Mexico reached the World Cup finals for the first time thanks in part to the arrival of U.S. college products with Mexican roots. The American contingent has grown to 12 players.
Since receiving reinforcements in the form of Mexican-Americans with U.S. college experience, homegrown Mexican players like Maribel Dominguez have been able to see more of the world ù and demonstrate their talent.
Dominguez trekked up a Vancouver mountain to experience snow for the first. She was first stunned by the white powdery stuff ù then proceeded to pelt her teammates with snowballs.
Her shots on goal proved even more accurate ù she scored 10 goals in qualifying to take Mexico to its first Women’s World Cup and set the team on a course toward respectability at home and abroad.
Mexico’s women play in amateur leagues in a country where women’s soccer is treated by local press as a curiosity. The injection of talent from the north has the nation taking a new look at the women’s game.
Forward Monica Gerardo, the all-time leading scorer at Notre Dame, works with Dominguez in attack and added five goals of her own in the qualifying effort. Gerardo was among 12 Mexican-American players included in the pre-tournament training camp by head coach, Leonardo Cuellar.
Cuellar, captain of Mexico’s 1978 World Cup team and a long-time star at UNAM, relies heavily on these experienced college players.
“We know we have a hard work to do,” says Cuellar, who moved to the U.S. in the early ’80s to play in the NASL and stayed to coach Cal State-Los Angeles. “But we will make history no matter what we do because it is the first time Mexico has gotten so far in women’s soccer.”
For the U.S.-raised players, it has become an opportunity to rediscover their roots, especially when they moved into training camp in Mexico City. They’ve polished their rusty Spanish and are teaching their teammates English.
Laurie Hill, a former UC Santa Barbara star, had visited her mother’s homeland during her childhood, but her experience with the national team has increased her interest in the Latino culture.
“I am learning more about their customs,” says Hill. “I have traveled around Mexico with the team, and I am amazed with the beauty of this country.”
Hill and her teammates gained instant popularity when they won their first playoff game against Argentina. It was played at “La Bombonera,” homefield of Mexican First Division club Toluca, and more than 1,000 people showed up to cheer them.
When Hill was at the airport on the way to Buenos Aires for the playoff’s second leg, a photographer from a local paper showed up to take pictures of the players. He put everyone together in a corner and, just before shooting, he looked again at the players and screamed: “Can you be a little bit sexier?”
The uphill struggle to gain soccer respect received a boost with the appointment of Cuellar, who was hired for the Argentina matches and secured his position after those victories.
Women included in new TV deal
On the eve of the World Cup, Mexican journalist began keeping close track of Cuellar and his squad. Televisa and TV Azteca have included the women’s national team rights in their broadcasting deal.
Cuellar’s team is using the same training facilities as the men’s team, which is preparing for Copa America ’99. The Mexican federation funded an extensive series of warmup games.
But being drawn into “The Group of Death” with Germany, Brazil and Italy will make it very difficult for Mexico to extend its appearance beyond the first round.
“We know we have a difficult task, but we are going to play an attacking soccer,” says Cuellar. “We will go out to the field to give the best of ourselves.”
by Soccer America Mßs F·tbol Editor Amparo Sim=n