The Play’s the Thing : Shoestring Soccer Club Has Bag Full of Dreams

Several times a week, aspiring young soccer players come to Juan Cervantes’ house on Hamilton Street, pile into the back of his Chevrolet truck and head out to find a patch of grass.

The kids are members of Seleccion A, a Costa Mesa soccer club made up largely of Latino boys with dreams of turning professional and going to the World Cup.

Unlike other mainstream leagues, there are no set practice fields or enough uniforms to go around. Cervantes’ truck is the bus, most of the balls are donated and relatives--including his 17-year-old son--are the coaches.

But this hasn’t deterred the upstart club or the enthusiasm of its members, whose numbers continue to grow beyond the current roster of 100. Each week they can be seen, dribbling, passing and heading the ball in local neighborhood schoolyards throughout the city. Now and again they even manage to win a few. Sometimes even championships.

After a jittery start last year, the age under-12 Seleccion team swept their division, despite losing their practice field at TeWinkle Intermediate School when a neighbor complained.

“I cried when I saw the kids laughing and jumping because they were champions,” said Cervantes, a 42-year-old construction worker who has volunteered thousands of hours to pass onto the children his love of the game. “That is why I stay with the kids.”

When Cervantes’ son, Juan, turned 7, like most parents he worried about him growing up and falling in with the wrong crowd. Instead of sitting back and fretting, he bought him a soccer ball. But more than that he gave Juan some of his time.

With just eight kids, not even enough for two teams, Seleccion A got its start. From there they grew to two teams. Then three. Today they are six teams strong, with participants ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old.

They compete in the Boy Scout League, which is run by Ignacio Rivera, a professional soccer player from Mexico. The 900 or so members come from around Orange County, including Buena Park, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. Although it was formed about nine years ago to expose Latinos to the sport, through the years other ethnic groups have joined. A melody of languages--Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese as well as English--often fills the air during the weekly workouts.

“I love seeing the kids play soccer,” said Rivera, a professional for 14 years. “We have to help the kids.”

Besides offering a forum for countywide soccer competition, the Boy Scout League also provides insurance and uniforms for the members, who pay $23 a year to play. Without the help, especially the insurance that runs well into the thousands of dollars, many would go without soccer, Rivera said.

On Thursday night about 50 kids gathered for their workout at TeWinkle Intermediate School. The different age groups scatter around the field. Five-year-olds run to the net that towers over them, fighting to get first crack at the ball for the shooting drill, while at the other end the 14-year-olds scrimmage, pretending they’re in the World Cup.

Cervantes, clad in cleats, a soccer shirt and sweat pants, walks around keeping control over the players, blowing his whistle and pointing out techniques. Discipline is something he demands and respect is something he gets.

“He is the best coach I ever had,” said Armando Quinones, 12, who plays center halfback. “He is really nice. When you don’t have a ride he will give you one.”

Jorge Mendoza, 13, has been coming since he was 5. One of the los toritos, or little bulls, according to his coach, he is a player with a lot of promise. Mendoza says maybe someday he would like to play in college.

“I just want to be good,” he said, still huffing from running laps. In fact a few former team members have gone on to play college ball.

For now, though, Seleccion A is concentrating on this year’s titles. The field looks good and they might have a few chances for championships, Cervantes said. If they work hard enough, trophies or even more could become a reality, he said. “I want to see one of these kids play professional ball. That is my dream.”