Eleven October 2015 by Sporting Kansas City

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 1

2 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

Photo courtesy of Gary Rohman

The place for people GoinG places At UMKC, we are committed to student success. We offer 125 degree programs, scholarships and in-state tuition for some Kansas residents. Visit • Apply umkc.edu/admissions

Courtney FreriChs uMKC track and Field 2016 olympic hopeful ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 3

Letter from the Editor Catch your breath everyone! What a night in Philadelphia. Sporting Kansas City hoisted their third major cup in four years and proved once again that “small market’ clubs can compete with the LA Galaxy’s of the world. Go back and remember that night (by the way we help you do that in this issue!). The first 45 minutes were nothing to write home about yet Sporting was down just 1-0 at the intermission. Krisztian Nemeth continued to write his storybook first season story with the equalizer and away we went to free soccer and eventually what I believe is the best penalty shootout I’ve ever witnessed capped off by Jordi

Quintilla’s winner. I mentioned big clubs earlier. Go through the list of players who made big plays like Nemeth, Quintilla and of course Tim Melia in goal and you’ll find the best bargain in the league, a Spanish youngster who is on the brink of stardom and a keeper who was a pool player a year ago. That’s how Peter Vermes and staff do it. They are the best talent and Sporting KC evaluators in Major League Soccer. It’s not only based on talent but the fit for the club as well. Now with one piece of silverware secured we go into the stretch run headed for MLS Cup. Just a handful of points separate the vast majority of the Western Conference. October

is going to be very interesting as we all hope to see the return of Ike Opara and Roger Espinoza to the lineup. This entire season of ups and downs have built this team for this run. Destiny is still very much in their hands and begins with a road trip to Portland followed by an away match at San Jose before wrapping up the regular season at Sporting Park with Colorado and the season finale versus the Los Angeles Galaxy. This is going to be fun! Enjoy Eleven. David

ElevenTheMagazine

table of contents Letter from the Editor �� 4 Dom Dwyer �� 6 Jordi Quintilla �� 9 Krisztian Nemeth ��10 2015 U.S. Open Cup Champions ��13 2015 U.S. Open Cup Champions ��14 Love.Fútbol ��16 Sporting Spotlight: Jacob Peterson ��19 Inside Access - The Trainer ��20 Soccer Health ��21 Queremos Jugadores ��23 Wizards Rewind ��24 Marcelo Balboa ��27

4 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

@ElevenTheMag

WIN A GETAWAY

TO SAN JOSE! Experience a SPORTING KC away match in California this October.

ENTER NOW and you could win: • Round-trip airfare for 4 • Lodging for 2 nights • 4 match tickets • $1,000 gift card EamNfaTm.cEoRm/sNporOtinWgkc • Sporting KC gear

Proud partner of

No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes ends September 13, 2015. Get official rules at amfam.com/sportingkc. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2015 011018–7/15

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 5

Dom Dwyer

Words : Megan Armstrong (@meganKarmstrong) DOM DWYER is fantasizing about his picture of perfect happiness. He would wake up and go to soccer practice to train with his Sporting Kansas City brothers and be able to look across the way to see his wife, U.S women’s national team star Sydney Leroux, also training. He would then eat good food with Sydney, their closest family and friends. “Bring a little sketchbook,” Dwyer says. “Have a little drawing book on the beach, and be drawing tattoos and looking at pictures of tattoos, and designing up some clothes, hanging out with my wife and keeping healthy.”

“I think confidence is contagious.” It’s hard for the 25-year-old Dwyer to imagine doing anything else with his life other than playing professional soccer. But he does fancy the idea of owning his own clothing line. “I’d say my style is fantastic,” he says with a smile. What would he name his clothing line? “Oh,” he says, as he rubs his hands together. “That’s a good question. Maybe DD 78.” His imagination is sparked by his friend and former teammate Aurélien Collin’s clothing line, AC 78. In fact, Dwyer met his childhood “footballing idol” Thierry Henry, an Arsenal legend who finished his career in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, at Collin’s fashion show in Kansas City during the 2013 MLS AllStar Game. Dwyer, a native of England, started chatting with Henry and told him why he wears No. 14 for Sporting -- because Henry wore the same number. I have to interrupt him. “I used to wear No. 14,” I say. He perks up. “You did?” I nod. “Growing up, yeah, and into high school,” I tell him. But I had anxiety so I had to quit prematurely because it hurt my performance.” “Really?” he asks. “Yeah,” I say. “So whenever I see you play, wearing No. 14 and having so much fun, I’m like, ‘Oh, maybe I could have done that.’”

6 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

Dwyer smiles. “I love that,” he says. “That’s so cool.” And this is what self-expression can do — connect people in a way that inspires expression and confidence on both sides. Dwyer understands the fame that soccer gives him and his responsibility as a role model. “The effect you can have on kids is amazing,” he says. “You just take one picture with them, one second of your day. You put your arm around them, and you can feel their heart beating so fast. I remember that, being a kid and being a fan. So it’s pretty cool you can have that effect on someone.” Dwyer’s left arm—his sleeve of tattoos— reminds him of the importance of selfexpression. “I guess without all the other stuff you have in the world, all you have in the end is yourself and your body,” he says. “So if you can make art of it and do something memorable that you’re going to like, then it’s kind of cool. And each one means something.” I show him my new tattoo—my first one—a column of letters down my right forearm honoring a friend who died from cancer and reminding of me loving relationships. He nods his approval. “Especially when it means something,” he says. “It hurts so much when you’re getting it done, but it’s almost that good pain. I liked it.” And then there is Dwyer’s ring finger: He wraps tape around it on game days, in place of his wedding band, as a reminder of his wife. He likes to kiss it after a goal. (He and Leroux were married last January.) “I think marriage matures you a little, and obviously you have to think about another person,” he says. But he’s still the same funloving Dom Dwyer on the pitch. “I’m still always going to take my shirt off after a game and stuff like that. You get good people who come into your life and you try and keep them there, and they make it more fun.” “I think confidence is contagious,” he adds. And it’s easy to feel the same way after spending time with Dwyer.

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 7

All you need to play soccer Cleats • Jerseys • Balls • Shinguards and more

8 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

708 Simpson Ave • Kansas City, KS 913-371-3535 • www.elpadrino-soccer.com

Jordi Quintilla New Kid on the Block

The transition has been as easy as it can be when you leave your native Spain and move halfway around the world to Kansas City. Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jordi Quintilla proudly wears a Royals lid and jersey now and is getting settled in on and off of the pitch.

“I want to get minutes because I’ve earned them.” “When Uri (Rosell) came to play for Sporting KC we all started watching Major League Soccer in Spain, specifically Sporting KC,” Quintilla said after a recent match at Sporting Park. “When they (Sporting KC) began talking to me, I did not hesitate to reach out to him.” Rosell’s sales job worked and Quintilla began seeing minutes right away, including his first start versus Seattle in late September. A smooth gliding style with a deft touch, the youngest Spaniard in MLS is winning over the fans and not just because he chose to wear No. 96. “He (Rosell) told me that it was amazing here,” the Barcelona native said. “Everything from the people to the atmosphere, training facility, stadium, it was all fantastic. After talking with him I knew this was going to be great. Everyone has treated and supported me so much. It’s crazy.” No matter how old you are, being away from home is tough, especially when you are a continent away from family. The 21-year old midfielder has felt at home though with teammates

and a focused approach to soccer. “The club has helped me a lot and the opportunity to speak Spanish with teammates has helped too, “Quintilla said. “Obviously I miss my family but I am so focused on soccer it makes it easier.” Soccer makes everything easier in Quintilla’s life. After moving from UE Lleida, he continued to hone his skills at FC Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia academy. Before joining Sporting in August, Quintilla played for AC Ajaccio in the French Ligue 2. “I’m really working hard, Quintilla said. “I got early minutes because some guys were injured but I want to improve and learn every day. I want to get minutes because I’ve earned them.” Twitter: @JordiQuintilla Instagram: @JordiQuintilla

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 9

Krisztian Nemeth Writing his Own Story

A YEAR ago, if you told Sporting Kansas City forward Krisztian Nemeth that he would score goals on his first seven shots on goal and that he would have multiple game winning goals or assists for his new club, he might have thought you were crazy. Who has that kind of immediate impact on a team? The simple answer is Nemeth. Not only has he done all of this but he also is now a regular on the Hungarian national team as they continue Euro qualifying. He has scored double–digit goals this season and has become the best bargain in all of Major League Soccer when you compare his salary and production. “It’s been great so far,” Nemeth said after a win over FC Dallas earlier this season. “I could not have asked for more. The transition has been an easy one because of Peter (Vermes) and everyone on the team. It’s really let me focus on playing soccer and not worrying about much else.” Nemeth has added a different dimension to the pressing offensive Sporting KC style. His physical, never stop form was developed through many stops before Kansas City but honed at Liverpool in England. “I learned a lot at Liverpool,” Nemeth said. “You had to be physical there. You couldn’t get knocked off of the ball. It was very competitive with some of the best players in the world competing every day. I’ll take that with me wherever I play. You have to play determined.” That determination is evident every time that Nemeth takes the pitch. His toughness has become his calling card along with his unique goal scoring celebration which reminds some of a popular Mexican star who once played for the Chicago Fire - Cuauhtemoc Blanco. “Who?” Nemeth said with a puzzled look on his face. “I definitely didn’t get it from him. It actually came from a friend back home in Hungary. He used to do it when he scored so I like it and started doing it.” It has been a special year for Nemeth and his home country with Krisztian wearing the red, white and green more frequently than ever before, especially during Euro 2016 qualifying where Hungary is trying to qualify for the first time since 1986. At the end of September, Nemeth was once again called to his home country’s national team for a qualifying match versus Faroe Islands this month. “It’s always an honor to wear the countries colors,” Nemeth said with a smile. “I love getting a chance to go home and see my family. It’s a dream come true.” After stops in England, Hungary, Greece and the Netherlands – Nemeth has found a home in Kansas City. “I’m so happy here,” Nemeth said after Sporting’s U.S. Open Cup final win over the Philadelphia Union. “I love it here. I love the fans and they love me too. I hope I can stay for a long time.”

10 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

“I love it here. I love the fans and they love me too. I hope I can stay for a long time.” ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 11

Add it up*

Sporting Blue Card Rewards

! TICKET

With up to 5 points per $1 spent, Sporting Blue Card Rewards Points add up fast! Use those points to get cool stuff like club merchandise, match tickets, autographed gear and exclusive Sporting KC experiences.*

Spending

Style

Apply Now! mazuma.org/bluecard Mazuma Mike

To qualify for your bonus points, you must spend $1,000 or more during the first three months from account opening. Please allow 6-8 weeks for bonus points to post to your Blue Card Rewards account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. Point earning scenario depicted above is based on sample purchases of a family of four during a 20 game season using the Sporting Blue Card: 4 east stand tickets at $660 each, 2 primary kits at $120 each, 4 scarves at $25 each, $760 in food/drink at Sporting Park and $10,000 in everyday purchases. For full disclosures visit www.mazuma.org/ bluecard. Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Sporting Blue Visa Credit Cards are issued by Mazuma Credit Union. Offer subject to change. There are costs associated with the use of the Sporting Blue Visa Credit Card. Contact Mazuma Credit Union to request specific information about the costs. We can be reached at 888-361-4194 or by writing us at 7260 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66223.

12 â&#x20AC;˘ ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

2015 U.S. Open Cup Champions

#TheCupIsHome

Photos courtesy of USA Today

YEARS

TROPHIES

4 3

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 13

2015 U.S. OPEN C

Photo courtesy of USA Today

14 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

CUP CHAMPIONS

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 15

Love.Fútbol One of the best things about soccer is that it brings together people no matter where they are from. Soccer is universal. The love of people and the beautiful game led college teammates to form love.fútbol. “The story goes back to personally growing up and having parents who loved to travel,” love.fútbol co-founder and CEO Drew Chafetz said. “By the time I was twelve years old I had visited six continents. My parents made it a priority. I have always been crazy about soccer. The kids that I saw and interacted with loved the same game as I did and we were all connected by the game. We went to rough spots. Many of the kids dealt with a reality that was very different from mine, but through the game I could see our similarities more than our differences. That opened my eyes.”

“I believe in the power of soccer to change the world.” What Chafetz saw stayed with him throughout his childhood and into college. “In 2005, I was studying abroad in Spain as an undergrad and traveled to Morocco. I ended up in the middle of this town totally by accident and saw kids playing in a back alley. Where they were playing struck me. A line had been crossed between the imperfect beauty of the game and actual danger. That was the first time that the thought crossed my mind that kids may not always have a safe place for soccer. I thought that was a fundamental injustice – it was the impetus to start love.fútbol. Kids need safe places to fulfill their love of soccer and express themselves.” Thus the idea was born and the work began. “One of my teammates from playing in college was Alfredo Axtmayer. I immediately thought of him,” Chafetz said excitedly like he was reliving that first conversation. “ In 2006, we first tried our idea in Guatemala. We felt we had a universal concept using the love of soccer in impoverished parts of the world. We came back home and raised some funds and funded our first pilot program. In 2007 and over the course of seven months, we completed our first three soccer field projects in Guatemala.” It was like going back in time for Chafetz. being with the kids in small towns in the middle of nowhere who just wanted to play soccer and just needed a safe space to do it. “We lived in a very poor and rural village with 55 families and it’s really why we do what we do,“ Chafetz remarked. “We don’t just hire construction companies. We engage and empower communities to take ownership of their own projects. These communities are partners not simply beneficiaries. They provide the labor, which includes planning. Over 2,500 local volunteer hours are contributed to an average love.fútbol project . They donate the land and the time, as well as a maintenance

16 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

committee who is responsible for sustaining the field.” That first field is still in great condition and is used all of the time. It symbolizes community unity and strength. “We’ve now replicated this idea into 18 simple community soccer fields in Guatemala and Brazil,” said the former Dickinson College and University of Colorado player. “We have expanded to Brazil (2011) with a grant from FIFA. With the World Cup coming it was a great opportunity for us. Now there are nine projects there.” International players from around the world as well as world corporate sponsors like Under Amour and Coke got involved. So did Sporting Kansas City player and United States international Graham Zusi. “I’m proud to join love. fútbol’s mission to provide kids in underserved communities around the world with safe places to play,” Zusi said. “It was always my dream to play soccer and I feel lucky that I got the chance to grow up playing on safe, clean fields away from danger. I want to give that chance to the kids in Brazil who are also dreaming of one day representing their country. I believe in the power of soccer to change the world and I’m delighted to join my fellow professional Hernanes (Juventus, Brazil) on the love.futbol team.” As projects continue to take shape around the world, the focus has shifted to the United States. “It’s the same premise here,” Chafetz said. “Allowing communities to own their fields especially in urban areas where there are no areas for soccer. That’s a f o c u s for us.

Creating fields in small and imperfect places is our focus, especially in cities where space is hard to come by. There’s also an emotional connection that we want to create between communities and these spaces. That’s where investment by the people in the community is essential. This helps the progressive growth of the game in the U.S.” To learn more about the great works of love. fútbol and how you can get involved, visit their website http://www.lovefutbol.org/ or check them out on social media. https://twitter.com/lovefutbol www.facebook.com/lovefutbol https://instagram.com/lovefutbol_us/

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 17

Have fun and learn to play the game.

Soccer School for kids 4 to 16 years old Training on Tuesdays and Thursdays Category

Time

2 hours of practice every week and games every Saturday.

$30

Registration and uniform

U 6/7 6-7pm U 8/9 6-7pm U 10/11 7-8pm U 12/16 7-8pm

$60 a month For more information contact Miriam Villegas at 913-742-1969

Games every Saturday

5520 S 55th, Kansas City KS 66106

www.soccernationkc.com

18 â&#x20AC;˘ ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

Sporting Spotlight: Jacob Peterson

Kansas Citians vs. Canadians, Family plans, and (of course) BBQ Words: Crystle Lampitt @crystlelampitt • Pics: Walfri Rodas WITH A laid-back demeanor and messy long hair, you might mistake Jacob Peterson for a Florida surfer at first glance. He’s actually from the Midwest— and proud of it. The Sporting Kansas City forward hails from Portage, Michigan— a place where he says the people are just… nice. “There’s something about that,” he explains as we chat following his morning practice. “You know people always said that people in Canada are nice, but it’s nothing compared to the Midwest.” Some might even consider Peterson an authority on Canadian politeness, having lived in Toronto while playing for the city’s soccer team in 2010. He says life there is too “hustle bustle” for people to have time for manners. While he cherishes his experiences playing for other MLS teams, including Toronto FC, the Colorado Rapids, and the San Jose Earthquakes, his favorite team to play for is Kansas City, “Soccer and the life here is by far the best place that I’ve been,” he admits. The fans, the community, and prestige of the team are all reasons he says he has developed such a strong connection to the team over the last four years.

It doesn’t hurt that he’s building a life here, either. Peterson and his wife, Lauren, bought a home in Prairie Village last year. When I ask if the move from The Country Club Plaza to the ‘burbs has anything to do with plans for a family in the future, he grins sheepishly and tucks that surfer hair behind his ear, “Well that’s definitely not off the table, but no immediate plans.” After a few nervous chuckles he concedes, “No doubt, that’s something that I look forward to, and I think that [my wife] does as well.” For now, he’s sticking with fur-kids. He’s dad to 7-year-old Puggle, Wrigley, and he looks forward to adding another dog to the family. Now a full-fledged convert to cul-de-sac life, Peterson spends his time doing what many homeowners do: working on the yard, cleaning out cicada carcasses, hanging with the dog, and exploring area restaurants (his favorites include Jack Stack and Q39). It’s a stark contrast to the fast pace of bigger cities, but Peterson is happy to have found his sanctuary back in the good ol’ Midwest. “We love it here. I feel like this is my club.”

Upcoming Telecasts

Saturday, October 3rd 9pm - Sporting Kansas City @ Portland Timbers Friday, October 16th 9:30pm - Sporting Kansas City @ San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday, October 21st 7pm - Colorado Rapids @ Sporting Kansas City Sunday, October 25th 5:30pm - LA Galaxy @ Sporting Kansas City ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 19

Inside Access - The Trainer ONE OF the most important elements for a club to have a successful season is to stay healthy. Sporting Kansas City fans know this fact all too well over the past two seasons. Sporting Kansas City head trainer Kenny Ishii leads the crew in charge of keeping players on the pitch. Like all of the technical staff, Ishii’s team rises early and goes to bed late especially on game day. Whether they are on the road, at Swope Park training facility or at Sporting Park – these are some of the busiest guys in the organization.

“We want to make sure that we stop little things from becoming bigger things.” “The players who are not dressing and those who are rehabbing come in at 8am so our staff will be here at 7:30am to get everything ready for them,” Ishii said. “Each player has his own treatment regiment and timetable to return. After lunch we head to the stadium to get the facility ready for players to begin arriving. Typically players come in two and a half hours before the game. If someone is a game time decision they will arrive earlier to make sure they are in the best condition possible so that the decision can be made whether or not they will be active. Healthy players get taped and go through their routines as well. After the game, if a player needs treatment then we take care of that. Postgame

20 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

massages are very important as well. Most games we are here until 11:30pm or so.” It’s all about the team for Ishii and his crew. “You see me run on to the field but there is an entire team that keeps our guys healthy and playing, “ Ishii said before a match. “We are all the same. Our goal is exactly the same. We all work long hours even on non-game days. Jacob Brownback, Michael Boisselle are both trainers with me. Brian Ubert is our massage therapist and Chet North is a former head athletic trainer but is now working on special projects especially with the National Training Center. We all work well together making the hours much easier.” The relationship between a trainer and manager as well as between trainer and player is a very important one that has to be filled with honesty and truth. “My relationship with Peter (Vermes) has always been a good one,” Ishii said with a smile. “He picked me up from the college game (Texas Christian) and he is the biggest reason that I’m here and want to stay here. We have always been very honest with each other. Our relationship is tight and I’ve been lucky because I’ve never been put in the middle (manager versus player). I give my insight in relation to the condition of a player. The player gives his insight into how he’s feeling and ultimately we make the decision together.” Without question it has been a frustrating time for Ishii and his staff with the rash of injuries last year and more this season. “After going through what we went through last year, we weighed all of the options with

regard to changing some things that we had previously done,“ the Mishima, Japan native said shaking his head. “ We have really focused on the preventable stuff. We want to make sure that we stop little things from becoming bigger things. Injuries will happen. It’s part of the sport and our focus is to take the best care and give the best treatment to our player’s as we can in order for them to get back on the field in a timely manner.” Sporting fans have seen Ishii run on to the field way too often in the last two campaigns, some of those for injuries and at least one for a sprained ego. “Not going to mention the player’s name but the referee waved me on to the field. I get out there and the player tells me that he’s fine. I asked him what was wrong and he said that he looked stupid on the last play and just wanted to lie there for a minute before getting back up so it would look “normal” to everyone.” One thing is for certain. Sporting Kansas City has a first rate team taking care of their first team.

Soccer Health Before & After Injury

PROTECTING THE health of your athletes is crucial to their personal well-being and to your team’s success this season. Here are some important components of planning and preparedness to help you handle urgent and emergent situations and in many cases, prevent injuries before they occur. Planning is essential to promote your athletes’ safety. Here are some tips to minimize problems throughout the season. • Get a pre-participation physical examination (PPE) completed by a licensed physician. • Ensure emergency communication strategies for all practices and games • Have a BLS certified individual present on the sideline. • Develop awareness of athletes with relevant medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, prior concussions, orthopedic problems, or congenital conditions. • Discuss emergency planning and preparedness with the athletes and parents. Create a document of these items needed for the players on your team. • Develop a plan for dangerous environmental and playing conditions, such as lightning or excessive heat.

• Learn the symptoms of concussion, and “If in doubt, sit ‘em out”. There is no safe sameday return to play after a concussion. MEDICAL Items for the Sideline In the absence of an athletic trainer or physician and their equipment, make sure to have a medical bag handy with important items to handle minor injuries at practice or competition. Controlling Initial Symptoms is important when an injury occurs. The most common word association to remember is PRICE. • Protect the player and affected area from further injury. • Rest the injured body part. • Ice the area, especially in the first 48-72 hours. • Compress the injured area with a wrap or brace to limit swelling and motion. • Elevate the limb to decrease the swelling. WHEN can a Player Return to Play: In the absence of an athletic trainer or physician, some conservative rules of thumb may be considered: • Injury to a body part or joint should have full strength, range of motion, and flexibility with minimal discomfort.

• After head or neck contact, a player must have experienced no symptoms of concussion nor had neck pain. • It is not advised to push a player to return after an injury, as pain is often a marker of injury such as with ACL injuries. • After a major injury, a player should have clearance to play from a sports medicine doctor. • If there is any doubt, consultation with an experienced medical provider is strongly encouraged before returning an athlete to the field. Final Thoughts: Soccer is one of the healthiest activities for our youth. Planning and preparation may prevent injuries and allow our young athletes to stay fit, develop team-building skills, and have fun! Dr. Khadavi practices Sports Medicine at Carondelet Orthopaedic Surgeons in Overland Park, KS. He is a board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and has a Fellowship in Sports Medicine from Stanford University. He has covered soccer games for the US National Soccer Teams as well as various NCAA teams.

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 21

22 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

Queremos Jugadores hispanos locales en la MLS • Palabras de Ale Cabero MUCHAS VECES he escuchado que nuestros jugadores locales no tienen suficientes oportunidades para llegar a profesionales. Y es cierto que no hay muchos hispanos en carrera por las pocas oportunidades que existen para llegar a profesional. La realidad nos muestra que una de las falencias más evidentes es que no tenemos una escuela, o un sistema que permita identificar y desarrollar talentos. Primero tenemos que definir “talento”. Obviamente, no hablo de desarrollar el talento “chicharitezco”. Eso desgraciadamente no viene en la caja de las X-15, del mismo modo que tampoco se compra en las casas de deporte o las farmacias el disparo a balón parado de CR7. Esa predisposición natural que llamamos “talento” vienen de fábrica. Pero enfoquémonos en otro tipo de talento: Roger Espinoza, a quien no me canso de elogiar, no tiene entre sus logros un gol como el de Maradona contra los ingleses; pero a la hora de los calificativos no baja del “fenómeno”. Un muchacho que llegó del barrio como cualquiera de nuestros chicos y se convirtió en ídolo de Sporting KC no por su magia, sino por su trabajo, esfuerzo, constancia y pasión. ¿Cuáles son las cualidades que han convertido en grandes a los deportistas hispanos? • Cierto talento natural (no necesariamente tan mágico como el de Chicharito o Messi), • ganas de crecer y compromiso para con la actividad • mucho trabajo. • Ser detectado por los scouts. La mayoría de los “detectores de talento” saben observar cuando un jugador tiene condiciones. Pero lamentablemente, los buenos detectores de talentos no abundan, y lo que es peor: no siempre ese talento se detecta en la primera ojeada. Casos como el de Lucas Rodríguez, Eddie Johnson o Herculez Gómez, que fueron descartados en su primera prueba y luego fueron jugadores preponderantes en sus ligas hay miles. Apostar todas las cartas a los detectores de talento o reclutadores es achicar mucho el espectro de posibilidades, ya que no siempre las apuestas como la que hizo Barcelona con un Messi de 12 años llegan a buen puerto.

No todos los jugadores se desarrollan plenamente a la misma edad, sencillamente porque venimos de hogares, condiciones de vida y estructuras de formación diferentes. Entonces, unos tienen una explosión temprana, otros lo hacen más tarde, algunos se estimulan con esa explosión temprana y crecen y otros tienen constancia y siguen mirando hacia su meta personal independientemente de lo que pueda depararles el presente en la etapa formativa. ¿Hay una receta para fabricar un jugador de elite? Sí, claro que la hay. Por eso son tan famosas las escuelas como La Masia, el Ajax o en su momento el Atlas y también existen canteras naturales de jugadores (Argentina y Brasil son y serán generadores de talento futbolístico). El secreto está en crear un ambiente donde se pueda formar, técnica, táctica, física y humanamente al deportista, transmitiéndole valores para enriquecerlo en todos sus aspectos. ¿Cuáles son los enemigos de estas exitosas escuelas? 1) la falta de infraestructura y tiempo (que le quita a los chicos tiempo de trabajo y entrenamiento), 2) la innecesaria búsqueda de resultados en la que caen muchos entrenadores (que los lleva a privilegiar la enseñanza de sistemas tácticos por sobre los fundamentos técnicos) 3) la despersonalización en la que se cae por esa falta de tiempo que hace que los niños deportistas parezcan profesionales que llegan, entrenan una hora y se van a sus casas como si fuera un trabajo en lugar de un proceso de socialización, diversión y aprendizaje.

palabras necesitamos parar la pelota y desarrollar un objetivo claro a largo plazo para el desarrollo de jugadores hispanos locales. Es -primordialmente- debido a

esto, que con tanto talento en las ligas locales y en las high schools, desagraciadamente nuestros jugadores no tienen todas las oportunidades que se merecen.

FACTORES de desarrollo deportivo Formar un deportista implica: • tiempo, • metodología • y pasión. Así funcionan las “Escuelas” que han formado cracks en distintas partes del mundo. En nuestra zona lamentablemente, los hispanos abusamos del talento natural, no damos opciones de crecimiento ni luchamos unidos en pro de las infraestructuras necesarias para el éxito formativo de nuestros deportistas. Para decirlo en pocas

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 23

Wizards Rewind Josh Wolff

Josh Wolff was not imposing at 5’9” and 160 pounds but if you blinked all you saw was the back of his jersey. One of the fastest players of the past decade, Wolff tallied double-digit goals in three different Major League Soccer seasons for the Kansas City Wizards, hoisted a Cup after winning the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and made it to the MLS Cup final that same year. It was definitely a year to remember. With the help of Sporting Kansas City’s Molly Dreska, the Columbus Crew assistant coach revisits 2004 in this month’s installment of Wizards Rewind. ELEVEN : Take us back with your memories of the 2004 U.S. Open Cup Championship

JOSH Wolff: It’s a cup final. So you’re trying to get yourself an opportunity to compete for trophies and play for championships so as a player, that’s what you’re looking for. MLS Cup obviously carries a certain weight but the Open Cup, when you’re in the final, it has meaning and relevance. And it’s only gained in meaning and relevance as time has gone on. It being Lamar Hunt’s, he was still alive and still with us and he’d done so much for the game. It was certainly memorable and meaningful. Finals are certainly tight and they’re cagey and it was another that came down to the very end, about making plays. We were fortunately on the end of a good play and a great moment that was able to capture a win in a final.

ELEVEN: It was a very special team with a very special owner. JW: It was a good team. We had a very experienced group, we competed in MLS Cup final that year as well so we put together a good run certainly toward the end of the season. The experience we had within the group, certainly (Tony) Meola, Jimmy Conrad, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, these are all guys that played for a long time, played in big moments. We had the right blend of young and old and I think that enabled us, not only in that season, but certainly in a final. I mentioned Lamar Hunt and I remembered him being in the locker room afterwards. I have more memories probably of that than of the actual game. A guy that had done so much for the sport, but on a personal level was always right there for the guys and congratulating you in victories, but also there to help pick you up in the end of seasons. I have loads of respect for him and his family and what they’ve done for the sport. ELEVEN: Memories of Kansas City JW: The team for me that year in ’04 was memorable because you come together as a team and you’re not sure how it’s going to evolve but ’03 was my first year there and as an individual it was a struggling year because from a physical standpoint it was not great. But as a group you come together throughout the season and the team evolves and you compete for a couple championships. That whole year was memorable, obviously losing the (MLS Cup) final was disappointing. But my grasp of the city and everything that evolved as my time in Kansas City furthered was great. The club has transformed considerably since then, but we had a solid fan base and playing out of Arrowhead was still a nice venue for us to compete in, but it was certainly not what it is today. It’s a fantastic city, it’s a young city, I certainly enjoy going back there today. ELEVEN: On the transition of soccer in Kansas City JW: It’s been fantastic. I think they’ve set some standards and some bars that are looked up to from a lot of clubs that are in the League but also some clubs that might want to come into the League. What the ownership group has been able to do, the vision that they’ve had from before they bought the team to what it is today. I think they had that vision, they had that willingness to stand by the sport and see where the sport was and where it was going and now take it to another level. I think that’s what you see today. Obviously Peter Vermes has a big play in that as well. The new owners that came on board certainly have a big part in that as well, not only financially but also the vision of what they wanted it to be has been inspirational to a lot of clubs around the League. It’s nice evidence to see where the game is going.

24 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

ELEVEN: On Bob Gansler JW: My first coach was Bob Gansler, and I was fortunate to play for a number of coaches in Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena and Peter Vermes. And Bob Gansler is a guy that has real reverence and certain memories for me. He was a blend of the old and maybe the new that was coming. But he had a real way about him. He was probably harder on the younger guys, and probably hard on the older guys at times as well, but you knew what you were getting. He was strong, he was forthright and very committed to the game. He was someone who had real intensity but when you were able to talk to him one on one you could see he was very endearing at times as well. I have loads of respect, we were able share some good moments and good times together in KC as a player for him. I know he’s moved on, but I’ve stayed in touch with him here and there. I was fortunate to have him as a coach. Photos courtesy of Action Images

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 25

26 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015

Marcelo Balboa Where’s the Defense?

Goals sell tickets. Charismatic forwards sell tickets and jerseys. But defenders are the key to winning silverware. Marcelo Balboa knows all about being a defender in Major League Soccer and on the international stage. The National Soccer Hall of Famer helped revolutionize the position. No longer do you just have to defend. You have to be sound technically. Be able to play with the ball at your feet and join the attack. Those things Balboa brought to MLS when he was allocated to the Colorado Rapids in 1996. “I think in every league around the world, teams don’t buy defenders because people want to see players who score goals and who are creative on the outside,” Balboa said from his Colorado home. “I don’t know of a lot of teams who spend on defenders or even foreign goalkeepers. In today’s game it’s not wise money. The challenge is finding a diamond in the rough (or two or three) to form a solid back four. Omar Gonzalez in Los Angeles is a national team player but the rest are good solid players but not breaking the bank. Sporting Kansas City is the same way with Matt Besler and what (Peter) Vermes has put around him.” Finding the “diamond in the rough” is more difficult than it sounds. Every manager and technical director in MLS are trying to find those types of players. “You need to find the good solid defender who is good in the air and a solid leader,” Balboa said. “When you find guys like Matt Miazga in New York who is a good young player, it makes it easier to spend on other players.”

where fans aren’t happy with Jurgen Klinsmann when we lose and it doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly or in competition to win a trophy. He’s never lost to Mexico and coming off of the Gold Cup this has even more meaning. It’s what I dreamed soccer could be here 20 years ago. There has never been this much pressure or exposure for the national team and I love it.”

Finding the “diamond in the rough” is more difficult than it sounds For Balboa, MLS has never been better. Talented players from all over the world are growing a game and a league that he and others helped bring to reality 20 years ago. Offensive minded players like Sebastian Giovinco and Kaka attack with reckless abandon from the wings.

There have always been great players in the league. The difference now is that there are more of them. But to Balboa, there’s one thing missing. “There are no true number 10’s anymore,” Balboa said.” There are no more guys like Carlos Valderrama or Marco Etcheverry who were pure playmakers. Everything comes from the wings. There are few players that are creative like those guys. I miss seeing that. Kaka can play that role if he wants and I love watching Diego Valeri in Portland. It’s cyclical and I hope it comes around again in the league soon.”

“Every match matters now for the U.S.” Being able to do multiple things well is the MO of defenders today in MLS. Sporting Kansas City’s back four has been boosted by the addition of Soni Mustivar as well as home-grown and drafted players like Kevin Ellis. Other than the team captain, not much money spent but a lot of valuable production and contribution. “When you have someone like Mustivar who sits back and organizes, the game really opens up,” said the Univision broadcaster and high school soccer coach. “He (Mustivar) is a great partner for Besler because he helps lead the back end and allows other player to go forward into the attack. That’s a huge benefit when you play the pressing style that they do. When firing on all cylinders it’s a team that will fight for a championship every year.” Later this month, the United States and rival Mexico will battle in Los Angeles in the CONCACAF Cup final and Balboa will be relishing it all. “It’s exactly what we have wanted and waited for isn’t it?”Balboa said with excitement. “Every match matters now for the U.S. I know this is against Mexico and it’s a great rivalry but soccer in this country has finally grown to the point

ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015 • 27

28 • ELEVEN | OCTOBER 2015