Antonio 'Champi' Nava with Queretaro

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by CreightonMCFCjoey, Aug 29, 2014.

  1. CreightonMCFCjoey

    Jan 30, 2007
    Omaha, NE
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. Testudo

    Testudo Member+

    Jan 29, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Better link:
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    There has been much made of the US players traveling south across the border to continue there development. Seemingly lost among the shuffle in the media has been No Cal starlet Antonio Nava. The former US U14 defender swapped USSDA club De Anza Force for an opportunity with American friendly Tijuana Xolos.
    Nava has enjoyed loads of success in his first season with Xolos. He’s been a staple with the Tijuana U17 squad, and has featured with the U15 side that recently competed in the highly competitive Fuerzas Basicas Sub 15 Tournament in Mexico City....

    AN :: I left De Anza force because I thought over there in Xolos there are more opportunities to get into their first team squad. I am also working hard to get called up to the Mexico youth national teams.
    OWTY :: You’ve been included in US U14 & U15 squads, has Mexico ever contacted you about playing for them?
    AN :: Mexico has never really contacted me, but there are scouts scouting me for the Mexico national team that’s all I know up to this point about the national team.

    OWTY :: Have you given up hope for playing with the US youth National Teams?
    AN :: I haven’t lost the hope of playing for the U.S national team. I’m really grateful, and I appreciate everything that the players, coaches, the team and the federation as done for me. My family does live in the U.S and it will be a honor to play for them one day, but the time will tell us. Right now it’s hard to choose at these moments I’m more focused about getting to the first team for Xolos and if God gives me the opportunity to choose one of the national teams that will show that I was doing something good, but I Love both teams and it will be a honor to play for either one of them.... In one year I hope to see myself in the Mexico National Team and debuting for the first team of Xolos De Tijuana. In 5 years I hope to see myself in the first team of the Mexico National Team and playing for Real Madrid in Europe.

    http://owhentheyanks.com/2014/08/29/top-prospect-antonio-nava/

    USSDA lists him as a '99 with Mexican nationality from Redwood City, CA:
    http://ussda.demosphere.com/teams/47158256/47187221-47158343/54748921.html
     
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  3. ChuckMe92

    ChuckMe92 Member+

    Jun 23, 2016
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's with Tijuana U-17 for 2016-17.
     
  4. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  5. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Scored again...


    @bungadiri @Friedel'sAccent -- Let's move to YA Academy.
     
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  6. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  7. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
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  8. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  9. Gacm32

    Gacm32 Member+

    Chelsea
    Switzerland
    Nov 28, 2010
    Geneva
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
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  10. ChuckMe92

    ChuckMe92 Member+

    Jun 23, 2016
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is odd that there have been no apparent signs of US interest in him beyond the U-15 level, unlike (among others) Edwin Lara who switched to Mexico despite continued interest/callups from the US. I don't believe for a second that Nava wouldn't be good enough for US youth teams. Either he has turned down recent US callups (at least that would show the US had the right process) or this is an oversight.
     
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  11. Gacm32

    Gacm32 Member+

    Chelsea
    Switzerland
    Nov 28, 2010
    Geneva
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    If I had to guess, it was a oversight by USSF. Typical. Same way we dropped the ball with Efrain Alvarez...up to this point.
     
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  12. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    Whatever U.S. Soccer might or might not have done wrong with its handling of Alvarez thus far, how does "oversight" apply? He's played for the U.S. several times in 2016. Nava has not been called in for a couple of years I believe.
     
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  13. Gacm32

    Gacm32 Member+

    Chelsea
    Switzerland
    Nov 28, 2010
    Geneva
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    There's a difference between simply calling a player up, and making that player feel at home and comfortable when they are with the U.S. setup. We hear this constantly with Mex/U.S. dual-nationals: they weren't really welcomed as an integral part of the squad while in camp. Mexico makes these kids feel comfortable, and at home. They make them feel like they matter, and won't just be discarded regardless of progression. We need to attract these kids to the program, and make them want to stay once they've experienced it. Look at all the young, talented players we have that are eligible for us, but are now playing for Mexico. Zendejas, Lara, Alvarez, Nava, etc.
     
  14. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    I certainly agree that U.S. Soccer should make talented players of all backgrounds feel welcome and be sensitive to any evidence that it is not doing so.

    But the word you used was "oversight," which is what I was wondering about. If you think this (above) constitutes an oversight, fair enough.
     
  15. Gacm32

    Gacm32 Member+

    Chelsea
    Switzerland
    Nov 28, 2010
    Geneva
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    If we're debating the use of the word, then I apologize for the confusion. It wasn't my word choice in the first place, I was just answering the initial question.
     
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  16. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    Not debating, just looking for clarity. Thanks.
     
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  17. ChuckMe92

    ChuckMe92 Member+

    Jun 23, 2016
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My original point was that "oversight" applies to Nava, but I'd say that does not necessarily apply to Lara and Alvarez because the US was showing interest in them, including call-ups, at the time they switched to Mexico. Hamalainen is arguably another oversight. Timothy Tillman is not an oversight because the US has recently contacted him, even though he is sticking with Germany and likely will for at least a little while longer. Anyway, I digress.
     
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  18. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  19. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  20. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  21. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  22. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nava blew up in the 2016 Apertura, starting 21 games and scoring 14 goals for the U17s across the regular season and playoffs.

    In his previous 63 games for Tijuana's U17 and U15 games, he scored a grand total of one goal. The article posted by @Testudo near the top of this thread says that at the time (in 2014) he was a defender. It seems quite possible that Nava has benefited from a position switch.

    Nava seems like a case for new USSF scout Thomas Rongen to check out.
     
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  23. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Nava made his U-20 debut for Tijuana in the first game of the Clausura. Started and went 90, but was held goalless.
     
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  24. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  25. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Played in friendly against LA Galaxy:

    Club Tijuana
    : Luis Michel (Dilan Nicoletti 66’), John Requejo (Angel Uribe 89’), Hiram Munoz, Juan Carlos Nunez (Luis Martinez 80’), Matias Pizano (Ramon Ceja 89’), Pablo Meza (Amando Moreno 58’), Carlos Vargas, Juan Carlos Medina (Adrian Ramos 63’), Luis Chavez (Antonio Nava 86’), Jorge Alberto Ortiz, Henry Martin (Daniel Lopez 86’)

    http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2017/0...axy-open-preseason-play-1-1-draw-club-tijuana
     
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