An American fighting for the Mexican Dream

By Pablo Imaz

TIJUANA.- Joe Corona, young midfielder of Club Tijuana’s Xoloitzcuintles,  has earned the trust of coach Joaquin Del Olmo with a tough work ethic and with his appearance on the score sheet.

Joe Benny Corona Crespin was born on July 9, 1990.  He made an immediate impact since his arrival, and had secured his place with the team’s 3^rd Division squad, where he played in 15 games, scored 6 six times and racked more than 1000 minutes on the field. His debut with the 1^st team came during Week 15 of the Spring Tournament when the Xoloitzcuintles were away to Necaxa.  Joe Corona also started against Leon and Irapuato.

A San Diego native, Joe says he feels proud with the team’s performances and their current place in the table (1^st place in Mexico’s 2^nd Division) and also says they have to maintain the same pace in order to stay atop the league.

“(First place) feels great, now we must keep going, keep on winning to stay in 1^st place. Our fate is in our hands.”

For the Fall 2010 Tournament, Joe Corona had a great preseason and combined with the exposure he had with the first team last season, he has become a pillar in the offensive sector of the field.  Joe has started 10 of 11 games he has played, and scored a goal against the Scorpions of Durango.

Joe tells us that as the games go by he feels more and more at home on the field, “I try to exceed my performance from the previous week. I hope to keep working and keep growing as a soccer player”.

In closing, the offensive mid-fielder who is a product of the Xoloitzcuintle Academy, added that the game they have this weekend against the legendary Cuauthemoc Blanco’s Irapuato is going to be tough, but he is confident that they have the weapons to hurt the “Fresero’s” defense and continue their winning ways.