What Cicciarelli's call into Youth National Team Means for Local Youth

Congratulations to SLSG Metro U18 Academy player, Vince Cicciarelli, for being invited to the upcoming U18 United States Men’s National Team Camp.  Cicciarelli, who will attend the University of Notre Dame next year, will join the team February 12^th to February 20^th in Casa Grande, Arizona.  During the eight-day camp, the U.S. will train and scrimmage against Major League Soccer teams who are also at Casa Grande for preseason preparation.

Cicciarelli becomes the fourth SLSG Metro (Metro United) player called up for National Team duty.  Kent Kobernus (Belleville) was called into the youth camp 2 years ago, Brian Grazier (Edwardsville) was part of the original U17 US Residency program that qualified and competed in the U17 World Cup in Finland and Frank Simek (Millstadt) was selected for the U20’s and subsequently has been capped with the full US Men’s National team. 

Vince at All American  Convention

SLSG Metro is the ONLY Development Academy in Southern Illinois and the call up of Cicciarelli validates the importance of the United States Soccer Federation’s Development Academy designation as it demonstrates the opportunity this designation provides for the top players in Southern Illinois.  As part of an Academy program, players (both Academy and non-Academy) receive exposure to the US National Coaching Staff who attend training sessions, matches and US Soccer Market Training Centers on a regular basis.  The opportunity for talented boys and girls from the Metro East has never been greater. 

The objective of the SLSG Metro program is to help each and every player reach their maximum potential and thereby achieve their soccer goals whether that is to play at a high level in college, to play professionally or even to one day represent their country in a youth or full national team.  In order to help our players in this endeavor, our task is two-fold.  First and foremost, we must create as many opportunities as possible for players to train and compete in order to develop.  Secondly, as just as important, is the creation of opportunities for players to demonstrate their ability in front of people who can help them realize their goals whether that is a college coach or a National Staff Coach. 

For the top players in Southern Illinois, this desire to develop and willingness to invest resources in the long-term development of players coupled with the ability to provide opportunities for exposure to coaches at the next level is what sets the SLSG Metro program apart from all other programs in Southern Illinois.  Vince Cicciarelli, who makes a 5 hour round trip to training 3-4 times a week from Peoria, Illinois, is clearly committed to developing to the highest possible level and is extremely deserving of this honor.  Cicciarelli’s invitation to the upcoming U18 National team camp is the perfect example of the opportunities that SLSG Metro can provide the top players in Southern Illinois who possess the talent, dedication and commitment to developing to their highest potential.