Sacramento-born Miguel Angel Ponce has been included in Mexico’s preliminary Copa America roster of 26 players by Coach Luis Fernando Tena, who is taking a U-23squad to the tournament. The squad must be pared down to 22 players by June 27.
Ponce, 22, was born to Mexican parents and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. He started all 17 games for ChivasGuadalajara in the Apertura 2010 tournament, scoring two goals. During the recently concluded Clausura 2011, Ponce was sidelined for eight games with an injury but came back to help Chivas reach thesemifinals.
Back in September 2010, Ponce told MLSsoccer.com, “I was born in America, but in my case, my family is Mexican, so I’m more Mexican than American. … If the U.S. isinterested [in my services], then I haven’t noticed.”
The Argentina-hosted Copa America takes place July 1-24. Mexico is in Group C with Uruguay, Chile and Peru.