For two South County residents the goal is to develop their talent while laying the groundwork for a professional soccer team in San Diego.
The mission of Albion Pros, a semi-pro team which plays its home games at Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach, is to represent San Diego on the professional national soccer scene, while embracing people’s passion for the game.
Resident Oscar Ortega, 21, professional aspiration is simple: to graduate to the professional ranks on San Diego’s own professional soccer team.
“San Diego is a great place to have a semi-pro team to reach out to the community,” said Ortega, who’s played soccer on a youth team since he was age 4 and describes the sport as “pretty much a lifestyle for me.”
Luis Cardona, 22, a Bonita Vista high school graduate has a similar goal.
“My big aspiration is to play professional soccer here in San Diego,” said Cardona. who’s traveled overseas to Brazil, Portugal and Italy to play professional soccer the past five years since he started playing the game at age 15. “I feel this team (Albion) is top quality, and has the potential to become a professional team, from the coaching staff to the marketing department and its directors.”
Nick Surface, Albion spokesman, said the new semi-pro league is a good place for young players, like Ortega and Cardona, to cut their teeth.
“I think the NPSL is a great league for providing players and teams the opportunity to enter the professional ranks,” Surface said. “Chris Wondolowski played in the NPSL so it’s a proven platform for those that have the talent and desire it takes to get to the next level.”
Pointing out Albion began as a San Diego youth soccer club that he played in, Ortega said the semi-pro team is now affiliated with Arsenal Football Club in England, a world-renowned professional soccer team.
Ortega’s committed to doing what it takes to become a professional soccer player.
“It’s going to take a lot of commitment, desire and hard work,” said Ortega, who trains hard five days a week for the “experience and opportunity to move up the ranks as a player.”
Noting there’s “no professional team here in San Diego” right now, Cardona added it’s very important for the city to have one because it would be well supported.
But Cardona has an even loftier goal in mind.
“I want to become a role model that someone could look up to one day,” he said. “It would be beautiful for me, having grown up here, to be on a national professional team. It makes you want to work harder and become a better player, not only for yourself, but for the kids to see that.”
Castle Park alum Felipe Liborio also plays on Albion, which opens its season April 3.
