To put it in a context local sports fans can relate to, having Mexican professional soccer giant Club America playing in Santa Barbara is like having the New York Yankees come to town.
Club America is the richest team in Mexico, owned by the media giant Televisa.
Recognized throughout the soccer world by their bright yellow uniforms and a team emblem of a yellow soccer ball emblazoned with the American continents and the letters CA on it, los Aguilas (the Eagles) have won 33 championships in their illustrious history. On Sunday, they will take on league rival los Monarcos (the Monarchs) of Atlético Morelia in an exhibition match at UCSB’s Harder Stadium. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
The game is being presented by Santa Barbara Soccer Entertainment, a company run by local soccer legend Rudy Ybarra.
“The fact we get these two teams is huge,” said Ybarra.
Club America of Mexico City has rabid fans throughout the U.S., and plenty of anti-supporters, too.
“You either love them or hate them,” said Ybarra, who is expecting fans of arch-rival Chivas of Guadalajara to come to the game hoping to see America lose.
Morelia has a loyal following in the area. Owned by TV Azteca, los Monarcos are from the state of Michoacan, which is home for a large number of Mexicans living in Southern California.
Ybarra was able to arrange this game because of a break in the Mexican First Division season for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition.
“It was a FIFA date and the teams were available to us,” said Ybarra, referring to the competition calendar set up by international soccer’s governing body.
This weekend’s World Cup qualifiers will impact the rosters of both clubs Sunday. Club America will be without six players who were called up to play for their respective national teams (Pavel Pardo, Oscar Emilio Rojas and Guillermo Ochoa for Mexico; Enrique Vera and Salvador Cabañas for Paraguay and Jean Beausejour for Chile). Morelia will be missing Oscar Rojas of Costa Rica.
The player absences shouldn’t detract from quality of the game, said Ybarra.
“If somebody decides to go to this game, I really believe they’re going to see probably the best soccer game they’re going to see here, honestly,” he said. “I think these guys are going to pick up the level. They might not have an international player, and I agree I want to see that player play in person, but what about the opportunity that we might see the next superstar?”
Club America and Cruz Azul drew nearly 25,000 fans for an exhibition game Wednesday night in El Paso, Texas. America won 2-0 on goals by Enrique Esqueda and Daniel Marquez.
Morelia played Thursday in Tijuana, Mexico and defeated los Xolos of Tijuana 1-0 on a free-kick goal by Ignacio Carrasco.
Ybarra said these exhibition games give the coaches an opportunity to look at their young players in action.
“It’s important that they get to play games and keep their players active,” he said. “It’s a chance for the coaches to see players in different formations. Let’s be realistic, you get to see some young talent. It’s a chance to develop a player for the future.”
