One of Durango’s finest youth soccer players will play on an elite stage this weekend.
Eli Fenton, a 14-year-old eighth-grade student at Miller Middle School, was selected to compete in The Generation Adidas Cup in Casa Grande, Ariz., as a member of the Colorado Rapids Soccer Development Academy team for players under 17 years old.
“This is probably the biggest opportunity I have had. I am really excited because I have been working really hard and traveling a lot to get an opportunity like this,” said Fenton, who has participated with the state’s Olympic developmental teams in the past.
Fenton, who plays center back, plays in the Durango Youth Soccer Association and on the Rio Soccer Club in Albuquerque, which became a Colorado Rapids Adidas Alliance member in September, 2013.
“The Rapids team scouted him in November when the Rio Club team went to Denver and played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park where they played the Rapids’ Academy team,” Eli’s father, Michael Fenton, said. “It is a neat thing for a kid from this small town to get this opportunity. It is a unique situation because Eli will be the first kid to actually play for the Rapids team from his Rio club team.”
The Generation Adidas Cup is an annual tournament hosted by Major League Soccer. Teams from three different regions compete for the right to play in an international tournament, which is held every April.
This weekend’s regional tournament will be played in the Grande Sports World, the training facility for the Real Salt Lake MLS team. Fenton and the Rapids Academy will take on other academy teams representing FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC.
After playing against the Rapids Academy in November, Eli Fenton is anxious to join the club.
“It was really fun playing against them because they are such a great team I could learn a lot from. I played pretty well against them, and they got to see how I could compete with their players,” Eli Fenton said. “Being able to play with them is exciting because I know how great of a team they are, and they can bring the best out of me.”
Adding to Eli Fenton’s excitement is the chance to play for a team so closely affiliated to his favorite MLS club. He hopes a good performance this weekend leads to more chances to play with the team.
“I knew there would be opportunities like this when I joined the Rio team, but I wasn’t expecting it so early,” Eli Fenton said. “There are more training and camps to go to. Maybe, in the future as I get closer toward high school, I could maybe go be a full-time player for them. I know they are interested, and I hope to go up and play again with them a few times.”
Eli Fenton’s mother, Wendy Fenton, said her son’s determination has led to many great moments early in his playing career.
“He has been self-motivated. The coaches up at Fort Lewis College have been working with him, and some of the players let him train with them. He has also gone through the Durango Youth Soccer Association and received great coaching there,” Wendy Fenton said. “He is motivated and working hard.”
When Eli Fenton puts on his Rapids jersey this weekend, he said he will take pride in the uniform and go out on the field determined to earn a couple of victories.
“It would be awesome to be able to look back at this competition and say you beat a few of those big teams,” Eli Fenton said. “I am excited to go get a good feeling for how I need to improve or to see if I am at a good level.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
