AHS soccer contingent travels to Chile with major goals in mind





Andrew Staiano gave his players a choice.

They could go to Spain and play soccer, or they could go to Chile to play soccer and help build houses for people affected by natural disasters.

The decision was easy for current and former players in the Agoura High boys’ soccer program.

“They all chose Chile,” said Staiano, the Charger varsity head coach. “They all wanted to go down there and do a little work.”

Staiano, a parent and 13 players in the soccer program planned to depart for Chile on Wednesday afternoon for a weeklong expedition to help build homes in Iloca and conduct youth soccer clinics in the capital of Santiago.

The fishing town of Iloca was hit hard by multiple tsunamis in February 2010.

“We want to build a global community,” Staiano said. “I think soccer is the best way to do that. There’s no other sport that translates better than soccer does around the world.

“It’s important for the kids to be able to give back to the sport that’s given them a lot.”

The Agoura coach visited Chile twice before departing on this trip. The two visits were for humanitarian purposes: He helped build a church and chipped in with construction of schools.

Incoming junior midfielder Matt Solomon has been to Brazil twice with a soccer club he used to play for. This will be his first trip to Chile.

“I’m looking forward to being with my team for the week and helping families,” Solomon said.

Solomon helped the Chargers clinch their first Marmonte

League championship in school history this winter.

Players of various ages and levels, including several recent AHS graduates, are part of the travel group.

Justin Boolootian, Nico Corti, Sam Felton, Tom Hampton, Keaton Hart, Conor Kinford, Derek Kingsbury, Peter Nelson, Gabr Polsky, Casey Shipstead, Arek Shirvanian and Charlie Villa- Lovos are participating in the Chile expedition.

Villa-Lovos’ father, Chris, joined the Chargers.

Staiano, who was named Coach of the Year by the Agoura High School Coaches Council, will attempt to post daily updates about the trip on www.agouramenssoccer.blogspot.com.

“It will be a good opportunity for the kids,” the coach said, “to do some building, play a little bit of soccer and see how the rest of the world lives.”



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