The Dream Continues for Villafaña
You notice it right away when you see him. There’s something a little different about Jorge Villafaña this year, and we’re talking about more than his name change. It’s the way that he carries himself; it’s the confidence he exudes on and off the field.
This time last year, the player known as “Sueño” was a bit of an unknown quantity. He joined Chivas USA in 2007 (making him the team’s longest tenured player) but before last season, he’d never really gotten the chance to prove himself. Sure, he had his time on the pitch in his first few seasons, but never a long string of games, never a chance to get his confidence up or build momentum.
That changed early last April on a chilly afternoon in Toronto. The Red-and-White were in their third game of the 2011 season, and Villafaña was in the starting lineup, his first action of the season. Only 90 seconds into the match Sueño took his chance, helping create an Alejandro Moreno goal that sealed a road point for Chivas USA and began a long run of starts for the 22-year-old.
“Jorge is a young player who is getting better all the time and getting better every game,” said head coach Robin Fraser a few weeks later. “This run of games has been good for him, good for his confidence. When you can get a young player with some good abilities, and you start to give him confidence, he becomes a productive player.”
Fraser couldn’t have been more prophetic. Sueño parlayed that confidence into his best season for Chivas USA, making 24 starts while emerging as a mainstay on the left side of midfield. The Anaheim native was rewarded with a call-up to the U-23 U.S. National Team in December and again in January. The January camp was especially positive for Villafaña who played major minutes for his country in several exhibition games.
“It was a good experience for me,” said Villafaña. “It was a long camp with a few games. I enjoyed it.”
The 22-year-old featured exclusively at left-back with the U-23s, a position that he says he’s “getting more used to it, and getting more comfortable” with all the time.
Now back with Chivas USA for preseason, Villafaña says he is feeling fit from his time with the National Team. With his confidence high and game sharp, he figures to have another big season with the Red-and-White this year. But there’s something else he’s looking forward to as well. Qualifying for next summer’s Olympics begins in March, and the thought of potentially representing his country in London was almost too exciting for Sueño to consider.
“The Olympics…” he said, trailing off in thought. “It’s a big dream. Everyone wants to be a part of the Olympics or the World Cup and I’m just very excited for the chances to come.”