Top Prospect :: Antonio Nava :: http://owhentheyanks.com/2014/08/29/top-prospect-antonio-nava/ #usynt Rodolfo Nava
Better link: 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
Scored at PK goal with U17s: Gooooall!!! @xolos_en Under 17 takes 1-0 lead vs. @ClubSantosEn. @champi_nava converts PK before halftime. #GoXolos 💪💪💪 #FuerzaTijuas pic.twitter.com/QUhhRwvV8q— Xolos (@xolos_en) September 25, 2016
Scored again... Gooooall! @xolos_en. It's @champi_nava again for a 2-0 @xolos_en lead vs. @ClubSantosEn in Under 17 play. #GoXolos pic.twitter.com/V07sZ860JZ— Xolos (@xolos_en) September 25, 2016 @bungadiri @Friedel'sAccent -- Let's move to YA Academy.
Goooal! @ChampiNava scores for our Under 17 squad @ClubAmerica 0-1 @xolos_en. #GoXolos ⚽⚽⚽— Xolos (@xolos_en) October 15, 2016
Former @DeAnzaForce '99 Mexican-American Antonio Nava, leads Sub 17 division with 9 goals in 13 matches. Nava is a former RB with #usynt— Joey (@USAprospects) October 20, 2016
Called up with the Mexican U18s: http://miseleccion.mx/se-concentro-la-seleccion-nacional-mexico-sub-18/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here is @champi_nava converting a PK for the @xolos_en 2-1 win vs. @ClubTiburones in Under-17 play. #GoXolos #FuerzaTijuas pic.twitter.com/ZloUSIi0hZ— Xolos (@xolos_en) November 18, 2016
Scores for U17s in playoffs: 18th Min. 1-0 GOOOOAALLLL!!! @champi_nava with a goal (4-1 aggregate) #GoXolos #FuerzaTijuas @LIGABancomerMX semifinals 2nd leg.— Xolos (@xolos_en) December 4, 2016
Picked up a second in a losing cause: 50th Min. 2-0 GOOOAAALLL!!! @xolos_en Under-17, @champi_nava buries a shot on a pass by @IvanGacelo (2-4 aggregate) #GoXolos #FuerzaTijuas— Xolos (@xolos_en) December 4, 2016
Playing in a preseason friendly: 62nd min. 2-1 @xolos_en u20 takes the lead with a goal by @Champi_Nava_ #GoXolos #FuerzaTijuas— Xolos (@xolos_en) December 29, 2016 74th Min. 3-1 @Champi_Nava_ adds another for @xolos_en against @albionscpros in friendly in San Diego. #GoXolos #FuerzaTijuas— Xolos (@xolos_en) December 29, 2016
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.
Nava made his U-20 debut for Tijuana in the first game of the Clausura. Started and went 90, but was held goalless.
On the bench for a Copa MX match: These our First XI tonight vs. @CimarronesFC in @CopaCoronaMx action. #GoXolos #WeAreSoccer pic.twitter.com/RCcjGB1vi1— Xolos (@xolos_en) January 18, 2017
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