With the Chivas USA Under-18 Team traveling on Thursday to Guadalajara for the 2009 International Chivas Comex Cup, Head Coach Sacha van der Most is excited for the team to participate in the tournament for the second consecutive year. The Red-and-White will be playing against teams from around the world in the 'Copa Chivas', which starts this Saturday, Jan. 24.
"It will be a great challenge," said van der Most. "We are traveling with a young group of players to a difficult setting and international competition; that is what makes it an even bigger challenge.
"We can give people something to talk about with regards to youth soccer and youth development systems at a club level in the United States."
A squad of 17 players from the Chivas USA U-18's travel Thursday morning to Guadalajara. In addition to van der Most, who coached the team at last year's tournament, five of the 17 players on this year's roster participated in last year's edition of the Copa Chivas: Omar Becerra, Cesar Zamora, Clayton Eaton, Jesse Paredes and Leopoldo Morales. The complete team roster is listed below.
Chivas USA is in Group B of the tournament, along with powerful U-18 national teams from Brazil and Japan, as well as Mexican clubs Toluca, Morelia and Santos. The Red-and-White will face those five rivals within a span of six days. Chivas USA will make their debut this Saturday against Toluca. The first two teams from each of the four groups will advance in the tournament into the quarter finals. A full schedule for the team can be found below.
"There is not much time to rest during the tournament, but other teams have the same schedule and they also have to make the same effort. Last year our best games were our fourth and fifth games; we got stronger as the tournament went on. I hope we can do that again, but I also hope to see a stronger start this year," said the coach, whose squad last year did not advance past the group stage.
In preparing for the tournament, van der Most has received scouting reports on Japan, Brazil, and Santos, but has not had the opportunity to scout Toluca and Morelia.
"[Japan's style is] very intense. Physically they can run all day. The majority of the players are shorter, but they may have two or three taller players who they are always looking to play through. They might change some players or formations, but I do not think their style will change," he said.
"Brazil will be the most difficult opponent, but do not underestimate the Japanese team," added Van der Most, who will not face the Brazilian National Team until their final match on Thursday, Jan. 29.
"It gives us time to see where we are, and we also have time to observe their style of play. Maybe we can figure out a good strategy to beat them," he said.
Van der Most hopes that his team can overcome their nerves, which was an issue for the team last year.
"There are newspaper articles all the time. There are journalists everywhere, for many of the players, this will be a totally different environment," said the coach.
For full information on the Copa Chivas, including groups, schedules, and results, visit the tournament's official website at www.copachivas.com. Information on the Chivas USA U-18 Team's experience in Mexico, including updated results, will be available at Chivas USA's official blog, Dentro del Rebaño, at chivas-usa.blogspot.com.
CHIVAS USA UNDER-18 TEAM SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Jan. 24 Chivas USA vs. Toluca (MEX) 10:00 a.m. CT
Sunday, Jan. 25 Chivas USA vs. Santos (MEX) 11:00 p.m. CT
Monday, Jan. 26 Chivas USA vs. Japanese National Team 4:00 p.m. CT
Tuesday, Jan. 27 Morelia (MEX) vs. Chivas USA 11:00 a.m. CT
Thursday, Jan. 29 Brazilian National Team vs. Chivas USA 11:00 a.m. CT
Friday, Jan. 30 Quarterfinals TBA
Saturday, Jan.31 Semifinal TBA
Monday, Feb 1 Final/Third Place Game TBA
CHIVAS USA UNDER-18 ROSTER FOR COPA CHIVAS:
Goalkeepers (2):
Jose Godoy, Kamran Khyltash
Defenders (6):
Jose Anguino ,Omar Becerra, Jaime Frias, Angel Rodríguez, Steve Torres, Edwin Velasquez
Midfielders (5):
Daniel Castro, Clayton Eaton, Jesse Paredes, Daniel Sanchez, Cesar Zamora
Forwards (4):
Orr Baroush, Bryan de la Fuente, Andy Lopez, Leopoldo Morales
Staff:
Sacha van der Most (Head Coach)
Refugio Mancilla (Assistant Coach)
Carl Edwards (Assistant Coach)
