Armando “Cosi” Haro Receives U.S. U16 BNT Call-up To Join Team and Play In France
San Diego Surf SC is known for attracting the top talent in Southern California and developing players who succeed on the collegiate level as well on youth national teams. One of the club’s recent standouts — Armando “Cosi” Haro — begins play with the U.S. U16 BNT at the 45th Tournoi de Montaigu tournament in France.
Youth Soccer News: San Diego Surf Soccer Club standout Armando “Cosi” Haro has received a call-up for the U.S. U16 Boy’s National Team to join the U.S.Soccer team and represent the USA as they compete in the 45th Tournoi de Montaigu tournament taking place in Montaigu, France, this week. The international association football competition is for only U16 national teams.
With U16 BNT head coach Shaun Tsakiris serving as an assistant coach with the U17 Men’s National Team, which is continuing preparations for the upcoming 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Nazami will serve as coach for the U16 BNT during its tournament in France.
Cosi continues his breakthrough at the top ranks in youth soccer on both sides of the USA/Mexico border. His call up to the U16 Youth National team is following a trial for Pachuca FC and his most recent two week tenure with the reserve team of Santos Laguna FC.
Surf SC’s Boys Director of Coaching Cody Worden attributes the success to hard work by Cosi and his coach Melvin Cuellar as the talented teen makes his way to the national team.
“Cosi aspires to become a professional soccer player,” said Worden, who is also Surf SC’s Director of the USSF Academy.
“We are very proud of what Armando — we all call him “Cosi” — has accomplished,” said Worden. Hopefully this is good encouragement for him and the rest of our players. Cosi Haro is now one of three boys surf players to get a call up in the last 9 months.”
Surf SC’s players are often in the spotlight — in the past two years, more than twenty-five players from the club have received opportunities with the national teams and recently more boys have become part of the mix.
“As a club, we are extremely pleased with the progress of our players individually and collectively,” said Worden.
Cuellar has been helping Cosi reach his dream and has been promoting him in Mexico. In fact, Cosi just returned from a two-week trial at Santos in Mexico to jumped on the plane to fly to France to join the U16 Boy’s National Team.
Cuellar praises Cosi — who joined his Surf SC team in 2016/17 season — for improving all aspects of his game.
“Cosi has the dream of becoming a pro and is disciplined — he always gives it his all every time he hits the field and he never gives up,” said Cuellar.
“Cosi sometimes leaves our Surf SC team practice to attend another training session with the USSF U16 Academy,” said Cuellar.
“Cosi is so disciplined for his age, and is always game ready,” said Cuellar.
“Other players can take two weeks to get ready and prepared for a tournament — Cosi is always game fit. What separates him from other players is he is always thinking about soccer,” said Cuellar. “Cosi joins other players from my Surf SC teams who have joined the National teams — I am proud to have also coached Alexis Velela and Luca de la Torre.”
The Montaigu Tournament, which gathers top U16 international sides annually, welcomes 12 nations to it’s 45th edition of the tournament. In 2016, the U.S. took home the championship for the second time thanks to a 3-2 win against France.
The USA has been drawn into Group D with Belgium and Japan. The tournament will begin play in Mouilleron le Captif across three days.
The U.S. kicked off against Belgium on April 11th and emerged victorious with a 1-0 final score.
The team’s second match is scheduled for Japan on April 13th. If the USA wins its group, the team would advance to a semifinal matchup on April 15th, with a trip to the final, played on April 17, on the line.
USA’s Group D Schedule – Next Match:
Thursday, April 13 vs. Japan – 12:30 p.m. ET
Tournoi de Montaigu Groups:
Group A: France, Cameroon, China
Group B: England, Mexico, Portugal
Group C: Brazil, Denmark, Morocco
Group D: USA, Belgium, Japan
“Essentially this (tournament in France) is part of the next cycle for the U18 Men’s National Team,” Namazi said. “With Shaun being involved with the U17’s and their qualification, that has given me this opportunity to take charge of the group and see them in person on a daily basis in training and in games against very high level competition. It gives me a chance to evaluate them early and see how they would do against international competition at this age.”
