Chino Alegria - Still Playing

[NSG-1]

From the "Where is [insert player's name now]" file, I thought that it might be interesting to DC fans that Chino Alegria is still playing, albeit not in a professional setting per se. He has recently signed with a team in La Liga Internacional de Virginia, which is a Latin (primarily Central American) cash league that plays at the RFK Auxilliary fields (where DC United train).

For those who don't know, the league is actually quite entertaining to watch at times and has occaisionally had some incredibly talented professional players from Central America that were brought up to the US to play for maybe $200-$300 a game with the option of getting a fulltime job in a construction company (or something) that the team ownership group runs. RFK Auxilliary fields also play host to La Copa Taca during the summer and fall, which is basically a Chamions League style tournament for Latin leagues between Richmond and Mid-Maryland. The Copa Taca is generally the most high-intensity competition. It costs something like $6 to watch and is all day Saturdays, usually. There are plenty of chances to see these guys in action if you're vaguely interested.

Anyhow, back to the main point...Chino is playing for a team named Fuerte Liberal and he netted two goals this past weekend.

If you guys want pictures, click on a thumbnail of the sequence of photos of the team in red and white stripes:

http://www.centrodeportivo.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1177&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

PS I think that you may have to sign up for a website log-in to actually view the photos.

[URwormfood]

From the "Where is [insert player's name now]" file, I thought that it might be interesting to DC fans that Chino Alegria is still playing, albeit not in a professional setting per se. He has recently signed with a team in La Liga Internacional de Virginia, which is a Latin (primarily Central American) cash league that plays at the RFK Auxilliary fields (where DC United train).

For those who don't know, the league is actually quite entertaining to watch at times and has occaisionally had some incredibly talented professional players from Central America that were brought up to the US to play for maybe $200-$300 a game with the option of getting a fulltime job in a construction company (or something) that the team ownership group runs. RFK Auxilliary fields also play host to La Copa Taca during the summer and fall, which is basically a Chamions League style tournament for Latin leagues between Richmond and Mid-Maryland. The Copa Taca is generally the most high-intensity competition. It costs something like $6 to watch and is all day Saturdays, usually. There are plenty of chances to see these guys in action if you're vaguely interested.

Anyhow, back to the main point...Chino is playing for a team named Fuerte Liberal and he netted two goals this past weekend.

If you guys want pictures, click on a thumbnail of the sequence of photos of the team in red and white stripes:

http://www.centrodeportivo.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1177&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

PS I think that you may have to sign up for a website log-in to actually view the photos.

Thanks for that link...I may have to check this out!

~~~Worm~~~

[NSG-1]

WormFood, the games are generally worthwhile -- especially towards October when the best of the best are the only teams left fighting for prestige in the Copa Taca competition. Actually, the Copa Taca champion has typically been awarded an all expenses trip down to El Salvador to play pro teams for a few weeks. So, this is actually in some ways bigger than simply mere bragging rights for team owners. If you PM me I can try and get you a schedule of the Copa Taca games over the next few weeks so that you can figure out when to go.

[elconejito]

you may want to post the schedule her on the boards, unless a mod thinks it may be a bit too OT. it would save you from sending out the same message a dozen times. if games are near me, i would probably go watch one or two. i still go watch HS games on occasion if i know good teams are playing so this would be similar...

[CHICO13]

I've been to a few Copa Taca games and the Bolivian league games in VA. Good action. If you have a saturday afternnon to kill and want to watch some pretty entertaing futbol, check it out.

btw, DALE' Chino, La Barra's still behind you. :)

[NicktheGreek]

Good news to hear someone is playing soccer at RFK

[owendylan]

That league is pretty entertaining. I don't know if it still is but it used to be bankrolled by construction guys who would bet a couple grand a game just to up the stakes a little.

[Beppe]

Wow.......................that is pretty damn sad. Going from professional soccer to playing in the Latin Virginian leagues for $300.00 a game. I rather jump off a bridge

[CHICO13]

Wow.......................that is pretty damn sad. Going from professional soccer to playing in the Latin Virginian leagues for $300.00 a game. I rather jump off a bridge
When you love the game it doesn't matter where you play.

[elconejito]

i would MUCH rather be paid to play than pay to play

[NSG-1]

Sorry that I've been delayed in getting back to everyone about the schedule... I actually don't have anything firm yet. Apparently there's some event at the Stadium this weekend so the games will be at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville and they haven't released the times yet. In case you're considering it, be warned that the level of play really drops off when the league isn't playing on good fields, so I wouldn't advise going this weekend.

As for the logistics of how talent is attracted to the league, it works fairly simple... construction company owners and contractors use it as a perk for employees. They scout out talented players from here who get paid a little extra under the table on the weekends, or sometimes they even sign professional players from Central America who earn the equivalent to $200 a week in their home country (which is living like a king of course) and bring them up here to the USA, sponsor them for residency by providing them a full-time job (with medical coverage) in the construction business. So those guys get paid $2-300 here per game which they can send back home to their family that lives well with it and they can acquire a trade and be compensated. It is interesting how it works.

And yes, I only know all of this because I play there (on the team that signed Chino, actually) -- I'm unfortunately on the shelf for a few months with an injury so I will not be on the pitch with him.

[swedcrip34]

How's he looking. I think DC still hold his rights and could sign him up in a moment now!


Mostly kidding. His story is quite unique in all of MLS signings. The struggle to get his work visa was something and I'd recommend a reading of old articles to any new hardcore MLS fan.

[CHICO13]

His story is quite unique in all of MLS signings. The struggle to get his work visa was something and I'd recommend a reading of old articles to any new hardcore MLS fan.
Not to mention he stood with the Barra in the early days.

[superdave]

Wow.......................that is pretty damn sad. Going from professional soccer to playing in the Latin Virginian leagues for $300.00 a game. I rather jump off a bridge
So would we.