Jul.23 - Aug. 6 2007 - South Valley Chivas U17 had a successful two week tour of Mexico City where 6 players were recommended for the fuerzas basicas of Club America of the Mexican Professional Soccer League and a 3rd Division San Luis team. Four of the players have yet to return to the United States as they have signed a a 10 day trial contract with America as they get evaluated by America development coaching staff.

During the two week tour the South Valley Chivas team also played against fuerzas basicas teams, semi-pro soccer teams, and affiliated soccer academies. Club America legend and current 1a division coach, Vinicio Bravo, was the contact and coordinator of all the matches played and events which were attended by our academy members in the two week tour. South Valley Chivas members had the opportunity to play against Club America Fuerzas Basicas 91, 3rd Division German Villa America, 3rd Division Cobijeros de Chiconcoac affiliated to Club San Luis and also attended the Copa Pato Baeza in Texcoco, Estado de Mexico where scouts from America, San Luis, Necaxa and Pachuca got to see the our members in a competitive tournament which featured teams from academies affiliated to America, Chivas, Pachuca y San Luis. The South Valley Chivas team ended up placing 4th in the 90 category.

Our first game was in the installations of Club America or what is known as the "Nido Aguila" (Eagles Nest) where players Alexis Hernandez, Ivan Yanez, Omar Cardenas and keeper Francisco Reyes where invited by recommendation of the scouts in attendance to a two week tryout from August 6 to August 16. These players are currently still in Mexico and didn't return back with the team. They will be evaluated by trainers Jose 'El Cocodrilo' Valdez and Pepe Vaca. Also in attendance at the game were ex-Americanista, ex-National, and current Director of Sports Development for America Alfredo Tena and scouts Jose 'El Cocodrilo Valdez, Pepe Vaca. The team was allowed to use the 1st team locker room for the game as the 1st team was on tour here in the states while they played the SuperLiga.

In our third game against the 3rd Division Cobijeros de Chiconcoac a team affiliated to San Luis, Juventino Paredes, ex-americanista, liked 3 players which would be invited back in November and December as the club is still in the process of finding or building their "casa club", which will serve as dorm rooms for the players. The players which were mentioned in this game were Alexis Hernandez, Omar Cardenas and Nicholas Cardenas. These players would be incorporated into the semi-pro team which plays 3rd division in the Estado De Mexico.

During the participation of the Copa Pato Baeza America scouts again recommended the 4 previous players who had been recommended by America but also added players Omar Davila and Jair Rodriguez. Davila and Rodriguez have been invited to return to Coapa in Mexico City for tryout in the next couple of months.

On one of the rest days, South Valley Chivas players were able to take a tour of the world famous Estadio Azteca Stadium (Aztec Stadium). Players were able to go thru the America locker rooms and were also able to visit the America museum which is located at the Estadio Azteca.

South Valley members also had the opportunity to watch South Valley Chivas Academy member, Amber Hernandez while she trained and played for the Mexican Sub 17 National Team in Mexico City. Amber has been was in training with the national team since the beginning of July. They were able to see her play in 2 games at the Centro de Alto Riendimiento, C.A.R., which is the center for all national team trainings.

The tour was such a success that there is already talks to taking an under 11 team in December and another group of members next year. There is also talks with Club America and San Luis about a program where our academy will be able to send our academy members on recommedation for tryouts.

South Valley Chivas Academy would like to thank our collegue and good friend Vinicio Bravo for all the time and effort he put into coordinating every game and event which was attended. Without Vinicio nothing would have been possible. Our academy would also like to thank Club America and their personnel like Jose 'El Cocodrilo' Valdez and Pepe Vaca for allowing us the opportunity to play in Coapa at the Club America installations were it is an impossible to play as these are the fields used for training by the 1st team. Most importantly we must say that at no time did Club America or Vinicio Bravo charge us for their service. It is very important to understand that this was made possible by South Valley Chivas Academy ongoing committment and relationship with Vinicio Bravo and Club America who are out to promote the youth development.

For images of the Mexico tour please click here.

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South Valley Chivas members and the 91 Fuerzas Basicas team of Club America in Coapa		South Valley Chivas members and 3rd Division Cobijeros de Chiconcoac

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South Valley Chivas members at the Estadio Azteca		South Valley Chivas members at the Copa Pato Baeza

May 23-27 2007 - South Valley Chivas member Amber Hernandez spent part of her Memorial weekend in Mexico City training with the Mexican U17 Women National Soccer Team where she had the opportunity to play against the first team which included players like Monica Gonzalez, Charlyn Corral and Monica Vergara. Amber showed very well at the training camp that she has already been invited back in the month of June and was featured in an article by the Mexican sport magazine "Estadio".  This is a great accomplishment for any soccer player to represent a country while playing for their national team but at a young age of 13 years this is a remarkable accomplishment.  

During the 5 day training camp, practices where held on the immaculate fields of C.A.R (Centro de Alto Riendimiento) which is the training center for all Mexican National Soccer Teams and is located in the southern most part of Mexico City.  Every day of the training camp consisted of two training session, morning and afternoon before heading back to the dorms which were located at the CONADE (Comision Nacional De Cultura Fisica Y Deporte) . The CONADE Villas are dorms set up for Mexican olympic and national athletes who are in training for upcoming events and competitions.  

By Amber making the team she will have the opportunity to travel in the next year to competition and tournaments for the Mexican U17 Women Team which include countries like Sweden, New Zealand and Brazil.

Special thanks to Fernando Gonzalez Gallo, ex-Americanist Vinicio Bravo and Mexican Women's National Coach Leonardo Cuellar for making the tryout opportunity a reality for Amber.

For images of training camp please click here.

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Amber with Mexican Women National Coach Leonardo Cuellar		Amber with Mexico Women National First Team

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Amber with her teammated from Mexico U17 Women National Team		Amber at the entrance to the C.A.R (Centro De Alto Riendimiento)

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Estadio Sport Magazine Article		Official Invitation by Mexican Federacion

Abr. 14-15 2007 - South Valley Chivas GU8 and BU10 teams came home with championship trophies from the 2007 Bakersfield Gunners Youth Cup held over the Abril 14-15 2007 weekend at the Kern County Soccer Complex in Bakersfield, CA.

South Valley Chivas GU8 team coached by Curtis Alkire, Juan Guiterrez and Serifin Almanza won in convincing fashion by beating their opponents Santa Barbara SC 2-1, Real California Black 5-3, Daggers 98 6-0 and Simi Valley Eclipse 7-1. The team swept thru their division going 4-0 and hitting the back of the net 20 times during the tournament

South Valley Chivas BU10 team coached by Juan Gutierrez and Tony Alvarado beat won the championship by being opponents like Vegas Vengeance 98 and Perros Locos with scores of 5-0, 1-1, 2-1, and 4-2.

This is a great accomplishment for all players and coaches of both teams and they should be commended on a job well done.

For more images please click here for GU8 and for BU10 click here.

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Back row: Coaches Serifin Almanza, Curtis Alkire, Juan Gutierrez Middle row: Bethanie Clubb, Bryn Short, Taylor Alkire, Alyson O'Bosky, Kimberly Cortez, Julissa Almanza Front row:Valeria Rios, Samantha Gutierrez, Christina Gonzalez, Britney Alvarado, Charlie Dow, Jaybree Lopez		Back row:  Coach Juan Gutierrez, Armando Gonzalez, Jaylon Melton, Christopher Cervantes, Brandon Sweester, Crisitian Salazar, Coach Tony Alvarado Front row: Luis Rubalcava, Albert Cordero, Tony Alvarado, Jonathan Guterriez, Christopher Navarro, David Suarez

Feb 17. 2007 - South Valley Chivas Academy members participated in the nationally televised "Sueño MLS" tryout this past weekend at the Chivas USA and Bell Garden soccer complex in the city of Bell Garden, Ca.

Players had the opportunity to play in front of Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara scouts such as Dennis Te Kloese, Sacha van der Most, Jaime Pajarito and Salvador Gamero.  Current and former soccer players were also in attendance like Jorge Campos, Ramon Ramirez and Marcelo Balboa.

Chivas USA, working in conjunction with Major League Soccer and Univision show 'Republica Deportiva,' have launched a program featuring aspiring soccer hopefuls trying to earn a contract with the team. 'Sueño MLS - Chivas USA Wants You,' will be filmed throughout February and March, as the players go through the various stages of open tryouts.

Oct 2. 2006 - South Valley Chivas Academy players had a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend their first Chivas USA tryout for Chivas U19 and U17 development soccer teams.  Players Willie Heranandez and Jaime Chavez were both invited back to practice with the U19 team while Nicholas Cardenas was selected for the U17 development team which is suppose to being training until next January. For Hernandez this was the second time selected and invited to practice with the development team.

Other academy players who were on the verge of selection and displayed well to scouts where Ivan Yanez, Alexis Hernandez, Abraham Campos,

Omar Davila along with goalkeeper Francisco Reyes.

Players played 30 minutes scrimages in front of Chivas scouts and were selected and placed on respective teams according to birth year and position played on the field. The tryouts were held at the Home Depot Center on the Beckham Academy soccer fields and were attended by roughly 150-200 prospective players.

For the second time in as many times the South Valley Chivas Academy has been able to place players in the selection pool for the development teams. Shows the quality of players and development which is being provided by the academy.

Before the tryouts players where given a tour of the Chivas USA corporate offices located at the Home Depot Center.

Special thanks to the Chivas Academy personnel: Gianmarco LaSerna, Eduardo Creel and Dennis Te Kloese.

Oct 13. 2006 - On Thursday, Oct. 13, a group of about 30 of the South Valley Chivas Academy members and their families made the 3 hour drive to the Home Deport Center in Carson, Ca to attend the Chivas USA Academy Appreciation Night.

Academy members in attendance were treated to autographs by Chivas USA players Ramon Ramirez, Brad Guznan, Jesse Marsch, Rodrigo Lopez, Jesus Morales, and Rene Corona. They also had the opportunity to meet Chivas USA Director of Soccer, Dennis Te Kloese along with Chivas USA academy personnel Gianmarco La Serna and Eduardo Creel.

After being treated to free pizza and drinks, members had the opportunity to sit down on the Home Depot Center bleachers and listen to the Chivas USA players during a 30 minute Q & A discussion, conducted by Chivas USA personnel.