EDINBURG, Texas - Diego Reyna, assistant principal of operations at IDEA Toros, has given his explanation for why the Rio Grande Valley is nationally recognized as a hotbed for soccer.
“This (region) has been known as a hotbed for soccer since the 90s. It is something that national writers have written about. They've said this is a hotbed for talent. And one of the reasons is, it's a playground sport here,” Reyna said.
“When you think of why the United States has the best basketball players, it’s because it's a playground sport. Kids are playing and they're becoming creative by playing without coaches, without playing on the outdoor fields.”
Reyna said the Valley is different to other parts of the country in that respect. “In other parts of the country it’s more structured, they (the young players) are playing in clubs, they're going to a practice, they're being taught a certain way.”
Reyna continued: “But here in the Valley, we have kids playing in parks, we have kids playing in their backyard, we have kids playing with their uncles and their dads. And so there's a different type of player that comes out of the Valley. They are a creative type of player that you can't teach.”
Reyna likened the Valley’s environment to that of Rosario, Argentina, where arguably the world’s greatest soccer player, Lionel Messi, grew up.
“You know, they say Messi was Messi when he was ten, right? Well, it wasn't coaches who helped him become Messi. It was playing in the streets, playing with all the kids and learning. We have an environment similar to that here, and it's a playground sport here.
“You can find a kid at 17 years old (here) who's just a total gem. That doesn't happen in other cities because the way to keep moving up in soccer (in other regions) is through programs, through clubs and there you are taught. It is a different kind of player.”
Diego ReynaAsked to reiterate that soccer coaches across the nation know this, Reyna said: “One hundred percent. They know there's a hotbed for talent here and they know there's a different type of player here.”
Reyna gave an in-depth interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service at a recent news conference. It was held to announce that IDEA Toros Fútbol would be part of MLS Next, a feeder league for Major League Soccer.
Reyna said students at Edinburg-based IDEA Toros do not miss out on academic studies. He said that when colleges are looking to recruit soccer players from IDEA they ask about their academic grades.
“It is not about their talent. They are asked about their grades, and what their character is like. So, if you're not being developed on that level too then you're going to miss out on those opportunities. And so here, we're going to push them academically, just as hard as they are being pushed on the soccer field,” Reyna said.
“We are ranked in the top one percent of high schools. We were ranked the 23rd best school in Texas by U.S. News and World Report. We have ranked the last couple years. And so they're coming here, a lot of the kids, for the soccer experience, but they immediately are able to make the connection that if they get better grades, they're going to have more opportunities in soccer, because it's going to open up those doors to those colleges that they really want to play at.”
Editor's Note: Here, below, is an in-depth audio interview with Diego Reyna about the IDEA Toros Fútbol Academy:
Editor's Note: The above sports story is the second in a two-part series on IDEA Toros entering the MLS Next League. Click here to watch Part One.
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