It is only the first week of school and the Menโs Soccer Club has been working hard with no intention of slowing down.
This is the second semester the Menโs Soccer Club is up and running. The club was last active at legacy institution UT Pan American in 2007, when they were crowned conference champions. ย
If it wasnโt for club President Alejandro R. Garcia, this yearโs organization wouldnโt exist. Last year, Garcia tried out for the UTRGV Menโs Soccer Team. Unfortunately, he didnโt make the cut, but that didnโt stop his passion for soccer.
ย โI started the club because I noticed there was a lot of potential here at UTRGV and not a lot of opportunities,โ Garcia said.
The club provides opportunities for any male student who would like to play soccer in their free time or develop their skills. The coaches of the team are licensed and give professional help to anyone who is interested in joining.
โThey are a group of young adults who are hungry to play,โ Head Coach Hugo Zuniga said. โIn this part of the Valley, there is a lot of talent that for whatever reason they have not been given the chance to show people what they can do. I come to form a family and teach these young men not only about soccer, but about respect and life.โ
Since this is a university club, there is no limit as to how many players can be on the team. Anyone is welcome to practice and play with the organization. The team practices on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings behind the UREC on the Edinburg campus.
Just like Garcia, his teammates have also given all their heart, effort and dedication to the team.
โItโs been pretty hard, waking up at 5:30 in the morning, come work out, shower, pick up breakfast and go to class, stay in class, then come out in the afternoon and give my all to the team,โ said Alexis Ovalle, a civil engineering major and goalkeeper for the soccer club.
Garciaโs goal was not only to create the club, but also to help students develop their skills and compete, as well as lead them in the right direction.
โHopefully, in a year or a year in a half, my players have developed their skills enough that the coach will come and scout some of my players and give them the chance to play at the highest level,โ he said.
This team has grown throughout the semester; they plan to work hard and play hard to win every game.
โWe have grown as a team together, like a family, and it is wonderful to be around people who love the game just as much as I do and know we are all working for one goal,โ said Solomon Koomson Dadzie, a biology major and midfielder on the team.ย
For more information, contact Garcia at alejandro.r.garcia01@utrgv.edu.
