For Servando Perez, the dream of playing professional soccer burns now more than ever. With just four others still alive for Sueno MLS L.A. 2008, he figures a 20 percent chance of walking away as winner of the tournament is as good a position as any.
Perhaps, though, his odds would be higher if he had a ride to southern California.
Perez, 16, has relied on friends for transportation from his home in Guadalupe, Calif. (located up the coast, midway between L.A. and San Francisco), to Bell Gardens and Carson, where the competition has unfolded. Since reaching the final five, he's only been able to make the nearly four-hour trek twice. And he doesn't know if he'll be able to get down again.
"It's been a little hard because I really don't have a ride," said Perez, a junior at Righetti High School. "For the last week I found a ride in the last minute because I had one and then the guy said he couldn't take me."
Ride or no ride, Perez's ambition of playing professional soccer still burns. A soccer addict since he was in fourth grade, Perez glided through the first rounds of this year's tournament with relative ease. Now that he's close to the finish line, he is relying on what he's shown in the first month or so of the competition and statistics to help him win the competition.
"It's a 20 percent chance right now," Perez said. "Anyone can win it right now. It's anyone's game."
At first, however, Perez was not too interested in walking away with the Sueno MLS crown. In fact, he began trying out for the competition thanks to friend Alexis Lomeli. A former high school teammate and current Allan Hancock College student, Lomeli was part of the final 24 a year ago. So when Lomeli talked to Perez about trying out, the youngster agreed.
Transportation to the first round was easy enough -- Lomeli drove and Perez accompanied him. Perez made it past the round of 2,000 but -- to Perez's surprise -- Lomeli did not.
The duo's friendship only increased afterward, though.
"He invited me to come and try out with him," Perez said. "For me, it was just for fun and I went. Once I got past the first round I became more focused and started training with Alexis. I was surprised (that he did not make it) because he made it last year and he's a great player."
Despite his own collegiate class load, Lomeli finds the time to work with Perez.
"He comes after school and trains with me three days a week," Perez said. "He's there for me. He finds me rides sometimes. He tries to do what he can for me."
Getting through the round of 60 was not that difficult, and neither was advancing beyond the final 18, Perez said.
"For me it wasn't that hard. I just went there and played my game," said Perez, a defensive midfielder by trade. "I was simple with how I played and the coaches liked that."
But even as he passed through round after round, it was not until he was notified that he made it past the Final 18 that he fancied himself the tournament winner.
"When I made the top five," Perez said, "that's when I thought I could win."
At school, Perez has become somewhat of a respected figure. His soccer teammates started treating him a bit differently, he said.
"Everybody is excited for me," Perez said. "They tell me 'Good luck' and 'Try your best' and 'Hope you win it, Servando.' They like look up to you now since you are representing your city since you made it top five.'"
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
