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January 27, 2008
SOCCER REALITY ADDS DALLAS
MLS dream starts with Sueño MLS 2008
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This could be the pitch of Dreams for a talented young man if he can survive the rigor of open, televised tryouts and win the eye of the coaches.
Photo by Meg Stephens |
Call it the fulfillment of a dream, or call it an ultimate soccer reality TV show, but a sequel to last year’s highly successful open tryout for Major League Soccer is starting now and a potential spot on the FC Dallas roster will be added to the other potential roster spot on Chivas USA.
Thousands of aspiring soccer players who hope to get a shot to play in Major League Soccer are expected to participate in Sueño MLS 2008, the nationally-televised search to discover America’s best undiscovered young soccer players.
Last year, 2,000 young amateur players from across the U.S. and several foreign countries participated in Chivas’ open tryouts. Another 4,000 were on the waiting list.
The event and TV show, carried as part of Univision’s popular sports show, República Deportiva, was so popular, sponsors decided to expand to two MLS cities this year, with FC Dallas joining Chivas USA a participant.
The quest begins today as pre-registration opens for Sueño MLS 2008: “The Dream Continues.”
Hopefuls can now register via www.SuenoMLS.com for the nationally-televised search to discover America’s best undiscovered young soccer players, which will be followed weekly by Univision’s popular sports show, República Deportiva.
This February and March, Sueño MLS will take place simultaneously in Dallas and Los Angeles, with young soccer players aiming to earn a spot on the FC Dallas and Chivas USA rosters, respectively. Only 2,000 spots will be made available for each city on a first come, first serve basis. A waiting list will be available for those who are not able to register for the initial spots. After registration is complete open tryout sessions will follow in each city and a second session will be added. After more eliminations a trial game will determine an elite group to train with each team before the final decision is made in March.
In its inaugural year of 2007, an overwhelming 2,000 young amateur players from across the U.S. and several foreign countries participated in Chivas USA’s open tryout, filling all available tryout spots in less than three hours after the launch announcement was made on the Univision show. Another 4,000 registered for the waiting list on that same day. After six weeks of intense competition, forward Jorge Flores, a 17-year old high-school senior and part-time church cleaner from Anaheim, Calif., was crowned the winner. Flores not only earned a spot and played with Chivas USA’s senior team, but he was later called up to the United States Under-20 National Team. Two other Sueño MLS 2007 participants are now members of Chivas USA’s U-18 youth team that is currently competing in Copa Chivas in Guadalajara.
“Sueño MLS provides aspiring young players a genuine chance to play for an MLS team, as we witnessed last season with the discovery of Jorge Flores,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Due to the success of the program last season, we are expanding to two markets, giving thousands more a chance to fulfill their dreams.”
Sueño MLS – Built by The Home Depot, kicks off the weekend of Friday, Feb. 15 with four days of open tryouts at the Bell Gardens Sport Center, home to Chivas USA’s academy and youth teams, in the city of Bell Gardens, Calif. A week later, beginning on Feb. 22, the FC Dallas tryouts will be staged at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
The coaching staff of each MLS club will invite 60 players per city back to a second tryout on Saturday, March 1. After the round of 60, “The Final 18” of each team will be selected and subsequently compete on March 8-9 and March 15 for a chance to train with the respective MLS team, and possibly earn a roster spot.
República Deportiva, the highest-rated weekly sports magazine program on Spanish-language television in the United States which airs nationally every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CT, will follow the action every week in a unique “reality show within a show” format. The Sueño MLS winners will be announced live on República Deportiva on March 30 preceding the nationally-televised match between FC Dallas and Chivas USA taking place at Pizza Hut Park at 2 p.m.CT.
“Words can’t describe the impact Sueño MLS has had on my life,” said Flores “Now, as a young professional, I continue to work hard every day to move to the next level, and I would encourage all young players to do the same thing: to keep working hard every day, and above all to never lose sight of their dreams.”
SUEÑO MLS KEY DATES:
January 27 Registration begins via www.SuenoMLS.com
February 15 – 18 (President’s Weekend) Open Tryouts @ Chivas USA
February 22 – 25 Open Tryouts @ FC Dallas (Pizza Hut Park)
March 1 Training for 60 Finalists (both cities)
March 8–9 Training for “The Final 18” (both cities)
March 15 “Final 18” Trial Game (both cities)
March 17 – 23 Two-week trial with Chivas USA and FC Dallas
March 30 Announcement of winners on República Deportiva
PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible players must be at least 16-years-old (with appropriate identification) and retain their amateur status. Sueño MLS participants will be responsible for all personal expenses associated with the event, including travel to Los Angeles/Dallas, lodging, food, soccer equipment (shoes, training gear, etc.), etc. For more information, please visit www.SuenoMLS.com. Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.
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