Twenty-year-old Benji Joya took a circuitous path to Main League Soccer, and now that he is right here the Chicago Hearth midfielder is keen to make a constructive impression.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 21, 2014
2:09 PM
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THE CHICAGO FIRE suffered by a disappointing 2013 marketing campaign, however there are causes to be optimistic concerning the upcoming season.
For starters, veteran coach Frank Yallop is now operating the present, which ought to present stability and management. And Mike Magee, Main League Soccer’s reigning MVP, is returning for his first full season with the membership, which ought to deliver continuity to the assault.
On prime of that, the acquisition of former U.S. U-20 midfielder Benji Joya would possibly simply present a welcome spark in the midst of the sphere.
Joya, 20, was formally acquired by MLS earlier this month from Santos Laguna. He was positioned in an allocation lottery, which the Chicago Hearth received. The announcement put a smile on Joya’s face, because it instantly transported him again to one of many highlights of his younger profession.
Again in September 2012, an 18-year-old Joya made his senior-team debut for Santos Laguna in a pleasant towards the Hearth in Toyota Park. Within the twenty fourth minute of that match, Joya collected the ball and moved to the highest of the field earlier than hitting an ideal strike that curled simply contained in the close to submit, giving Santos Laguna a 1-0 lead in a match than would finish in a 2-2 draw.
“It’s a lot of memories I build when I think of Chicago and Toyota Park,” Joya informed American Soccer Now from the Hearth’s preseason camp. “Thinking about that day makes me really happy.”
Joya is hoping to create extra reminiscences, and much more objectives, for the Hearth within the years forward. And to date he has made a terrific first impression. Joya earned an help in a 2-0 preseason win over D.C. United on February 9 after which scored the game-winner in a 1-0 win rematch between the 2 golf equipment.
“So far everything has been going great,” Joya mentioned. “The trainings have been intense. It’s been fun. The team has been working hard. We have something in mind and that’s to be champions. I want to be a champion in my first year in MLS.”
Joya’s highway to Main League Soccer was something however clean. He grew up in San Jose and ultimately grew to become a standout performer with native membership DeAnza Power. Throughout this time he labored part-time along with his mom in her janitorial service enterprise to assist the household make ends meet.
Finally he was found by Santos Laguna and progressed rapidly to the membership’s first crew, the place he would make his Liga MX debut in 2012. His early success helped him rise to prominence with the U.S. U-20 crew below Tab Ramos, the place he would change into an integral a part of the crew that might advance to the U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Simply as Joya’s profession appeared set to take off, nonetheless, he developed a uncommon muscle harm that compelled him to the sidelines when he returned to Mexico following the U-20 World Cup. He tried to play by the harm however in doing so made it worse. Finally he was positioned on the shelf and fell out of favor with Santos.
“When I got back from the World Cup, I was injured,” Joya defined. “I could hardly lift up my leg. I was out basically 10 weeks. It was hard and I just really wanted to get back on the field. I remember in my 8th week, I played but I just didn’t feel right. [By] that time the coach had his eyes on other players.”
Despite the fact that the door at Santos Laguna was closing on Joya, one other one was opening as MLS noticed a chance to herald a younger American who can be a 2016 Olympic hopeful. For Joya, shifting to the American home league was an alluring choice.
“Coming back here was not a tough decision,” Joya mentioned. “It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do, [having grown] up watching the San Jose Earthquakes. It made me always want to play in MLS. Back then in San Jose they used to play at Spartan Stadium and had Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario. They were players that made me just want to play here.”
Latest developments throughout the league elevated Joya’s want to return to the U.S.
“There’s a lot of talent and a lot of good players from Europe are coming here now,” Joya said. “Dempsey is a player I look up to a lot. It made me want to come to MLS and show that I have talent as well. I’m willing to work hard for the Chicago Fire and prove to myself and family I belong.”
The Hearth rolled out the welcome wagon. When he first arrived with the crew in Florida, Joya was assigned to room with Magee and was given enjoying time instantly.
“I spoke to at least six to eight people about Benji, and I’ve seen enough, not a lot, but everybody had good things to say about him,” Yallop mentioned when the Hearth acquired Joya. “He looks like he plays a No. 8, which is a two-way midfielder. He has very good instincts. Any player who goes with a team like Santos Laguna, to play with that team, you’ve got to have something.”
As for the variations between MLS and Liga MX, Joya is already making changes.
“Here it’s fast and tense,” Joya mentioned of MLS. “They’re going back and forth. But over there in Mexico, I think it’s calmer and they build up from the back. Here in Chicago we’re trying to do that. I obviously think I have to learn more and I will as I keep on training.”
Chicago will open its season on March 9 in California towards Chivas USA. Joya has a big contingent of household and mates who’re planning to make the journey down from San Jose to attend what might be his MLS debut. Usually it takes younger gamers time to interrupt right into a crew and start incomes first-team minutes. Joya, nonetheless, is motivated to be on the sphere on the StubHub Heart when the season begins.
“Stuff happens for a reason,” Joya mentioned. “Now I’m proper right here in MLS. I’m attempting to indicate Frank Yallop he has a participant who he can rely on and belief. I’m simply excited for the season to begin. I do know I’m going to be there. I simply need it.
“I’m actually hungry for fulfillment.”
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Comply with him on Twitter.
