By RGV Fútbol/Staff

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PHARR, 14 Nov. - The three-day 7-on-7 Desafio de Campeones soccer tournament was officially announced Sunday at a news conference at Poncho’s Mexico Nuevo Restaurant, which boasts a 7-on-7 turf field where the competition will be held.

The Desafio de Campeones Tournament will have a $5,000 cash prize and include a pair of professional Mexican soccer scouts and current first division head coach in the stands, as well as a current Mexican League player and former World Cupper Francisco "Kikín" Fonseca, to observe the tournament.

The registration fee for the open tournament is $600 per team. A maximum of 16 teams will be registered. Teams may register up to 12 players. Additional players can be registered for an extra $30 per player. Each team must be properly uniformed and use the appropriate protective gear for the tournament.

"This inaugural event will be an open tournament so we can include all age groups," said Texas South Soccer Enterprises event coordinator Héctor López. “We want anyone who has a good level of talent, whether they are 15 years old or 30, to be able to participate in the tournament and take advantage of the opportunity to be seen by the scouts that will be in attendance during the competition."

Former Tigres technical director and scout Osvaldo Batocletti will observe the tournament alongside Arnulfo Tinoco, a former Mexican first division player, current Mexican first division club Atlante technical director Miguel "Piojo" Herrera, and "Kikín" Fonseca.

While Batocletti made his mark with Tigres, Tinoco established himself as a defender with Toluca, Tigres and Toros Neza during his professional career in the 1990’s.

Herrera, a former player and Mexican National Team member, has been a first division head coach since 2002 and has amassed a 128-96-122 record. His biggest success has been with Monterrey and Atlante.

"This is the start of something bigger," Tinoco said during Sunday’s news conference. "We’re laying the foundation to create a program here and do something better. We’re here to see what the level of soccer is here in the Valley."

Tinoco added that he scouts primarily for Mexican first division title contender Tigres, but he and the group of scouts that will attend the tournament also have contacts that extend throughout Mexico’s top flight league, including Spain and England.

As an extension of the tournament, former FIFA referee José Abramo Lira will give a clinic for referees on Nov. 26 at Hidalgo High School’s Pirate Stadium. The time is TBA. The cost of the clinic is $25.

Lira officiated in the Mexican Soccer League from 1997 to 2008.

"It’s just the beginning with this tournament and clinic," Lira said. "The open tournament is for everyone regardless of age, and next time we will expand it to include other categories."

For more information or to register a team, call (956) 223-5473 or (956) 535-6431.