On Thursday night, El Paso Locomotive FC continued to celebrate the talent that is growing in its own backyard. Ten players with ages ranging from 15 to 18, all from the Borderland, signed to Locomotive FC’s growing USL Academy Team.
Seated at tables, donned with El Paso Locomotive crests and scarves, the night was designed to create the professional atmosphere these players dream of achieving. The latest Locomotive USL Academy signings were joined by their families in the audience as General Manager, Business Operations Andrew Forrest and Locomotive Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson welcomed them to the next stages of their careers.
Familiar faces such as Diego Garcia (15), Joel Maldonado (18), and Defender Jaime Villagomez (18) re-signed new USL Academy contracts. In their first year with the Academy, all three experienced firsthand the unique opportunities afforded to Locomotive USL Academy players. Throughout the 2021 season, Garcia, Maldonado, and Villagomez all trained extensively with the First Team, even making the game-day roster.
Maldonado and Villagomez have featured on the bench multiple times for the first team, while Garcia made his first professional debut coming off the bench as a late-game substitute in the 80th minute against LA Galaxy II.
Joining those three on their first USL Academy contracts, all of who signed live at the tables last night. Diego Abarca (16), Venancio Calderon (18), Noe Coutino (18), Oscar Sosa (18), Rommel Tarin (17), and Raul Vazquez (16) have joined the Locomotive USL Academy, signing live during Thursday night’s event taking the next steps in the path to their professional ranks. Bryan Salas (16) also signed a USL Academy contract, though did not attend the event.
Since the start of the preseason, players from the from El Paso Locomotive’s U-19 Senior Academy team have been side by side with El Paso Locomotive at training sessions and in preseason games. Taking guidance from professionals such Midfielder Richie Ryan, Defender Yuma, and U.S. Youth National Team member Midfielder Diego Luna, the Locomotive Youth Soccer Club players have been improving their game as professionals. In preseason match-ups, Head Coach John Hutchinson took special care to evaluate the players, leading to these nine players earning their shot at USL Academy contracts.
“The view was to make my opinion on what I thought was necessary on our squad and the players that stood up and deserved the chance to sign these contracts,” said Coach Hutchinson. “The reason they are all here, all of these young men is because they deserve it.”
As Hutchinson looks to deepen the integration between the Locomotive USL Academy Team and El Paso Locomotive FC, these players will only continue to grow as professionals as they pursue careers in professional soccer, or move on to elite college programs, and beyond.
Having nine players sign USL Academy contracts with the club is a testament to the talent and skill that exists in our very own backyard. These players have all grown up in the Borderland area, playing in high schools such as Canutillo, Franklin, Las Cruces, and Bel-Air. It has been said that El Paso is a hotbed for soccer, and El Paso Locomotive will continue to shine a light on the Sun City youth as it looks to help them on their path to pro.
“What I can guarantee you is that the Academy system in El Paso, the setup, the way the club looks after these kids, is one of the best I’ve seen through my career of coaching and playing. What we can guarantee is that we will look after them like they are our sons as well,” Hutchinson concluded.