Local soccer club kicking into high gear

Hamlet Nalbandyan

GLENDALE -- Heros Baghoumian loves soccer. He’s been loving it ever

since he was a little boy, playing the sport on the streets of his home

country, Iran.

His passion for the sport grew even more when he became areferee in

1968, eventually working his way up to becoming an official for FIFA, the

international governing body of soccer.

And when he came to the United States in 1985, soccer stayed in his

blood. In addition to working for Major League Soccer in its first year,

Baghoumian, 54, is now the Referee Administrator for California Youth

Soccer Assn. South.

So, it’s understandable why Baghoumian was so disappointed with the

youth soccer scene in the local area.

Other than AYSO, there was no other place where youths in Glendale

could learn the fundamentals of the sport. And for those looking for more

advanced training, like playing club soccer, they would have to go

outside the area, like Pasadena and Burbank, to gain the experience.

That’s why Baghoumian started the Glendale Stars Soccer Club two years

ago. According the Baghoumian, it is the only soccer club program in

Glendale.

“I’ve been involved with soccer my whole life,” said Baghoumian, the

father of CV boys’ soccer goalkeeper, Sevada. “I’ve traveled to many

countries refereeing, and everywhere I’ve gone, there has been a strong

foundation for youth soccer except for the area where I live.

“That disappointed me very much.”

Baghoumian teamed with Holy Family girls’ soccer Coach Martin

Merikian, who played first division soccer in Iran, to start the club,

which is affiliated with CYSA and has teams in the 10-and-under and 14-and-under divisions.

The club is open to boys and girls ages 6 to 19. During the CYSA

season, participants practice Mondays and Wednesdays at Wilson Middle

School, and in the offseason -- which is now -- a third practice is added

Saturdays.

Membership is $50 a month. Those looking to join can call Baghoumian

at 249-4295.

“This community needs more of these types of programs, because it

keeps the kids out of trouble,” Baghoumian said.