Melendez one of two 'keepers alive
Mental and physical preparation key for 16-year-old
The 16-year-old is one of just two remaining goalkeepers left alive in the quest for the Sueno MLS title and a shot at a professional contract.
Melendez credited a strong mentality and a focused effort to his ride through Sueno MLS but said there is plenty of work left before he would reach his ultimate goal of playing professional soccer.
"It's pretty exciting being there in the top 18 out of 2,000 guys," Melendez said. "I just want to be trying harder and harder every day to try and make it."
A resident of Victorville, Calif., a community some 30 miles north of San Bernardino, Melendez is a standout goalkeeper at Silverado High School and for his club team, Corinthians Football Club. A solid shot-stopper, Melendez credited his club coaches for both physical and mental development.
"It's been very hard training, preparing myself mentally and physically for the past six months," Melendez said. "It's been hard but with the help of my coaches, Jose Valdovinos and Juan Escalante for the past three years."
While the soccer part of his club experience is positive, Melendez said he gains the most from his club team in the moments after training sessions. Instead of soccer, Melendez said that Valdovinos will talk to his players in a mentoring role instead of a coaching one.
Valdovinos has worked with Melendez on "not being nervous, always talking the right way, expressing how you feel," Melendez said. "After soccer ends, it's all different about soccer. It's about life and other things, excluding soccer."
In both psychological and mental terms, Melendez's experiences have paid off thus far in Sueno MLS. Trying out before professional coaches can be difficult and taxing but Melendez's preparation has made the tryouts less stressful.
"I prepare myself very well mentally," Melendez said. "(Valdovinos) taught me how to keep myself into the game and everything. We've been practicing mental things for the past year which has helped me during the three rounds I've been in. It's hard being in a tryout but mentally you have to be prepared so you won't be nervous."
Aside from focusing on the different games and drills he has ran through at the Bell Gardens Sports Center, Melendez said the psychological chats have helped him during his teenage years.
"It's helped me in my life and with my family and how to be a better brother, son and not going out and doing drugs, stay in school and do my work," Melendez said. "(The coaches) have always been there to help me and always supporting me in everything I do."
Mental preparation has also helped Melendez with his high school team. At Silverado, Melendez has been a sensation. He allowed two goals in Desert Sky League play and walked away with the league's Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Still, Melendez's best efforts could not help Silverado advance past the quarterfinals as the Hawks fell to Salesian High School by 2-1 in overtime.
The loss, though, will serve as motivation for next year, he said.
"I tried hard this whole season but we drew the No. 1 team in the region," Melendez said. "Things couldn't happen this year but we'll keep on trying harder."
As a goalkeeper, Melendez said he enjoys the control and influence he has over his team and how it affects the entire squad.
"You are somewhat a captain of the team. You control the defense and without a defense you can't have a real attack. I like to be talking, showing myself and being aggressive and playing my game."
Now with Sueno MLS, Melendez said he knows what qualities coaches are looking for, qualities that he said he expects from himself.
"You are going to have a great mentality, be great physically and good technically and good tactically," he said. "Those are the four main things you are going to have be to become a professional."
And if Sueno MLS does not work out, Melendez said he won't put his goalkeeper gloves away any time soon.
"(Soccer) is an everyday thing," Melendez said. "I'm into it badly. It's what I like to do."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
