Chivas USA Head Coach Preki has selected 28 players to travel to San Antonio, Tex. this week for the Texas Pro Soccer Festival, which will run from March 5-9. Chivas USA departed today for San Antonio, where it will play three games, against Major League Soccer opponents D.C. United (March 5), the Houston Dynamo (March 7), and Toronto FC (March 9).
Chivas USA's roster is highlighted by reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Brad Guzan, coming of a career season in which the 23-year-old recorded a league-high 13 shutouts; 2007 MLS Defender of the Year finalist Claudio Suárez, Mexico's all-time leader in international appearances and a veteran of three World Cups; and forward Ante Razov, MLS's second all-time leading scorer, with 109 regular-season goals.
Also included on Chivas USA's roster are defender Jonathan Bornstein, forward Maykel Galindo, and midfielders Paulo Nagamura, Lawson Vaughn and Raphaël Wicky, all of whom have all recently returned to training after being sidelined early in the preseason. Defender Shavar Thomas will also make the trip to Texas after finalizing his work visa last week; Thomas trained for the first time with the team in 2008 today.
Chivas USA's full roster for the Texas Pro Soccer Festival
(BY POSITION)
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan, Lance Parker, Sam Reynolds.
Defenders (8): Jonathan Bornstein, Bobby Burling, Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores, Claudio Suárez, Shavar Thomas, Lawson Vaughn, Alex Zotinca.
Midfielders (10): Kraig Chiles, John Cunliffe, Eric Ebert, Luciano Fusco, Jesse Marsch, Gerson Mayen, Paulo Nagamura, Daniel Paladini, Keith Savage, Raphaël Wicky.
Forwards (7): Justin Braun, Chukwudi Chijindu, Maykel Galindo, Anthony Hamilton, Atiba Harris, Arnaldo Salazar, Ante Razov.
Technical Staff: Preki Radosavljevic (Head Coach), Mike Matkovich (Assistant Coach), Leo Percovich (Goalkeeper Coach), Kevin Esparza (Team Administrator), Josh Beaumont (Head Athletic Trainer), Raul Guerrero (Equipment Manager), Miguel Torres (Massage Therapist).
Chivas USA midfielder Francisco Mendoza (R groin strain) and forward Alecko Eskandarian (L groin strain) will stay behind in Southern California as they continue their respective rehabilitations; the pair will be rejoined by their teammates after the squad returns from Texas. Also absent from the trip is midfielder Sacha Kljestan, who is currently with the United States Under-23 National Team in Florida as it prepares for CONCACAF Final Round Olympic Qualifying, March 11-23.
Chivas USA did not have to make any roster cuts to meet today's MLS deadline for Roster and Salary Cap Compliance for all teams. Chivas USA currently has 17 players on its Senior Roster, plus three returning Developmental Players: Bobby Burling, Jorge Flores and Anthony Hamilton. Per MLS rules, today, March 3, is the first day that new Developmental Players may be signed.
Chivas USA departed from Los Angeles on Monday after a training session in Carson. The team will train on Tuesday in San Antonio. Chivas USA's first game in the Festival will take place on Wednesday, against D.C. United, at 8:30 p.m. CT. The squad will then face Houston on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT, and closes out its participation in the round-robin exhibition tournament on Sunday against Toronto FC at 3:00 p.m. CT. All games will be played at Byron P. Steele II High School Stadium in Cibolo, Tex. To purchase tickets, or for more information on the Festival, please visit: http://www.texasprosoccerfest.com.
