Locals think they can compete with Mexican national team

If nothing else, Anthony Zuniga hopes Friday's game between his Yuma Alianza FC and the Mexican nation soccer under-17 boys team propels Alianza to be a full-time, top-tier Yuma club.

And while that may or may not happen anytime soon, the coach - as well as his players - think they can give the Mexican team a run for its money, thanks in part to a recent pick-up from Kofa.

The teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in an event sponsored by Arizona Western. Added to the Alianza roster is Gila Valley Region Player of the Year Danny Flores, who Zuniga feels is the final piece to a competitive team that features a dangerous midfield anchored by Yuma High alum Michael Espinoza.

Tickets are on sale at Yuma-area Food City locations and cost $10 in advance. At the gate, they cost $12. Already, organizers say 3,000 tickets have been sold.

At a press conference on the AWC campus Wednesday, Zuniga said that, despite Alianza - made up of 22 players under age 18, 10 of which are from Yuma - only being together for less than two months, it is ready to go.

"I feel very, very confident," Zuniga said. "I guarantee that we will have a good game, a competitive game."

Zuniga said the strength of the team is its midfield, anchored by Espinoza - who currently plays for Sereno FC out of Phoenix and is, according to Zuniga, being pursued by NCAA Division I schools.

"Michael is the headstone of that great midfield," Zuniga said. "He's the catalyst."

Up until this weekend, finishing was the main problem of the Alianza. But Kofa's loss in a Class 5A Division II quarterfinal on Saturday freed Flores - who scored 32 goals this year.

"We played a scrimmage and he's been a great addition," Zuniga said. "He scored one already. To us right now, he needs to get to know the other kids. Once he does that, it will be great. We're definitely looking forward to having him on the team."

And now that the defense is "starting to click," Zuniga feels his team is ready to face a Mexican team that features Martin Galvan, who turned 15 last week and is one of the top young players in the country.

Espinoza said he couldn't have imagined even a few years ago playing this level of a game in Yuma.

"It's just a relief being back," Espinoza said. "Playing soccer back here, at this level, is a great opportunity. I don't think I would have had this opportunity maybe a few years ago. ... It's a great feeling to come back and play at a high level locally."

After going through some growing pains, Espinoza said the team has meshed.

"Our this month or so, we've learned how to come together and play as a team instead of as individuals," Espinoza said. "I think we're well-prepared for this game. It would have helped if we had more time, but the clock is ticking. In the time we had, we did our best. We should play well on Friday.

"You play to win the game," he said. "This game on Friday, of course we want to win and I think we will win. But no matter the result, we get something out of it."

Aside from this team, Alianza also features an under-10 boys team and will add an under-14 girls team by August, Zuniga said. As for making the under-17 team permanent, Zuniga said no future matches are lined up, and players like Espinoza are only on lone from their club teams.

Even without his participation, Espinoza - who played three years for Yuma High before joining Sereno this year - said a club team could succeed here.

"It can definitely succeed and thrive here in Yuma," Espinoza said. "We've had players in the past come up and perform real well at a high level. I don't think it stops there. There's a different generation coming in and this club is going to open doors for future players."

Both Zuniga and assistant Jesus Ellin said talent - both on the field and on the sidelines - is not in short supply.

"Yuma already has great coaches," Ellin said. "Jamie Nicewander, Tim Conroy, Jaime Ibarra - these people have been fixtures here for years and years. ... Coaches here are an untapped resources."

Zuniga said the best hope for a top-level club team like Sereno in town is the Alianza under-10 team; a team that has been together for a couple years already. But if this under-17 were to remain together, Zuniga said six or seven players would have to be added from in town to fill it out.

"Some of the other kids we have here from town haven't had the opportunity to be coached and trained properly in the way they should be trained," Zuniga said. "That's the reason we're doing this. That's the main focus of the Alianza club."