CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA Under-17 Head Coach Samuel Rivas today announced the 20-player roster for the Chivas USA Under-17's upcoming trip to Colorado for the Inaugural Soccer United Marketing U-17 Cup, starting tomorrow, Friday, June 13. Chivas USA is set to take part in this elite competition, focused on player development between 12 MLS-sponsored youth teams. The Cup will be held from July 13 - July 19 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park sports complex in Commerce City, Colorado. The tournament final is scheduled to be played on main stadium field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park the morning of the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.
"The inaugural SUM U-17 Cup represents a great opportunity for our Chivas USA U-17's to compete against the best U-17 teams in all of Major League Soccer. We hope that our side will put on a good performance, following in the footsteps of our Chivas USA U-19's and their recent trip to Guadalajara, as well as last year's successful trip to the Copa Saprissa," said Chivas USA Director of Soccer Dennis te Kloese.
The 12-team pool is comprised of the U-17 teams of all MLS clubs excluding Toronto FC and the New England Revolution and with two teams representing the Colorado Rapids. The tournament format will feature three groups of four with the group winners and the best second place team advancing to the semi finals which take place on Tuesday, July 17. The champion will take home the SUM U-17 Cup and earns the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Torneo Quixote in Spain.
This tournament is being hosted at no cost to all participants as Soccer United Marketing and participating MLS Teams are covering the costs of player travel, accommodations and other tournament-related expenses.
SCHEDULE :: CHIVAS USA U-17'S TO INAUGURAL SUM U-17 CUP
| Date | Game/Opponent (Team) | Location Result/Time(Local) | |
| 7/13 Fr | Kansas City Wizards | DSGP Complex Field 5 | 7:30 p.m. MT |
| 7/14 Sa | FC Dallas | DSGP Complex Field 5 | 7:00 p.m. MT |
| 7/16 Mo | New York Red Bulls | DSGP Complex Field 2 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| 7/17 Tu | (Semifinals) | DSGP Complex Field 1 & 2 | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. MT |
| 7/19 Th | (SUM U-17 Cup Championship Game) | DSGP Stadium | 10:00 a.m. MT |
Led by head coach (and former Chivas de Guadalajara player) Samuel Rivas, the Chivas USA U-17's are scheduled to play three group matches in the tournament from July 13-16. On July 13, the Red-and-White will face the Kansas City Wizards in their first group match, before facing FC Dallas on July 14 and closing out group play against the New York Red Bulls on July 16. After these preliminary matches, Chivas will hope to advance into the semi-final rounds, to be played July 17, and the final, to be played on the Main Stadium field July 19 the morning of the All-Star Game.
"Our group of U-17 players has been training very hard at the Bell Gardens Sports Complex since the beginning of this year," said Chivas USA U-17 Head Coach Samuel Rivas. "I have faith in every member of our young squad, which is comprised of talented local players, including six players we identified during the Sueño MLS tryouts earlier this year."
20-PLAYER ROSTER :: CHIVAS USA U-17'S TO INAUGURAL SUM U-17 CUP
Name Birth Date Position Hometown
Omar Becerra * 09-20-1990 M San Diego, CA
Orlando Benitez 01-27-1991 F Los Angeles, CA
Carlo Chueca 03-23-1993 M Palm Springs, CA
Gilbert Contreras * 02-16-1990 D Downey, CA
Diego Delgadillo * 02-19-1990 F Bell Gardens, CA
Jose Diaz * 01-25-1991 D Fontana, CA
Omar Elimasri 09-05-1990 D Arcadia, CA
Eric Escobedo 07-16-1990 F Bell Gardens, CA
Juan Gonzalez 10-09-1991 D Long Beach, CA
Mario Ledezma 12-17-1990 F Sylmar, CA
Hector Molina 11-05-1990 M / GK Van Nuys, CA
Oliquer Olivar * 02-10-1991 F Winnetka, CA
Jorge Padilla 03-30-1991 GK South Gate, CA
Jorge Ramirez 05-23-1991 M Upland, CA
Albert Reynoso 06-30-1991 M Long Beach, CA
Andrew Robles * 11-16-1990 M Lynwood, CA
Hugo Sánchez 09-10-1990 D Los Angeles, CA
Victor Sánchez 08-23-1990 F Huntington Park, CA
Jordan Valenciano 06-20-1991 M Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Cesar Zamora 05-27-1991 M Sylmar, CA
Head Coach: Samuel Rivas
Assistant Coach: Sacha van der Most
Director of Soccer: Dennis te Kloese
(*) = indicates Sueño MLS player
Participating coaches at the SUM U-17 Cup will benefit from coaching seminars led by Major League Soccer official Alfonso Mondelo, who serves as Technical Director of Player Programs. The tournament finalists will be invited to watch the MLS All-Stars training session at Dick's Sporting Goods Park stadium field on Wednesday, July 18 as they prepare to face Celtic FC in the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.
