Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas — A new ground-breaking association was recently created in McAllen, the RGV Area Soccer Association, also known as RASA. The new association has partnered with the City of McAllen allowing local high school students (both boys and girls) to continue playing at a high school level of play off-season.
RASA president, Esequiel “Zeke” Morales stated “This is the first outdoors soccer association established in McAllen in more than 30 years. It’s a great opportunity for our local high school boys and girls soccer players to continue and maintain their level of play year round so they may be more competitive once their high school season starts in December.”
Esequiel “Zeke” Morales, head coach for the Hidalgo Pirates for the past 16 years, is no stranger to the sport of soccer. Coach Morales has played competitive soccer in youth, high school and semi-professional play. As a head coach for Hidalgo ISD, he helped coach the team to its first UIL State Soccer Championship in 2009 and the Hidalgo Pirates annually rank high in Texas’ UIL 4A rankings.
“Since coaching high school soccer, there really has not been a venue dedicated in serving our local junior-high and high school soccer players, especially in the off-season. Many local associations focus on teams in either the under 12 age-group bracket or players over the age of 20. There was simply a gap in the 14 to 18 year old age group. So we decided to create an association in McAllen which primarily targets these age groups,” said Morales.
To further assist the organization, local McAllen businessperson and soccer proponent, Paul Trevino, joined the board of the RASA organization. Trevino stated, “I too have played high school soccer and understand the competitive nature of UIL soccer in Texas. The Valley is a hotbed for talented soccer teams which continually rank high in UIL 4A, 5A, and 6A boys and girls soccer. Both Coach Morales and I felt it was time to create an organization to help further develop these teams off-season.”
So, in late April 2021, a momentous agreement was reached with RASA and the City of McAllen to facilitate the use of the city’s soccer fields and help further the needs of the RASA organization. “The partnership with the City of McAllen is a huge step forward in establishing pathways that will help develop some of the state’s best boy’s and girl’s soccer players. Our venue will also help showcase the City of McAllen. I’d like to personally thank Joe Vera, III, CECD, CFEE (City of McAllen Assistant City Manager) and members of the City of McAllen’s Park & Recreation Denny A. Meline (Deputy Director of Programs) and Bobbie D. Cantu, MS, CYSA (Superintendent of Athletics) in helping make this project happen” said Morales.
League play started in early May 2021 and will continue through late July. Another league season will begin in July and end in late October ushering a new era of competitive U19 high school soccer in the Rio Grande Valley. “So far, the response has been fantastic. We currently have 12 high school boys’ teams and 12 high school girls’ teams. The boy’s teams currently participating in league play include McAllen, Sharyland, Hidalgo, Sharyland Pioneer, PSJA, Donna, Edcouch-Elsa, Donna North, Edinburg, Nikki Rowe, Mission, and PSJA Memorial. The girl’s teams currently include McAllen, Sharyland, McAllen Memorial, Palmview, Edinburg Vela, Donna, Edcouch-Elsa, Donna North, Edinburg, Nikki Rowe, PSJA Memorial, and Los Fresnos. Plus, we already have teams committed for the start of the Fall League,” said Trevino.
For more information about the association or league play, please email the organization at RASAfutbol@gmail.com.
