South Bay Force

Professional

Erik Hummel perseveres to earn pro contract with Austria Vienna
by Robert Ziegler 7/19/2007

While the chance to play overseas is something many elite youth players in the U.S. hope for, there is a certain degree to which young Americans have to make their own opportunity.

Southern California native Erik Hummel may now qualify as the official poster boy for that premise. Hummel has signed a professional contract with Austria Vienna and is currently in preseason training with the club. Hummel is assigned to the club’s 2nd division side, which is fully professional but competing in the division beneath the Austrian Bundesliga, where the club’s top team plays. Players from the 2nd division side can be promoted to the 1st division team.

The 19-year old was playing for South Bay SC and former UCLA coach Todd Saldana just 3 years ago. He went on a trial with Dutch club NAC Breda arranged through his personal trainer Nick Theslof, but rule changes by the Dutch Federation mandating substantial minimum salaries short-circuited his proposed move there. He was spotted by then Chivas USA coach Thomas Rongen playing in a friendly and invited to join the MLS side’s U19 team, where he trained and competed under Dennis te Kloese, including at a high profile tournament in Costa Rica in May of 2006.

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College

South Bay Soccer Club is very proud to announce that the following graduates will be carrying on the proud tradition of playing soccer collegiately. The South Bay SC Class of 2007 listed below. Please wish all of these young men the best of luck in their future college soccer careers!

Class of 2007

DJ HILL (Palos Verdes HS): UC Santa Cruz
ADRIAN BURGESS (Bishop Montgomery HS): UC Irvine
ANTHONY INIGUEZ (Animo Leadership Academy): UC Irvine
JOSH BROWN (Loyola HS): UC Berkley
GO ETO (PV Peninsula HS): Loyola Marymount University
KEVIN WEINER (Mira Costa HS): UCLA