The Houston Dynamo Academy will be playing in Mexico this coming weekend, competing against foreign teams for the first time this season. During their time in the state of Jalisco, the Dynamo Academy will be facing off against Chivas, Tecos, and Atlas.
"The purpose of the trip is to take the boys out of their comfort zone and truly challenge them in all aspects of the soccer development on and off the field," said Director of Youth Development James Clarkson. "We will be playing some top class youth professional teams and it's a great opportunity for everyone to learn and develop."
Some of the players believe they are ready to compete with the best, knowing that the coaching staff has done everything to get them ready.
"The coaching staff teaches us as much in the classroom as they do on the field," said Alvin Onyewuenyi. "We are very grateful to have a coaches that care not just about winning but also detail and technique."
The style of play in Mexico differs from that practiced in the United States, but this is something that will certainly not catch Clarkson's teams off-guard.
"We have a good chance to play hard and work together." said Ade Clark. "Even though the style of play (in Mexico) is different, we feel that we are prepared to adjust to whatever comes our way. This is a great opportunity to grow and develop."
The players are excited about going to another country and playing against other clubs. They understand what an opportunity this is for the Academy.
"We are going to do well against the Mexican clubs because we have a good squad going," said Cody Lofgren. "The three teams we're playing have been around for a very long time in Mexico, so they'll be a good measuring stick for us to see how far along we've come since the Academy has been together."
