Young talent ready to shine for Houston Dynamo
(image via Leones Negros CF)
We’ve talked some this preseason about how the Houston Dynamo have been quiet in the transfer market. They announced the signing of veteran midfielder Jan Gregus yesterday but outside of that, there hasn’t been much news. Part of that reason is because the club has kept the core of the team together and doesn’t have much wiggle room in senior roster spots, and more importantly, salary cap space. We see this happen in many sports, teams get successful and then are tasked with having to keep their talent while also staying competitive. The Dynamo’s downtown neighbors, the Houston Astros, have been very good at this. One of their reasons, their farm system, and the younger players. The Dynamo brought Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy and a number of young players on the trip to Mexico and they’re showing, so far, that they’re ready for their moment in the spotlight and to help fuel the next wave of success for the club.
Bundy has been with the club for a number of years and has been the head coach of Dynamo 2 since its inception. He stepped away briefly to lead the Dynamo on an interim basis, and he knows the value of having young players integrated with the first team on this trip. “There's a difference between experience and actually coming out and performing,” Bundy said after Monday’s preseason match, the third of the trip. The expectations that you put on these guys in an environment like this is really important. It's not about being here, feeling it out and seeing how it is. It's about coming in and performing, pushing the guys on the first team, competing when you get minutes and learning as much as you can as quickly as possible. This is a whirlwind of a trip. They've been excellent with the way that they've handled themselves as professionals. There’s a lot of growth for every young player in that aspect because on the field is one thing, but how you manage a trip like this and how you manage, for some of them, their schoolwork, the physical aspect and being on your own, it's really important. It's a great experience."
The players that made the trip, including Kieran Sargeant, Sebastian Rodriguez, and Zeke Soto, are all learning those lessons of not just on field but what has to be done off the field as well. "It's my rookie season, so I’m stepping into a completely new environment as a professional, Sargeant said. “I've learned that it's the little things, like all the details that it takes to manage yourself and your body. I've been learning a lot from the older guys about how to manage those kinds of things and how to eat right, sleep well and just take care of yourself. Being out here, it's made ten times better." Rodriguez also spoke about what it’s like being professional. “Off the field, it's just being professional day-in and day-out,” the Homegrown midfielder said. “Just being on time and being a professional in everything you do." The also know that it’s what happens on the field that counts in matches and the young players are learning some lessons about their games as well. "I've learned that it's not as easy as the Academy days,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, we have less time on the ball.” Rodriguez and Soto are still just teenagers and are soaking in as much as they can from the staff and veteran players. "I talked to a couple of coaches about it, coming into the first team, and I learned that I have to be really loud,” Soto said. “I have to assert my presence and let them know that I'm here. I think I've done pretty well over the past games and training sessions to be vocal. That's definitely one thing when playing up with grown men is to make yourself present."
It’s all about growth for these players and putting them in the position to not only continue their development but to push for minutes at Dynamo 2 and eventually the first team. Bundy knows these players have the make up and they are embracing their opportunity. "We're very clear that we want the right type of people, and we want a growth mindset,” Bundy said. “That's what they've shown. They might have surprised some people, but I don't think they surprised the first team staff or the second team staff with how they've acted on this trip."
For the players, getting to spend time with the first team players is a great experience for them on their journey to putting on the Dynamo jersey and playing in MLS. “It's been fun. This is a new experience for me,” Rodriguez said. “I've never been out of country with the Dynamo, and it's just been a great experience overall." Sargeant us coming straight from college at Georgetown and is taking in all he can in his time in Mexico. “I've been able to learn a lot from the coaching staff and from some of the older guys,” the defender said. “Plus, getting minutes is always nice too. I'm really happy with how this trip has been going so far." Soto, who is of Mexican descent has enjoyed the trip for that reason as well. "It's been great just getting in with the first team at training,” he said. “Also getting closer to the players off the field, and obviously just being in Mexico. I'm also Mexican, so being around here is really nice. It's been really good."
While they are still young players, they have had their chances to shine in the matches the Dynamo have played down in Mexico. All three players have gotten minutes and Soto and Sargeant have found the back of the net. They’re learning valuable lessons and making memories they will have to continue pushing them. "My favorite moment was during the last game when I scored,” Soto said. “Coming on the pitch, that's a really exciting moment for myself and obviously my family." Sargeant scored his first goal of preseason in Monday’s game against Leones Negros and he’s piling up favorite moments. “Honestly, the first one would be that goal I just scored,” Sargeant said about his memories of the trip. “Of course, just hanging out with the guys, meeting the team, making new friends and new relationships." Rodriguez said his favorite moment is being in Mexico, because like Soto, he is of Mexican descent. "My favorite moment was probably the first training session because it's obviously my home country, where my parents are from, here in Mexico. Just training with the first team here in Mexico. It's been a great experience and I love it so far."
Now these players, alongside some more youngsters that made the trip like Diego Gonzalez who scored Monday, will continue their development in Mexico and when they return to Houston. Scoring goals and performing well on this trip is a great sign but Bundy knows it’s just the beginning. "Doing well in preseason is one thing,” the Dynamo 2 boss said. “We'll see how it plays out through the season. We hope this is a springboard for them. It gives the younger players in our Academy a little insight on what can happen if you do the right things. For every Academy player that is here, there's someone that they can look up to, but they still have a lot to prove. They still have a lot to compete for."
The Dynamo hope that they keep proving and competing all the way to the first team and beyond. If the club can finally develop the pipeline of Houston soccer from the Academy all the way to the senior club quiet offseasons won’t be an issue at all. Having young talent, that doesn’t hurt the salary cap is the way to sustained success and the Houston Dynamo look to now be ready to make those steps throughout the organization.
