businesses. “Soccer has been a huge part of my life and if I can play while I attend school it will make my studies more enjoyable. Everything you learn while you play soccer, like working hard and being disciplined, are attributed necessary to reach your academic goals.”
Arnold and Alan share the same last name: Morales Loyola. Both play soccer and have the same position: goalie. They were born in Queretaro, Mexico, but live in Naples, Florida. They have felt the cruelness of discrimination in the U.S., but they were smart enough to overcome it. How so? By being model students. Both have exceeded grade standards in high school; Arnold with a 4.8 and Alan a 4.0. All this has given them a lot of satisfaction, one of them most recently, as they were recipients of the Alianza U scholarship presented by Verizon, a program which provides the tools they need to succeed in academics. For Arnold, 17 years of age, having received this help “represents a great opportunity, its a very useful resource which calls for me to be more proactive in doing my part so that they can continue helping me out.” Alan goes a little deeper in his response. In addition to thanking the support of Verizon and Alianza de Futbol, he is certain that this type of recognition helps get rid of the negative stereotypes related to latino students, which persists in the Anglo-Saxon population.
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ALIANZA U TOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS OUR 2014 HALL OF FAME Alianza de Futbol and Alianza U not only recognize athletic talent, but also high academic performance. For this reason, we recognize and honor those high-achieving student athletes who participated in our 2014 POWERADE® Sueño Alianza tour. Without a doubt, their achievement is worth double the merit. First, they had to be amongst the top 40 players selected by the best scouts for Liga MX teams and then they had to demonstrate their academic achievements. YEAR OF GRADUATION 2013
Aziz Allanidkim Forward Phoenix, AZ • GPA 3.2 Jose Garcia, Forward Wheeling, IL • GPA 3 YEAR OF GRADUATION 2014
Brandon Rodriguez Defender Naples, FL • GPA 4 Juan Perez Defender Naples, FL • GPA 3.8 Pablo Osornio Midfielder Davie, FL • GPA 3.8 Jonathan Garduño Goalkeeper Houston • GPA 3.6 Guillermo Guerrero Goalkeeper Houston, TX • GPA 3.4
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YEAR OF GRADUATION 2015 Arnold Morales Goalkeeper Naples, Fl. • GPA 4.8
Alejandro Flores Forward Gilroy, CA • GPA 4.5 René Arroyo Goalkeeper Santa Fe, NM • GPA 4.1 Daniel Nuñez Forward Las Vegas, NV • GPA 4 Alan Morales Goalkeeper Naples, FL • GPA 4 Erasmo de Torres Midfielder Suitland, MD • GPA 4 Germán Ayala Forward Prescott Valley, AZ • GPA 3.8 Mac Vázquez, Forward Hesperia, CA • GPA 3.8
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Christian Calderón Midfielder Houston, TX • GPA 3.6
Edgardo González Midfielder Beltsville, MD • GPA 3.3
Santiago Ayala Midfielder Hollywood, FL • GPA 3.2
Oswaldo de Reza Midfielder Aurora, CO • GPA 3.6
Edenilson Blanco Forward San Rafael, CA • GPA 3.2
YEAR OF GRADUATION 2017
Orlin Cruz Defender Austell, GA • GPA 3.6 Joel Coronel Defender Hesperia, CA • GPA 3.5 Michael Jimenez Defender Queens Village, NY • GPA 3.4 Jesús Gutierrez Forward Joilet, IL • GPA 3.4 John Romero Defender Farview, NJ • GPA 3.3 Sergio Ruvalcaba Defender Austin, TX GPA: 3.3
Jesús Rocha Defender Chicago • GPA 3.2 YEAR OF GRADUATION 2016
Michael Landau Midfielder Miami, Fl • GPA 4.5 Emmanuel Pérez Midfielder Wellington, FL • GPA 4.1 Andrew Nino Midfielder Hoboken, NJ • GPA 3.8 David Bernal Defender San Antonio, TX • GPA 3.3 Fabián Castillo, Forward Takoma Park, MD • GPA 3.3
Miguel de León Forward Orlando, FL • GPA 3.7 Jesús A. del Mundo Forward Redwood City, CA • GPA 3.6 CarlosVargas Midfielder Greeley, CO • GPA 3.5 Sergio Alvarado Goalkeeper Visalia, CA • GPA 3.4 Jordan Patrick Defender Gaithersburg, MD • GPA 3.2 Luis A. Rodríguez Midfielder Dallas, TX • GPA 3.1 YEAR OF GRADUATION 2018
David Calva Goalkeeper Santa Ana, CA • GPA 3.1
C=50 M=0 Y=100 K=0
R=148 G=198 B=63
C=59 M=0 Y=100 K=7
PANTONE 376 C
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THEM: PHOENIX
Franks Food Truck Native Grill and Wings New Yorker Grilled Cheese Truck Tropical Sno
HOUSTON
Churrasco Food Truck Reign’s Food Truck Kona Ice Gorditas Doña María Rusas Mexicanas
DENVER
The Bean Machine The Orange Crunch Kona Ice
ATLANTA
LaTonya G. Hawkins Coffee Brewsters Ice Cream Kalentito’s
DC
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Miew’s Funnel Cakes Potomac Pizza
CHICAGO
Carnitas Don Rafa’s Ice Works Kona Ice
PANTON
BON APPETITE
THE FOOD FESTIVAL’S INAUGURAL YEAR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, BENEFITING THE CHILDREN OF THE RAFA MÁRQUEZ FÚTBOL Y CORAZÓN FOUNDATION.
With the support of our partners and the community, Alianza de Futbol Hispano started the Alianza Food Festival program which invites different food establishments in the different cities to donate a percentage of their sales to a charity. In 2014, the Rafa Márquez Fútbol y Corazón Foundation received a donation of $148,735 pesos, a contribution made possible by the tour. With the money raised from the food sales at six major cities during our 2014 tour, Alianza provided more than 11,000 meals to children in the Foundation. Mauricio Heredia, the Foundation Director, received the donation on behalf of Rafa Márquez who current-
ly plays in the Italian League for Hellas Verona. With this donation, we successfully completed our first year of collaboration with the Rafa Marquez Fútbol y Corazón Foundation, for which we thank all participants, food companies and people from Phoenix, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, DC and Chicago, whose support helped us achieve this goal. Working together we will go further!
With the amount collected over
11,000 MEALS were offered to children in the Foundation.
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Rafa Marquez Jorge Campos
Luis Garcia
Luis Hernandez
ALIANZA LEGENDS
Between them all, they have participated in over 1,000 national team matches, won several titles, appeared in the World Cup and played in tournaments for the most prestigious clubs in the world. They have become true legends and you could meet them at some of our tournaments, where you may have the opportunity to take a photo and even shake hands with them.
Look out for them!
Ramon Ramirez Claudio Suarez
Carlos ‘Pibe’ Valderrama
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