Commerce City – For Chris Garcia, playing in an all-Hispanic league tournament is unlike any soccer match he’s played in college.
“It’s different soccer,” the 20-year-old said. “It seems more passionate.”
The junior at Metropolitan State College of Denver joined about 1,000 other amateur players from leagues across the state Sunday for Denver’s inaugural year of “Copa DeWalt,” a one-day soccer tournament and festival.
Denver is one of eight cities chosen for this year’s tournament and events, which is sponsored by DeWalt power tools.
Doug Brown of DeWalt estimated that about 500 people came to the fields outside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the event.
Adolfo Rios, a former professional Mexican goalkeeper, said the tournament crowd was different from some he’s seen.
“In this type of tournament, it’s family,” he said in between signing autographs. “It’s very nice.”
Children kicked and bounced soccer balls back and forth to each other, some raising their hands above their heads, pretending they had just scored a goal.
Family members took turns dancing with each other on the concrete plaza near the fields. Others cheered and offered support from the sidelines.
Even though Odias Valenzuela’s team, Mazateco Deportido, was eliminated in the second round of the tournament by eventual champion Chivas Denver, he stuck around with his wife and four children, watching friends play on another field.
“Most of these players we know, so it’s nice to have this competition,” he said.
Watching their son Chris play with Chivas Denver, Vince and Bobbi Garcia sat at the top of the fields with her parents.
“It’s just great to see how much soccer has grown,” Bobbi Garcia said, watching the two fields that had games in play.
Her son has joined Puerto Rico’s national team for those under 23, so he will be traveling and playing internationally while studying business at Metro State.
Chris Garcia said he’s learning more by playing in a Hispanic league.
“In college it’s all about who’s bigger, stronger and faster,” he said. “Here it’s more creative.”
He’s also picking up more Spanish. He knows some from his grandparents.
Though there is a bit of a language barrier, that doesn’t matter when they’re playing, he said.
“On the field it’s easier because it’s just soccer,” he said.
Jesus Arellano, who learned how to play the sport while growing up in Mexico, said playing in America can have its benefits too.
“Here the fields are a lot better, and the economy helps a lot because you can buy everything you need,” he said.
Rios agreed.
“The fields here are wonderful,” he said. “It’s difficult in Mexico to find a place like this.”
Staff writer Sara Crocker can be reached at 303-954-1661 or scrocker@denverpost.com.
