CAPO FC TESTIMONIALS

< BACK TO TESTIMONIALS

CAPO FC HELPED ME ACHIEVE MY GOAL OF BEING THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL

Hello my name is Erick Ornelas. I am 27 years old and I'm a current player/captain of the Capistrano FC Senior Team. I was born in Mission Viejo and raised in San Juan Capistrano by a single mother and two older brothers.

Fortunately, at the age of 4, my mother signed me up for a local recreational soccer league. This was where I began to develop the skills and passion for the game, eventually taking the step to competitive club soccer at the age of 8. 

After a few years of playing on a high-level traveling team, the “pay to play” system that we have here in the USA became abundantly evident.  The financial burden and out of pocket costs totalling 4-5 thousand dollars per year became too much for my mother to cover, even with the help of scholarships. As the new season for 2006 approached, there was a new club emerging in my local community, Capistrano FC. After speaking with Capo FC Club Founder/Director, Peter Carey and coach Ruben Mora, it was clear that their goal was to provide affordable club level opportunities, and a pathway to continue playing into the high school, collegiate, and now professional levels.

At the time a full year’s registration including the full uniform kit ranged from $500 - $700, which, with my financial situation, this was obviously far more affordable, and to this day, it's the best decision my Mom and I could have made for my future career. The guidance and mentorship I received from coach Ruben Mora at the club level and then from Peter Carey at the high school level we’re instrumental in my development and continued success.

They along with many other Capo FC staff helped instill in me life skills and morals I needed to achieve goals like: being the first in my family to graduate high school; receiving a scholarship to attend and play at a collegiate level; and even now, to continue playing professionally for my home club.

One of the biggest lessons Capo FC has taught me is how important it is to give back to the community that has provided me with countless opportunities. This is why I am doing my part in coaching at the very same high school I graduated from, Capistrano Valley High School, and passing on the guidance I was given to the future generations.