Port Chester Kids Square Off Against International Competition in Soccer

Call it Port Chester's World Cup.

Though the crowds aren't as raucous, the hooligans are absent and there aren't thousands of vuvuzelas screeching in cacaphony, the Independence Cup soccer tournament has a distinctly international flavor.

This weekend, teams from New York and Massachusetts were joined by players from Colombia at Port Chester's Columbus Park for the sixth annual youth tournament. For visiting players -- who have come from countries like Peru, Mexico and Canada in past years -- it's chance to visit the U.S., take in the sights of New York, and test their skills against international competition.

"It's become more of a social cultural event," said Cesar Aliaga, the tournament's coordinator.

Most players stay with host families, giving them the benefit of local guides as they visit tourist spots and go sight-seeing around New York.

The Port Chester Soccer Club has been holding the tournament for the past six years. The club got its start in 1994 as an informal organization with two teams. In 2001, it became official, and has since grown to 23 squads.

This year's teams included three squads from Colombia, including Atletico (boys 13 and under and a younger team of Colombia's professional team), Semillero de Futbol Chaverra, (boys 13 and under) and Deportivo Independiente Medillin (DIM) (boys thirteen and under).

Teams from surrounding New York boroughs and towns round out the competitors. They hail from places like Queens, New Rochelle, and Long Island. Matias Soccer School of Massachusetts also represented the American teams.

Chaverra beat Independiente Medillin, 6-0 in the tournament finals Sunday afternoon.

Win or lose, players said they've had a good time -- both on the soccer field and off. Atletico forward Simon Rueda said he was grateful for the opportunity.

"It feels good and I'm proud to be representing my team and my country," Rueda said.

Atletico forward Juan Alvarez said he'll return to Colombia with a new appreciation for Americans.

"Everything is beautiful," he said. "The people are very nice to me."

Alvarez rattled off a list of favorite spots: the Westchester Mall, the Rye Brook Hilton Hotel, and the Whitestone Bridge, which his team crossed on the way to Port Chester. The drive offered Alvarez a view he had only seen in photos -- New York City's skyline.

Deportivo Independiente's Daniel Carmona said even a loss wouldn't ruin the excitement of seeing New York. The visiting teams squeezed in a lot of sightseeing in between games, riding roller coasters at Six Flags in New Jersey and walking the same Manhattan streets they've seen in the movies.

"We're still happy even though we're not champions," Carmona said.

They packed in a lot of soccer too -- the final was between two teams from Colombia, undeterred by jet lag. Chaverra goalie Pablo Mesa had a lot to be happy about after helping his team win the tournament.

"They didn't make any goals," he grinned.