West Side Alliance S.C. has taken another step toward improving it's premiere programming, establishing connections on behalf of players with professional aspirations.  The club has placed Juan de Dios Castillo Jr. in charge of professional placement and vertical transitions on the WSA men's side.   Read more... 

WSA TAKES AIM AT PROFESSIONAL PLAYER PLACEMENT
Dr. Juan de Dios Castillo Hired as Director of Vertical Transitions 

West Side Alliance S.C. has announced the hiring of Dr Juan de Dios Castillo Jr to the position of Director of Vertical Transitions.  His role will include identification of top-end players, and elevation of the current platform used to promote players to professional playing opportunities.  

Last summer WSA inked a deal with Scottish professional club, Rangers FC.  Since that time 6 players from The Side have been included in the Scottish Youth Academy training program.  This past summer Tulsa Roughnecks signed WSA Alum, Johnny Chavez, to a professional contract (the only local player under contract with the Roughnecks).  

The hiring of Coach Castillo will open the gateway to the south for the boys of West Side Alliance S.C.  Coach Castillo's connections, background, and soccer expertise were all factors in the decision to give him this directive at West Side Alliance S.C.  He has played professionally, been a member of the U20 Mexican National team, and also draws on a large bank of knowledge from his father, the famous Juan de Dios Castillo Gonzalez, who played professionally and coached professsionally including stints with national teams across Mexico and Central America.  

"Juan has been fantastic since joining us a year ago, and his expertise, network, and passion for teaching the game and advancing the game are second to none.  This is a tremendous resource to add to West Side Alliance's programming on behalf of WSA's many ambitious and aspiring players," reported WSA Executive Director, Roger Bush. 

"I have seen good players and a lot them with a lot of potential... but they can become limited to a certain league or conditions.  I want to open up the doors of the professional clubs to our kids, so they get exposed and see what they need to do to step up their game to the next level.  To me it's a win-win situation.  We have contacts in Brazil, Central America, Uruguay, and Argentina, but we need to start step by step," reports Coach Castillo. 

"This opportunity presents a very real opportunity for WSA players.  There are already plans to launch an expedition to Monterrey this summer for a handful of our players in our u17 side.   We expect Juan's postion to filter a level of professionalism through the ranks of the club, which will help further cultivate a culture of professionalism and excellence in our training, preparation, coach education, and utlimately in the experience for all WSA players," reports Bush.  

As WSA cultivates relationships with professional clubs on behalf of it's players, the immediate impact from Coach Castillo's network will include clubs throughout Central America and South America, including Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, and Mexican clubs, Monterrey Guadalajara, Tigres UANL Youth, Chivas de Guadelajara Youth, Xolos Tijuana, UNUAM Pumas, Correcaminos UAT Youth, America Youth, and Saltillo Soccer FC.  

Coach Castillo goes on to conclude, "It's a part of an education for the player, they will see and do things on the field different than what most teams do here (Tulsa).  So that expereience and the different mentality will change the player for the good of soccer here in Oklahoma as well."

Look for more information this June on opportunities for players to trial and join WSA's "pro-select" programming.  

See Juan Castillo's professional connections below: