HUNTINGTON PARK : Soccer Stars Big on Wins, Short on Funds

With the taste of their first tournament victory still fresh, the Cobras, a local youth soccer team, have plans for a winning future. But reaching their goals will take a little financial help from friends.

When the Cobras competed in the HI 5 Tournament in Westminster this month, it marked the first time a Huntington Park youth soccer team had played outside the city. The club beat seven other Southern California teams to take the tournament championship.

Before the Cobras’ tournament appearance, expenses prevented members of the city’s 10 youth soccer teams for 10- to 12-year-old boys from competing in tournaments. Many of the players in the community’s American Youth Soccer Organization league come from low-income households and raising $40 to pay for team registration and a uniform is a struggle.

This year, parents and coaches sold hamburgers at soccer practice and made contributions to raise the $300 the Cobras needed to register for HI 5.

Now, Coach Enrique Viramontes is asking the community to support the local heroes and their fellow players on other teams.

The 10-team soccer league could be expanded to include more players, but there is not enough money to provide adequate equipment, warm-up suits and other supplies, he said.

Without warm-up suits at the tournament in Orange County, the Cobras were “all cold while we were waiting outside and we didn’t know what to do,” said team captain Rigoberto Buenrostro.

The Cobras appeared Tuesday before the City Council to present a symbolic first-place medal to Mayor Raul Perez and accept a congratulatory plaque.

Perez said the city will not be able to fund soccer league activities because of budget constraints, but officials will encourage local businesses to get involved. One merchant has agreed to donate warm-up suits, he said.