Sunday, February 10COCOA, FL – United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League ODP National Camps drew to a close here today in Cocoa, Florida. The 300+ boys attending the ’92-’94 camp awoke this morning to show, one last time, the reason they were invited to represent the top ten percent of SYL players in North America.
The SYL ODP Coaching Staff used Saturday’s select team matches to carve out the roster for today’s SYL Select Team game. Following their second showing against heightened competition today, elite players were evaluated and placed on the ’92 & ‘93/’94 Select Teams, the first hurdle in the process of joining USL in their joint venture with English Premier League side West Ham United. The project will allow the best players in North America, access to training within one of the top youth academies in the world.
Along with the Super Y-League’s West Ham United opportunities, players were also evaluated throughout the weekend by U.S. U17 Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera.
“The level of play in last night’s game was similar to that of a college match,” said Cabrera. “There was a lot of speed and intensity but the players seem content to just do simple things well. Players in this country need to learn to make their mark on a game. I am here to appreciate the outstanding players on the field, to do that they need to take chances and standout from the rest.”
“At this point I am looking for mostly ’92 born players,” added Cabrera. “That is the age players need to be at to play in the next World Cup. I would take a player born in ’93 but they need to be a really amazing player. At this young of an age, one year makes a huge difference.”
Having played in both the ’90 and ’98 World Cup with Colombia and 18 years professionally, Cabrera ended his playing career with the USL’s Long Island Rough Riders.
“United Soccer Leagues is getting stronger day-by-day,” said Cabrera. “Everyone knows the USL and the connection their clubs have from youth all the way up to the professional level.”
“Playing with the Rough Riders, kids would come to the stadium to see us play,” said Cabrera. “We would interact a lot with those players, sometimes even in training. That is the type of connection we need to make with kids in this country. It creates the passion for the team and for the game. Creating that strong unit between the youth and professional levels creates true soccer fans.”
“Kids see the possibility of one day playing for the pro team and they can use that dream to take their game to the next level,” said Cabrera. “If they do not have that, if there are gaps in the youth system, then you lose that connectivity.”
“The Super Y-League, along with the other leagues in this country, is trying to create a good environment with good competition,” said Cabrera. “The league is doing a great job, but it takes time and it is not easy given the size of the U.S. It takes a lot of commitment from the clubs.”
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’93/’94 SYL Select Team
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Cody Cropper
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GK
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Bangu Tsunami
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Aaron Liang
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D
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Santa Cruz Breakers
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Matt Oliver
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M
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Triangle FC
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Danny George
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GK
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H.C. United
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Cooper Vandermaas
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F
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Triangle FC
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Jon Ray
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M
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Triangle FC
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Gio Freitas
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D
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Sunrise SC
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Bryan Gallego
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M
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New Jersey Stallions
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Michael Howard
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D
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Richmond Strikers
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Andrew Martin
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F
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CASL Elite
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Henry Tirado
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M
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LI Rough Riders
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Antonio Schneider
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D
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Chicago Magic
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Sekani Sinclair
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F
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Schulz Academy
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Fabian Bastidas
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F
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Sunrise SC
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Nick Veenstra
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D
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New Jersey Stallions
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Spencer Lacivita
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GK
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CASL Elite
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Mauricio Valderruten
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F
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Weston SC
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Ryan Lehman
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M
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Atlanta Fire United
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