SoccerAmerica - Yanks on the move in Mexico 01/05/2011

[AMERICANS ABROAD] The Mexican league kicks off the Torneo Clausura -- the second stage of the season -- this weekend. There's been plenty of movement on the player front. U.S. World Cup defender Jonathan Bornstein, who moved from Chivas USA to Tigres as a free agent, is just one of five Americans who have joined or switched Mexican clubs over the break.

Daniel Antunez has left Inter Turku of the Finnish Veikkausliiga for Estudiantes Tecos, where he joins fellow American Sammy Ochoa, who made 14 appearances in the fall campaign, more than in his previous three full seasons combined.

A pair of Mexican-American veterans are on the move on loan for the winter-spring season. Texan Marco Antonio Vidal left Pachuca for Club Leon of the second-division Liga de Ascenso, his third club in the last year.

New Mexico product Edgar Castillo will move to Puebla, the third club he has played at on loan since leaving Club America after the 2009 fall season.

Isaac Acuna joined Queretaro on loan from Club America. The 21-year-old midfielder, the first prep product from Calexico, Calif., to turn pro since Paulo Wanchope in the mid-1990s, debuted for America last spring.

Primera Division
Isaac Acuna, Queretaro
Daniel Antunez, Estudiantes Tecos
Jonathan Bornstein, Tigres
Edgar Castillo, Puebla
Herculez Gomez, Pachuca
Sonny Guadarrama, Atlante
Francisco Lopez, Jaguares
Sammy Ochoa, Estudiantes Tecos
Miguel Angel Ponce, Guadalajara
Jose Francisco Torres, Pachuca

Liga de Ascenso
Joe Benny Corona, Club Tijuana
Joaquin Hernandez, Indios
Marco Antonio Vidal, Club Leon

Note: This list does not include the many players on the under-20, under-17 or minor league affiliates of pro clubs.

0 comments

Ric Fonseca

commented on: January 6, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

Amazing, eh? That these players can find a playing home while the MLS continues to wallow in bringing over across the pond has-been-European/English talent, in addition, how many of them are natural born or naturalized citizens that could perhaps make the national teams, not just the "senior" team, but the U23, 21, etc? As the song of old says: "When will we ever learn...?"

David Huff

commented on: January 6, 2011 at 7:02 p.m.

Concur w/ Ric 100%, unfortunately the USSF's "Team Bradley" approach will continue to neglect this talented pool of technically-skilled players. We really need to look at how players are being developed in places like Argentina, Brasil, Spain, France, Italy and Germany - we could learn some valuable lessons.

Joy Hottington

commented on: January 6, 2011 at 9:25 p.m.

Please give Bradley a rest. At least 3 or 4 of those guys have played for the US, and some of them have played in MLS too. Who knows if any/all of them want to play for the US or in the US. MLS isn't the right place for everyone and we should be proud and glad that we have professionals all around the globe that are eligible for the national team. Bradley has given a chance to most players that deserve it, especially when you count this camp going on now. When will YOU ever learn?

David Huff

commented on: January 7, 2011 at 5:56 p.m.

@ Joy, the "Team Bradley" approach yielded a largely mediocre 4 years, culminating in a lackluster performance at South Africa WC 2010 that also squandered a doable path to the WC-semis. Now we are stuck with four more years of this crap. WHEN WILL YOU EVER LEARN?!?

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