Later today, 18-year-old Dynamo defender Erik McCue will compete in the MLS Homegrown Game outside Orlando. McCue and 23 other young players from American and Canadian teams were picked to represent their teams in a matchup against Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 team.
“This is good experience,” Dynamo Coach Wílmer Cabrera said. “Not only is he representing the Houston Dynamo, but as one of our youngest (players), it is good for him to have the added experience and responsibility.”
Dynamo winger Memo Rodriguez played in the 2015 Homegrown Game in Colorado vs. the Club América Under-20 team. The Homegrown team was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and went on to extra time before finally moving on to a penalty kick shootout, which Club América’s team won 5-4.
“The Homegrown Game was good,” Rodriguez said. “It was good for me to go out and represent my club and have a good time and gain experience. It was also cool to have Landon Donovan as our coach and gain some insights from him.”
When asked if he had any advice for McCue going into this game, Cabrera replied, “Just to do the simple things, nothing special. Do what he’s been doing so far. That’s the reason he is here - he is a good defender. Just try to make simple things happen and he will do well.”
Rodriguez had a similar answer when asked the same question. “Just to go out there and show them he’s a quality player,” he said. “He is a defender, so he has to be more vocal than most guys, so just to go out there and be himself.”
The Homegrown Game is being held this afternoon at 4:00pm CT at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Osceola County, Florida. Fans can watch the match live on Twitter or in Spanish on TUDN.com.
