On Sunday October 28, 2012 the South Valley Chivas Academy players and parents were hosted by the USC Trojan Women Soccer head coach Ali Khosroshahin and his coaching staff at the USC vs California PAC-12 conference game.
The chivas group of about 40 players and parents were treated to a tour of the USC campus before the game and were addressed personally by coach Khosroshahin himself about college eligibility and specifically his women soccer program at USC. “It takes great pleasure for us to be able to bring a group of young soccer players from Porterville to such a prestigious college campus and with such a great sport programs and have the head coach address and answer all of our players questions about getting into college”, said Gilbert Hernandez.
“It doesn’t get any better than this when you hear it straight from the main person who is doing all the recruiting!!”, said Hernandez. “This is exactly why my brothers and myself are so much involved in youth soccer in the Porterville area and we make this an annual trip for all our players and parents.”
Esmaldo and Gilbert Hernandez became good friends of coach Khosroshahin during the 2008 U17 Women CONCACAF Wold Cup qualifying tournament in Trinidad Tobago when Esmaldo daughter Amber Hernandez was called up to represent the Mexican U17 Women National team in the tournament and at the time Khosroshahin was an assistant coach to the Leonard Cuellar with the MWNT. During the tournament the Hernandez brothers were asked to help with some of the team training and game analysts for the MWNT and from then on they have kept in touch with coach Khosroshahin.
The USC Trojan Women would eventually lost 1-0 to California in a typically hard fought PAC-12 match. To the amazement of all our younger girl players US Women National player standout, Alex Morgan was at the game to watch her alma mater, Califorinia against USC. “That was the icing on the cake for most of our young players as their eyes light up with amazement when they were able to go over to a friendly, Alex Morgan and ask her for an autograph!!”.