Joey Ciochetto: From NPSL to National Team
Back in the day when we played sports outside, we dreamed, and we dreamed big: you juke left, right, the imaginary crowd deafens, you shoot and score! “Ramirez does it! USA USA USA!” We all have had that dream. It's about playing at the highest level, playing for pride and scoring for your nation. For many players, the opportunity to play for one's nation never arises, but for the few like Joey Ciochetto, it’s never taken for granted and is a motivating factor to be better.
“I gotta keep going. I gotta keep training, because some pros are going to slip up and some are going to stop training. Hopefully with my experience with the National Team, I can sign a [pro] contract within the next year or two. That’s my goal, to play at the highest level at all times.”
Joey has had an unconventional path towards a career as a professional player. A hometown kid who played up through the ranks of the Temecula youth scene, then to his local college and eventually to the highest level of soccer in his hometown, Temecula FC of the National Premier Soccer League. Joey continues to climb the soccer pyramid in the United States and his opportunity to play with the Guam National Team may just be what Joey’s game needs to elevate his career.
“The main thing I’ve learned is for ninety minutes: never stop playing, never stop thinking, just keep going.”
Joey, making an appearance for his national team.
To grow one needs challenges. When you master one level, you need to pursue the next. You will lose, but persevering is what helps you grow. As a child, Joey played for Temecula United, then Hawks FC, Palomar College and eventually Temecula FC. Each club, a new step. “ From U-19 to NPSL was a huge difference,” said Joey, he added “playing guys five or six years older than you, when you’re 18 or 19 is a big step physically. Mentally was also a huge step. You have to be prepared to be bullied a little bit in the games. You have to use your advantages. Rather than your size, it's your skill.” For Joey those advantages are his explosive speed and dribbling ability. A dynamic attacker who can play as an attacking mid, striker or winger. His performances during the 2019 NPSL season helped propel him to earn three caps with the Guam National team.
“Joey first and foremost is a very dynamic player. Lots of pace, very tricky with the ball. He can change direction quite comfortably at speed, he can set a defender one direction and run through the play quickly. If he gets that fifty-fifty on the defender, he uses what I always refer to as an explosion of speed to get away from them. He can be a very hard player to mark.”
Temecula FC was created in 2013 by Brandon Jantz and has offered a high level of soccer for bright talent in the Inland Empire. The club and its staff have begun to focus on youth development and have even given first team minutes to multiple academy players. “I feel like the best way for the first team to get better is to implement youth players into the first team. That's just insane experience,” said Joey when discussing how Temecula FC can take the next step as a club. He added “ I remember playing for my U-16 and the U-18 team would let me train with them, it's just a whole nother level of play. The experience is unmatched. If we could start implementing young players into the first team that's how it's gonna grow.”
Joey currently plays semi-professional soccer and is continuously working towards that goal of professionalism. Currently there are eight pro clubs in Southern California: LAFC, LA Galaxy, LA Galaxy II, Orange County SC, San Diego Loyal, Cal United Strikers FC, LA Force and San Diego 1904 FC. All clubs, except the San Diego clubs, operate or partner with a strong academy, leaving less opportunity for local talent to rise through the ranks. With local chances limited, Joey looks towards finding other solutions to be noticed, like highlight reels and self promotion, but becoming a National Team regular may be just the thing that will help him elevate his career.
“I love to interact with the youth, a lot of times if I’m still training and they’re on the field, I’ll say hi, talk to them for a little bit and I’ll show them some skill moves. If we can get more interaction between the first team and the youth it’ll bring more and more kids and the club will keep growing stronger.”
The Guam Football Association was founded in 1975 and became a FIFA affiliate in 1996. Guam plays in the Asian Confederation and has yet to make its first world cup. For Joey, as an American citizen, he can play for any US Territory as long as he fits certain criteria: he was born on the territory of the relevant association, his biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant association, his grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association or he has lived continuously on the territory of the relevant association for at least two years.
“Honestly, I never even knew I could play there,” said Joey, when asked if he thought the Guamanian National Team was an option.“I thought you had to live or be born there, but as long as you’ve had a parent or grandparent who was born there, you can play. Once I found that out I contacted the coach and sent him my information. He let me come in for a training camp and luckily enough I was able to be picked up.” Joey went on to earn 244 minutes in three matches, during the international window. While COVID has continued to postpone match days for him, he continues to prepare for the October World Cup Qualifiers, where he is more determined than ever to get some playing time, “I’m not gonna let this opportunity slip out of my hands this time. I gotta keep going, keep training and that's what I'm focusing on. Getting my first goal for the National Team.”
No matter what nation a player is playing for, it’s always a new challenge for that player. There is an increase in the speed of play and the physical demands just heighten as players are willing to risk it all to win for their country, but it was his familial connection that allowed him to get this opportunity and Joey emphasized how that same family atmosphere was out on the pitch. “We all picture ourselves as brothers and family,” said Joey “[we] want the team to be as good as it can be and [the team] wants everyone else to be as good as they can: the island, the players and the coaching staff.” That’s the thing about family, that’s the thing about being a team, you need to grow and thrive, but to do that you need each other. Joey and his teammates have that support from each other, the team and the island.
“Before the game started I was assigned a sub spot and was going to come on in the second half. We later found out, as we were driving to the field, that one of my teammates had a double yellow card violation, so i had to end up starting. I was losing my breath a little bit, getting more anxious. During the warmups I was nervous, butterflies, butterflies.Once the warmup ended I talked to the captain, he told me not to be nervous and to play my game, don’t worry about messing up and focus on the game plan. As soon as the whistle blew all my butterflies went away and just focused on the game plan. I was just out there ready to kill. I wanted to win so bad.”
Growing up in Southern California, Joey never had the chance to visit his family over in Guam. His match against the Philippines, September 10th, 2019, was his first time to the island. He started and played the full 90’, had family in the stands and when it was all over it was time to enjoy the island, food and his family. “The island vibe is very chill and relaxed,” said Joey, about visiting the island. “I was at my uncles and aunties house and two people were passing in the street and literally just invited them in to eat. They had no idea who they were. I think the best thing for me is the island vibe.”
Joey is an inspiration, not only to the Temecula youth players and fans, but an inspiration to anyone who is trying to professionalism in soccer. When you operate at this level in soccer you have to fight for every opportunity and when you get a chance, like Joey did, you have to capitalize.
“I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned: not to have an ego, play as a team and focus on bettering myself day in and day out.”