The Houston Dynamo Academy program hosted its biggest game of the year Wednesday night, the second annual Academy Showdown. The elite group of home-grown prospects, players able to retain their collegiate eligibility while still remaining part of the Dynamo's Player Development System, took on the eager the Houston Dynamo Academy Under-18s. The home-grown player came out victorious 6-2, but was it enough to catch the attention of Houston Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear?
With Kinnear and Houston Dynamo Youth Development Director James Clarkson in attendance, players from both sides had something to prove. Tyler Deric a goalkeeper for the Academy knows the importance of having the opportunity to play in front of the Dynamo staff.
"A game like this is huge for a player, it could be your career, you need to understand it's not about showing off, it's about playing your role, helping the team, and demonstrating the skills that you can provide for the Dynamo first team if you are selected."
Players from both sides give credit to the Houston Dynamo Academy for their success, and understand that it gives players an opportunity that other clubs can not provide.
"It means a lot to me, it's a process for you to become a better player, and a way for you to get to the first team," said Academy forward Samir Pena. "It's really important to have the best coach in Houston and know you are competing against the best players."
For the home-grown prospects this game provided an opportunity to showcase their talents for Kinnear and prove they deserve a shot to play for the Houston Dynamo. Under the MLS rules, these prospects can be signed to a pro contract and be directly promoted to the Dynamo first team.
"It's a unique opportunity to impress the first team coach," Clarkson said. "All we can do is provide these guys with opportunities and it's up to them to step up and prove that they have the potential to be a professional soccer player."
These protected players once stood in Dynamo Academy Under-18's shoes and know how important it is to standout in games like these. Academy player and UNC forward Alex Dixon provided some advice.
"Keep working hard. The biggest thing is to stay fit, it helps you go far, and improve technically and tactically. When you have the chance to get looked at, it is important for to you play well and get noticed."
For the U-18's this game gives them a chance to stand out and demonstrate they deserve to make the transition to the selected list of protected players.
"It's all down to them, they are all very good," Clarkon said. "It comes down to whether they have the character to really be able to take that next step in the professional ranks, becoming a professional player, is something that we will see very soon."
This group of players are all striving for a similar goal, to become professional soccer players, but with the new restrictions on roster numbers their road will not be easy. Still Houston Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear shows willingness and faith an Academy Player will be part of the first team.
"There are some good players out there. I think that Josue Soto and Alex Dixon both had good individual performances tonight. There is still room for improvement and they are going to have to improve. We still want these guys to come play for us (the Dynamo first team), and hopefully one day one of them will."
