Latino Youth H.S. claims victory at ChiTown Cup 2009; PACHS senior named MVP

In neon-yellow, gray and maroon t-shirts, young men of Aspira Charter High School, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican H.S., Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy and Latino Youth Alternative H.S. went “toe-to-toe” at the 2^nd annual ChiTown Cup Soccer Tournament on Saturday, November 14. Spectators, which included school staff, students and family members, gathered to watch the soccer games at the Barreto Union League Boys and Girls Club located in Humboldt Park.

After five games that lasted an average of 20 minutes each, the Latino Youth Alternative High School Soccer Team was named winner and awarded a trophy replica of the World Cup. Latino Youth will be able to hold the trophy at their school until the next Chi-Town Cup. Richard Peralta, senior at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos H.S., was awarded Most Valuable Player award for scoring the most number of goals (8 goals) during the tournament.

The first ChiTown Cup was held in November 2008 at ChiTown Futbol indoor soccer facility located on the South Side. The tournament organizers Raymond Rodríguez, Math teacher at PACHS, and Miguel Guevara, Social Studies and Media Arts teacher at Rudy Lozano, met as members of the same cohort of the Type 9 teacher’s certification program through Illinois College.

“We both love soccer and our students so we put those two together,” said Rodríguez. “We also remember loving soccer tournaments ourselves when we were in high school.” Rodríguez played soccer for Oak Park H.S. while Guevara was on the soccer team at Quigley South H.S.

Rodríguez and Guevara hope to organize at least five soccer tournaments during the 2009-2010 school year that will include a larger group of high schools, alternating the tournament sites between South Side and North Side locations.

Most of the young men participating in the tournament were Mexican like Luis Cardozo, junior at Rudy Lozano and fan of Manchester United. “Mainly, I love the sport,” said Pilsen native Cardozo, while sitting in anticipation of his team’s chance to play at the tournament. “To me, nothing is as good as soccer because of the passion involved,” said Cardozo.

If you are interested in playing in upcoming tournaments or if you would like more information, you are encouraged to contact Raymond Rodríguez at 773-342-8022.

- Marisol Rodríguez